Everyone needs to learn how to cook regardless of their relationship situation. If you know how to cook, you will get nutritional, financial and social benefits out of it. The following advice will give you a large sum of knowledge on cooking.
You should store all herbs and spices in cool, dark places. Heat, light, and a large amount of humidity can ruin spices and herbs. Generally speaking, properly stored herbs and ground spices can keep a good portion of their flavor as long as one calendar year. Spices in their whole forms have longer useful lifespans, lasting up to five years. The freshness can last longer if they are stored correctly.
Make sure that all your preparation is done prior to cooking. The wise cook prepares as much as possible before starting to cook. Cooking with a deadline to meet can become stressful. Having as much prep work done as possible will save you both time and frustration!
Always bake pie and tart crusts for longer than the recipe specifies for best results. Wait until the crust turns golden rather than pale blond. The deep caramel color demonstrates that the sugar has melded with the other ingredients, giving you an optimal flavor.
Keep spices in a dark and cool place. Your spices will not last as long if they are exposed to light, heat or humidity. Keeping your spices in a cooler space with little light will enhance their flavor and shelf life. This will help every meal that you prepare taste better.
Mushrooms will absorb the water like a sponge. Try using a clean, wet cloth and wiping them off instead.
Keep sauce easily by filling an ice tray with the leftovers and freezing it. When you’d like to make a quick and easy meal later on, you just have to pop out a few cubes of sauce and reheat them in a pan. Freezing the sauce in this manner will keep it fresh and ready to be reheated.
Chicken Broth
When boiling or sauteing veggies, use chicken broth instead of water. The broth will give the vegetables a delicious, warm flavor as well as extra moisture so they don’t stick to the pan. Chicken broth can be bought at almost any grocery store, and is so inexpensive.
Cooking for yourself or family can greatly benefit you. The tips above are useful for cooking many kinds of dishes, including gourmet dishes, comfort foods, and traditional home cooking. It might be easy to get fast food, but nothing can compare to a meal cooked at home.