Do you enjoy foods of all varieties? Do you crave and always want to eat sweets? What about ethic food? Have you wondered how to make these types of meals in the privacy of your home? Stop thinking and start cooking! This article will give you the tips and tricks you need to create dishes everyone will enjoy.
Follow your recipe in selecting the right type of potato. Potatoes are divided into three types: mealy, waxy, and all-purpose. Potatoes designated “mealy” are dry and crumble easily. This type of potato is what you need if you plan to make mashed potatoes. One popular mealy type is the russet potato. Yukon gold are considered all-purpose, and suitable for any dish. If you are looking for potatoes to boil or steam, then you should choose a potato that is considered waxy. Plain red and white potatoes are typical waxy potatoes.
If you are going to make a stir-fry dish, slice the meat on the bias, as thinly as possible. This process may take a very long time, and it takes practice. Take the meat out as soon its gets firm (not frozen), then cut it across the grain at a forty-five degree angle.
To make sure you know when the food is done, set the timer on the oven, but set a watch timer as well. If you use a watch or a cellphone as a timer, you will be sure to hear the alarm go off even if you are out of the kitchen.
Use a paper towel to blot moisture off of any ground meat before you put it in the pan to cook. Take a paper towel and soak up any extra moisture on ground beef before you cook it. If you do not blot it away, the moisture will come out when the meat is cooked. It will not disappear harmlessly, though. This causes your meat to steam instead of sear.
You can make a simple dish much better with seasonings and herbs. Dried herbs can work beautifully in complex dishes. Don’t forget though, the best tasting herbs are always the freshest. If you have a hard time finding fresh versions of your favorite herbs, then consider planting an herb garden.
When you are cooking for someone for the first time, always stick with a recipe that you are comfortable with. Whether it is for friend, family or employer, you want to present your best effort. Cooking a dish you have already mastered will be sure to impress them most.
To get better results when juicing a citrus fruit, stick it in the microwave first. Microwave any medium sized citrus fruits for about ten seconds. Now pull your fruit from the microwave and roll it around before juicing it.
When you have a big meal to prepare, get a head start by doing the prep work the night before. Plan ahead by chopping veggies or readying a marinade the night before. By completing a few basic steps the day before, you can save yourself time and energy when it is time to prepare your meal after a long, hard day of work.
Make sure you use silicone or rubber utensils if you cook with nonstick pans. Silicone, nylon, rubber and wood are much less abrasive and work just as well. This certainly doesn’t sound appetizing, and it can also be dangerous.
Heeding this advice will put you on the road to making the dishes that you crave. Being adventurous with the spices you use when cooking is important. While you are experimenting, you might just stumble across a new favorite dish! Follow the advice in this article, and let your taste buds provide you with the rest of the guidance needed to find the chef in yourself.