How many times have you dreaded going into the kitchen to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You might need a new perspective. Cooking can be enjoyable and relaxing if you try to see it in another way. Here are a few cooking tips that are sure to get your taste buds tingling and entice your inner chef to come out.
Pancakes and waffles need to be kept warm until they are ready to be served. You can do this by heating your oven up to 300 degrees. As you make your batches of pancakes, put the finished ones in the oven so that they stay warm.
Impress family and friends when you make a simple sandwich just by spreading the mayonnaise evenly on the entire slice of bread. Take your time spreading mayo. Don’t just dump a spoonful of mayonnaise into the center of a sandwich. Make sure they get the flavor of your spread in every bite for the optimal sandwich experience.
Buy good-quality knives and other cutting tools for your kitchen. Sharp knives will save you time, and are actually safer to use than dull ones. More injuries, cuts and serious accidents happen as a result of blunt utensils than freshly sharpened ones.
If your children are getting tired of the same frozen corn every night, it may be time to add some variety. If you want a fiesta feel to your corn, put in some onions and black beans, and everyone will love it.
Use leftover meats and vegetables to cook up a quick stir-fry at the end of the week. Cool, day-old rice is best, but if you must make it fresh, cut the water by just a bit to make slightly drier rice. Fry your vegetables and chopped meat in vegetable oil, then throw in your rice an season with some soy sauce, ginger, garlic and other spices of your choice.
When seasoning meats, try a little piece before cooking the entire thing. It is important not to over-season foods such as hamburger, meatballs and other meat-based dishes. Cook only a portion of the food prior to seasoning the entire dish. You should cook a smaller patty first, so that you can make sure that the seasoning is delicious. Once you see how it tastes, you can determine to either cook the remaining meat or adjust the amount of seasoning.
Leave raw potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes before frying them to make crispier French fries. The fibers of raw cut potatoes that have been soaked in cold water prior to hitting the deep fryer, are stronger and can handle the heat better without breakage.
Quickly cooking vegetables makes them crispier and more nutrient-filled. Vegetables that are slowly and thoroughly cooked, are less tasty and nutritious than vegetables that are cooked briefly. As an added benefit, these techniques tend to produce healthier vegetables in general. Cooking vegetables as quickly as possible is key to preserving their nutrients.
There are a few ways to heat up tortillas. An easy and quick way is to heat the tortillas on a rack with an oven temperature of 350 degrees. An alternate method is to hold a tortilla over a gas flame. Preparing tortillas in the above manners will lead to tasty tortillas.
Your favorite herbs should always be stored in a dark, cool area. If spices are stored above a stove or other warm area there is a good chance that they will lose their flavor very quickly.
Try incorporating a few of these tips into your meals. Once you eat your first delicious homemade meal, you will understand why learning how to cook is important. The better your food gets, the more you’ll want to cook. Use the tips above to get started on cooking.