A lot of people only consider cooking a chore. Actually, cooking can be really enjoyable. It can also become your gateway to a healthier life. Good cooks are continuously learning and trying to improve their craft. Here, we will offer you some great tips to further your knowledge and love of cooking.
Fruit tastes great when cooked on a grill. Thread sliced melon, peaches or nectarines on a skewer. Place the fruit directly on a grill and allow it to cook until grill marks are visible. Use the grilled fruit as a topping for ice cream or a grilled pound cake.
Do not dress your guests’ salads. Serve the dressing on the side and allow your guests to dress it to their liking. Some people like more dressing on their salad than others do, so it is better to let them add the dressing themselves. It is important to provide your guests with a plethora of dressings.
You should slice meat thinly and also on the bias when cooking stir-fry dishes. This can take time and be tricky. Retrieve the meat after it has firmed a bit, and cut thin slices across the grain, holding your knife at a 45-degree angle to the cutting board.
You should buy your fish and meat that are bone-in. Save the bones from cooked and raw meats in storage bags, and keep frozen until needed for stock.
Cooking processes that take quite a bit of time, like boiling, may allow nutrients to leach from the vegetables. To retain their nutritional value, saute or steam them. Better yet, eat them raw.
If you enjoy using fresh herbs, consider bunching them together and cutting them with scissors while preparing your next meal. This practice does not get herbs wet like chopping would, and makes them generally fluffier and lighter.
To make your pasta sauce a little better, use some of the water that you cooked your noodles in. Save approximately 1/4 cup of water after cooking your pasta. When the time comes to add the sauce to the pasta, add this water as well. The combination of water and the starch from the pasta will give your sauce body and creaminess.
Has there ever been an occasion where you had trouble determining how long you should grill your meat? Use a meat thermometer to tell when it is cooked properly. If the meat is thicker than an inch and a half, it may be a good idea to close the lid of the grill to cut down on total grill time.
Use a fat-free broth if you want to make a fat-free soup or stew. Soup is also lower in fat when it includes veggies and lean meat. Once it is complete, cool the soup in the refrigerator before eating it. When the soup is cooled, you will find that the fat will have risen and congealed on top. Afterwards, simply scoop off this congealed fat. Every tablespoon of hardened fat is worth around 100 calories.
Make sure that all your preparation is done prior to cooking. Try to have the prep work completed before cooking; this is important. When you have a timeline for your meal to be ready, things can get a bit stressful once you start cooking. Do your prep work in advance, if you can.
There are a few ways to heat up tortillas. The first is to preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and put the tortilla directly on the rack until it is the desired crispness. You can also use the top of your gas stove. Simply hold a tortilla on a grill directly above the gas flame. These are some ways to prepare a delicious tortilla.
For the perfect sandwich, you should take the extra time to evenly spread mayonnaise over the entire surface of the bread. People often spread the mayonnaise too quickly, resulting in uneven tasting parts. Even distribution of mayonnaise makes each bite delicious.
People tend to use a lot of apples for cooking in the fall and winter months, but if they are stored incorrectly they will quickly spoil. Warm, dry air will make apples rot, so keep them in the fridge or cellar in plastic bags. Check them frequently, since if one apple goes bad, the rest will quickly follow.
Partially Frozen
Try partially frozen meat to make thin meat slicing easier. This technique is particularly good for meats served in Asian cuisine. Uncooked meat is easier to cut when it is partially frozen. However, to make sure that the meat cooks evenly, take the time to let it thaw out prior to cooking.
By doing this, you will find that you will have fresh fruit for a much longer time. You will also have fruit handy that is not normally available during that season.
Try going to a library or buying a cook book if you are wanting to cook different foods. Pick out a few recipes to try and decide after it has been eaten if it is a recipe you want to add to your permanent collection. Be sure to be patient as you try these new recipes.
When roasting a joint of meat, make sure you leave it boned if you are struggling for time. The bone will retain the heat and make the meat cook faster from the inside. When your roast is finished, simply cut around any bones before you serve.
It is extremely important that your knives are always sharp. Dull knives can be dangerous and they also make cutting things hard. You are more likely to cut yourself by using a dull knife, as opposed to when cutting using a sharp knife.
As you have seen, the key to becoming better at cooking is continuing to learn all you can. The best part about cooking is not simply meal preparation, but learning about all the kinds of foods, ingredients and techniques. Help people around you by sharing your knowledge. Cooking shouldn’t simply be a skill that you learn; it should be a gift that you share.