There are things that all good cooks need to know. This article is here to help you learn more about the art of cooking. Make sure to take all of these steps into consideration.
Give pre-cut, raw potatoes a cold water bath for a half-hour prior to frying for crispier French fries. Allowing the sliced potatoes to soak up more cold fluids helps to reinforce the fibers that are in the vegetable, that way when they are deep fried, they are better able to stand up to the heat and won’t completely break down.
Do you often feel a bit guilty throwing out fruit that is rotten? Have you ever thought to just remove the moldy section by cutting it out? Sadly half rotten fruit is something you can never really save. You need to throw them away, as mold tends to grow deeper than the eye can see, and eating moldy foods can make someone quite ill.
To make it easier for you to slice meat into thin strips, you should partially freeze it. This is ideal for Asian meals like Chinese or Thai dishes. When meats are partially frozen, the slicing is neater and the meat’s fibers don’t tear and stretch as easily. However, to make sure that the meat cooks evenly, take the time to let it thaw out prior to cooking.
There are ways to repair a pie crust. The first thing that you should do is fill in the cracks if you have overcooked the crust. After putting a little cold water on the crack, repair it by gently rubbing the dough together using your index finger. If the top crust is cracked, brush on some cold milk and then sprinkle on some sugar. This way, your crust will look glazed once it comes out of the oven.
Take care of your wood cutting board. Cutting boards made of wood can often warp due to climate. Cutting boards should never be immersed in water, but cleaned with a soapy sponge and rinsed off. Restore damaged boards by applying oil to it regularly, and be sure to use products specially designed for wood chopping boards. Let the board dry thoroughly before you use it.
Store your spices and herbs in a cool and dark spot when you decide where to keep them. If they get exposed to any light, humidity or heat, their flavor will begin to weaken. Generally speaking, spices that have been ground will keep their flavor for about one year. Spices that are whole will retain flavor longer, closer to 3-5 years. When stored properly, they will stay fresher longer.
If you are looking for ways to include more protein to your daily diet, look no further than beans and tofu. Both can be found at any grocery store. Tofu can be fried in a pan with just a few seasonings. It is a tasty and healthy meat alternative. Beans may be boiled with herbs for a delicious protein source.
Know how much cooking oil to use. If you want to lower the fat in your home cooked meals, you need to carefully measure any oil that you are going to use rather then just guessing. Doing this lets you be very mindful of just how much oil you are actually using in your cooking.
As previously mentioned, there are some things that you need to know if you want to be a great cook. To some it comes naturally, but for others, they need as much advice as they can get. By reading this article, it is possible to become the cook you have always wanted to be.