It is a fact of life that people need to eat. But is it life we want, or great meals? Wonderful food becomes even more special if the person enjoying it also gets a chance to create it. This article will address a few ways that you can improve your cooking skills.
Keep your herbs in a place that is both dark and cool. Exposure to humidity, light and heat all affect the flavor of your spices. You can plan on ground herbs and spices retaining their potency for a year. If spices are kept whole, they could stay fresh for up to five years. Proper storage is essential to maintaining fresh, robust flavors.
It is extremely important to prepare your ingredients before you begin cooking your meal for a group. Always have all ingredients before starting to cook. Plan out your cooking the day before. Make sure all the necessary utensils are clean and ready to use.
Having everything ready will take some of the stress off and increase the chances of your success.
Slice meat thinly on the bias for stir-fry dishes. It is possible that you may have a little trouble doing so in a time efficient manner. Freeze the meat until it is firm and then slice the thin slices across the grain.
Invest in a knife sharpener to make cutting any ingredient simple. Dull knives are hard to cut with and they are also dangerous. You’re less likely to cut yourself chopping up a vegetable with the clean, fast strokes of a sharp knife, than when you are forcing and wiggling a dull knife.
To maintain nutrients and color in your vegetables, quickly steam them until just crisp-tender. The longer you cook vegetables, the less flavor and nutrition they have. These methods usually create healthier vegetables. Cooking better vegetables is all about cooking them for the least amount of time possible.
Chicken Stock
When you are making chicken stock, think big. Instead of making just what you need, make a huge pot so you have some to freeze and use later. Good chicken stock that you make at home makes a great starter for soups, casseroles, stews and other dishes. Allow the stock to cool before freezing it in durable, Ziploc bags.
When you know how to cook, it be as entertaining as actually eating. Add these tips to your cooking bag of tricks, and keep adding new touches to get even better. Your skills in the kitchen will improve, and people will be clamoring for your culinary gems.