Anyone can cook! Are you able to purchase ingredients and follow recipe directions? You will need some basic cooking equipment and ingredients to prepare a meal. If you answered yes to those two questions, then you are able to cook. If you are looking to take your culinary skills a bit further, see the tips below for some advice of how to effortlessly make delicious dishes that you and your family will love.
Keep your herbs in a place that is both dark and cool. If they get exposed to any light, humidity or heat, their flavor will begin to weaken. In general, herbs and spices that are ground will retain their flavor for up to one year. If kept whole, spices can keep their flavor for up to five years. When stored in the correct place, they will keep their freshness for longer.
Many people tend to get stressed out when they have to cook for a family gathering, especially if there are going to be a lot of people attending. If you want to avoid last-minute panic and confusion, all you need to do is complete as much of your preparation in advance as possible. That means assembling the ingredients and tools, proper measurements and starting any marinades.
Fresh ingredients are much better to use in all of your cooking than those that are frozen or dried. Fresh ingredients will give your dish extra flavor, and can turn out to be less expensive over time.
A butter that has been flavored can add a new tasteful dimension to dinner rolls or corn on the cob. Soften the butter in the microwave, or let it soften to room temperature. Then you want to add some sauce, herbs or spices to give the butter that extra kick. For example, you might use chipotle peppers, citrus juices or even honey.
You can use the last of your vegetables and meat by making them into a stir-fry or adding them to fried rice. Left over rice is optimum, but if you have to use fresh rice, use less water so the rice is not as moist. Fry up your veggies and meat in a little bit of oil, then add rice, and season your dish with garlic, soy sauce, ginger, white pepper and any other seasonings you like.
When you are trying to cook dried beans, don’t add garlic or salt until the beans are soft. Both garlic and salt can keep your beans from softening while they cook, particularly with old beans. Add the seasonings once your beans have cooked some of the way, so they will turn out like you are planning.
When you are baking pastry crusts, try increasing the cooking time a bit. Go past the usual pale tan color and take them to a caramel gold. The golden color is a sign that the sugars in the crust have finally caramelized.
Fresh fruits, such as apples, avocados, bananas, peaches and pears are likely to turn brown when sliced and exposed to air. Salt water and lemon can stop it, but dipping them in pineapple juice works better for flavor. The fruit does not need to be soaked; a quick dunk is all it needs.
It is always recommended that you use a fair amount of salt, when you are boiling water for a pasta dish. This allows the seasoning to soak into the pasta, which will retain its flavor. Adding salt after the pasta is cooked will cause the flavor to not be absorbed as well.
Cooking can be an enjoyable hobby, a practical skill or even a profession. With food, the possibilities are limitless. Learn something new by studying the habits and recipes of the people who know cooking best and are willing to share that knowledge. When you next cook, use the advice from this article.