When you start learning how to cook, it is important to understand that you must start somewhere. Some people are innate in knowing how to cook, however, even if you weren’t there is still much hope. Luckily, everyone can learn to cook well. If you understand some basics, you will be able to cook well. Below, you will find some helpful tips that will get you going in the right direction.
Always use airtight canisters or containers to store your dry goods, such as flour and sugar. Airtight containers are advantageous for several reasons. They prevent air exposure from lessening the freshness of your foods, and they also keep the bugs out. These containers are affordable and are available at most grocery stores.
Whenever you have a meal to cook, if you do your all your prep work ahead of time, it will be much less stressful and quicker. Complete as many steps in advance as you can without risking spoilage. You can prepare a lot of food the day prior to actually cooking. Doing this can transform intricate recipes into simple, quick and enjoyable cooking tasks.
A great source of protein for your diet can be found in beans and tofu. You can buy these in almost any grocery store. Seasoned tofu is a wonderful alternative to meat, and can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as pan frying. Boiling the beans and then including them in a hearty vegetarian chili is also a wonderful dish for a cold winter night.
Place salad dressing off to the side of a salad, instead of on top of it, when serving salad to guests. Certain people prefer a larger amount of dressing on the salad than others. Because of this fact, you should allow people to pour dressing on their own. You should also provide a large variety of dressings to serve your guests.
If you’d like to boost the flavors in your pasta sauce, it’s important to save the water you use to cook the pasta itself. Set aside approximately one-fourth cup. When you are going to mix your pasta and sauce together, add some of the saved water. The water contains starch from the pasta, and will make your sauce nice and creamy.
Make sure you are using the right type of potato for your dish. Potatoes are grouped into three different textures: mealy, waxy or all-purpose. If mashed potatoes are on the menu for you, try using ones with a mealy texture. The russet potato is one of the most common of the mealy variety. Yukon gold potatoes are perfect for any dish, as they are considered to be all-purpose potatoes. Since they do a good job of holding their shape, waxy potatoes are used in recipes that call for steaming or boiling. Good varieties are red or white potatoes.
When you want to chop herbs, sprinkle some salt on your cutting board. Not only does this add a little extra flavor, it keeps the herbs you are chopping where you want them – on the board. Do not add too much salt to your dish. Any salt on your cutting board can stick to the herbs you are chopping and enhance their flavor.
Always use silicone or rubber spoons when you cook on nonstick cookware. Harder utensils, such as metal or wooden ones, can scratch or gouge the nonstick coating, reducing the effectiveness of the pan, and potentially allowing the coating to flake into your food. This is not only unappetizing, but possibly dangerous.
Few people have a knack for cooking, but if you can read and follow a recipe, you can learn to cook simple meals very easily. It really isn’t as hard as some people think. Just remember the advice you learned here, and you’ll be on your way.