Food is one of the basic requirements humans must have to survive. But, there is much more to eating than surviving. It is even more joyful to cook something good than to eat it. The following article gives you some great tips on how you can bring your cooking prowess to a higher level.
Your family may seem to be less than amused by the repetitiveness of corn as a side dish. You can take a frozen bag of corn and give it a Thai twist simply by adding a few flakes of coconut. Both you and your kids are sure to be delighted with this simple, yet tasty addition.
It’s very common for people to add too much salt before tasting a sauce, but that doesn’t mean that it’s been ruined. Peel and chop a couple of raw potatoes, and let them simmer in the sauce for about 15 minutes. The potatoes will absorb the extra salt in the dish. If your dish contains tomatoes, use extra tomatoes to get rid of the extra salt and make sure to cook them until they achieve the desired tenderness.
Keep your supplies and utensils well organized. If you refuse to organize your cooking supplies, you’ll take longer to find the utensils you need. Group similar items together, and keep them in the same area. For instance, parsley and basil are both spices and should be in the exact same cabinet.
You need to properly care for a wooden cutting board. Heat, dryness, and excess moisture can cause a wooden cutting board to warp and split. Don’t submerge the board in the sink when you clean it. Instead, use warm, soapy water and a sponge. Oiling the wood regularly with an oil made for this purpose can help restore the board to good condition. Allow it to dry completely before using.
When preparing a meal, make sure you have clean cooking utensils. Any leftover food residue can ruin the food you are preparing. There is a possibility this may introduce bacteria into the food.
Any food that needs seasoning should have the seasoning added while the food is being cooked. This will allow you to make your meal more flavorful, and will prevent you from adding too much seasoning.
Purchasing meat and fish with the bones intact can be very beneficial. You can stash raw or cooked bones in zippered freezer bags and place them in your freezer until you have enough for a batch of stock.
Organization is key to cooking efficiently and not letting anything burn. Being organized with your cooking station can make it more productive. Unorganized cooking stations may mean you lose money and valuable food that is better suited to eating.
When you are reheating a dish that has oil in the recipe, use the oven rather than the microwave, as this will avoid a greasy mess. Microwave radiation congeals oil in dishes being reheated. Conversely, baking cooks the food slowly, which allows it to retain all its juices and flavor.
No matter what you are cooking, fresh ingredients are always much better than dried or frozen ingredients. Fresh ingredients are often inexpensive, and can help bring a lot of flavor out of your dish.
When planning to barbecue, don’t forget the lead time necessary to get the grill hot when you are ready to use it. You can plan on 30 minutes as an average time before your charcoal grill will be ready for you to begin cooking. Cover the coals with ashes, and allow them to reach a medium heat. This is the most effective temperature for grilling.
Cooking foods can be just as much fun as eating them. Absorb the tips below, and then add twists to make them your own. As you become a better and better cook, people will start begging you to bring home-cooked meals to family parties and other events.