Even the most experienced master chef is always willing to learn new things about the culinary arts. Even minor changes can sometimes transform a two-star meal into a four- or five-star meal that your family will want to eat again and again. Get some tips like these together, so you can get a great flavor going in the kitchen.
When preparing a meal, make it part of your routine to wash dishes as you use them. If you have a two-bucket sink, put soapy water on one side and keep the other side for rinsing your dishes. Utensils that have been used recently, will be easier to clean if you leave them in this water.
Take out the extra fat from your soup of stew. You can reduce the amount of fat in your stew or in the broth of your soup by allowing it to cool. As the dish cools, the fat will congeal on top and you will be able to remove it with a slotted spoon. Place an ice cube atop a spoon and skim it over the surface of the soup or stew. The spoon will collect the fat that the ice has brought up. You can skim fat off of the top of stews and soups by using a paper towel.
For healthier, lower-calorie mashed potatoes, add some cooked cauliflower to your tubers. Cauliflower’s neutral taste means that it blends easily with the flavor of the potatoes, butter and milk. Cauliflower mashes into the same texture and color as potatoes, so no one will notice, and you you will get the benefits.
Being properly prepared is key to success in cooking for your family and friends. This will allow you to make sure that all the necessary ingredients are accounted for. Organize everything so you can start cooking, including the spices and utensils. With a good plan and everything in place, you will feel far less anxious.
If you plan to prepare potato skins or twice baked, loaded potatoes, use baking potatoes. This type of potato has a thicker skin, which stays crunchier during cooking. Varieties such as Yukon Gold or red potatoes have thin skins that aren’t sturdy enough for heavy fillings.
If you want to make chicken stock, you might as well make a lot of it. Plan to make a big pot of stock so you can freeze and store it. You can use the stock as a base for all kinds of soups or even casseroles. Allow your stock to cool, then put portions in heavy-duty Ziploc bags made for freezing.
A common error in cooking is over-salting a dish by accident. But never fear, this can be fixed. Get two raw potatoes, then peel and chop them. Simmer them in the sauce about 15 minutes. The potatoes actually can soak up the extra salt like a sponge. If your sauce is tomato based, just adding extra tomatoes will make it less salty. Keep on cooking any tomatoes you add until they’re tender.
Don’t cook with wines that you don’t enjoy drinking. Using cheap or unfamiliar wine puts the flavor of your food in danger. It is possible to find wines that are meant to be used in cooking.
The act of using string to tie the turkey is called trussing. Trussing keeps the legs and wings close to the body of the bird, so that cooking happens evenly. If you don’t truss the bird, the outer extremities of the legs and wings will become overcooked while the remainder of the turkey is still undercooked.
So using the tips and hints that have been provided here, you should now be much more confident about your cooking abilities. Delight your friends, and family by utilizing the tips from this article the next time you prepare a meal.