Cooking is a vast art. Every cook has different preferences and techniques. Some techniques are simple and others are quite complex. Regardless of how good of a cook you are, you should be able to pick up a few tips from this article.
Pick a place that will not compromise the quality of your cooking spices; try somewhere that is non-humid and light free. Exposure to light, humidity, and heat can make your spices lose their flavors quickly. Constant exposure to these elements will ruin herbs and spices.
Fruit works fabulously on a grill. Put sliced nectarines, melon, and peaches on a skewer and grill them. Grill the fruit until you start to see grill marks. Serve the fruit atop ice cream or a grilled cake.
Use vegetable or chicken stock to saute vegetables. Broth will fill your dish with flavor. This cooking method also allows you to eliminate unhealthy oils. Do this and you will find that your vegetables are delicious and easy to prepare.
They will act somewhat like a sponge that soaks up all the water. Get a wet cloth instead, and wipe off each mushroom by hand.
It is very important to make sure your cooking utensils are clean before you start cooking. If there is any food left on the dish after you wash it, it could contaminate the next dish you use it in. Another concern is the potential cost to your health, as you could possibly be exposed to bacteria.
Do not fall victim to believing that all potatoes are the same. Waxy potatoes are good for potato salad or boiled potatoes but aren’t good for making french fries, baked potatoes or mashed potatoes. For those applications, you want to use fluffy potatoes like Russets.
To improve the flavor of your dishes, mix your own broth and other stock. Make a lot at once, so that you can divide it into batches and store it in the freezer. By doing this, you’ll always have homemade stock available whenever you are in the mood to cook soup. By making your own stock, you can be sure that it is not full of preservatives.
When you need to season your food, add your seasoning a little bit at a time instead of all at once. When this is done, the flavors of the food will be enhanced, and you will be bringing out the best in all of your ingredients.
When cooking with fresh herbs like parsley or dill, bunch them together and cut them with a pair of scissors. The herbs will be lighter and fluffier this way, and will not be as wet as they would be if you chopped them.
When you are making a salad to take somewhere or just making one ahead of time, make it in layers. Place juicy ingredients and the bottom and place the lettuce at the top.
Your spices should be stored in a cool place that is free of light. Putting them in a warm, lighted area can reduce their useful life, due to light and heat exposure. Keeping your spices in darkened, cool areas will lend extra longevity and flavor. You’ll taste the difference in your dishes.
If you’re feeling stressed at the idea of making dinner for the family, consider doing much of the prep work the evening before cooking. Cut up veggies, marinate your meat or make a sauce the night before. With this done, you will have a major portion of the meal ready for the next step, which means less stress for you.
Many a fine meal has been ruined by over-complicating the recipes or methods. Simple recipes and techniques can yield very impressive results. Using the tips here, you can go forward with a better understanding of cooking and make every meal a little better.