If you do not know how to cook, you have come to the right place. Not all people are born with the capability to be master chefs. You can always learn how to cook. There are important things to know that will help you to become a good cook. In the following article, you will read some tips that should help you become a better cook and even enjoy cooking more.
They behave like sponges and absorb the water. Wipe them off with a damp cloth to clean them.
If you’ve been handling smelly ingredients like garlic, onions, or fish, try rubbing your hands with stainless steel for about one minute before you wash them. You can purchase a small bar made for this purpose, but you can also use a spoon or rub the basin of your stainless steel sink. Doing this will kill the strong odor on your hands.
Ketchup makes a great ingredient to batter for fried foods. There is no need to only use ketchup as a dip for cooked foods. You can also use it as a supplemental dip for chicken or vegetables. The ketchup imparts an unexpected, but delicious tang to your fried foods, and will have all your friends asking for your secret.
Save the delicious taste of summer by drying tomatoes yourself. Slice a large, ripened tomato in half-inch-thick slices. If you are using Roma tomatoes, slice them lengthwise into two pieces. Put the tomatoes, cut-side up, onto a cooling rack and give them a light salting. The rack should then be placed on a baking sheet in an oven set to 190 degrees for no more than 10 hours. Once done, you can store them in your freezer in plastic bags. You can store dried tomatoes in an olive oil filled jar. Add fresh herbs for seasoning. This jar should be used within 2 weeks and kept refrigerated.
Learn how to use color as a guide to cooking. Eating meals that have multiple colors is very healthy for you, and it looks more appetizing as well. Work color into your garnishes by choosing parsley, carrot curls, cilantro, and raw cherry tomatoes. Those you serve will appreciate the increased mixture of flavors and textures when you do this.
Try using beef or chicken stock to replace water in any recipe! The addition of bouillon cubes in the water is another easy way to flavor a meal. This will give your food the right amount of liquid and add a complex layer of flavor to the meal.
Try setting the oven timer, along with your watch’s timer. Using the watch timer ensures that you will always be aware of when your food is ready to take out.
It can be very useful to think large when making your favorite chicken stock. Plan on preparing a large batch so that the excess can be frozen and used later. You can use your homemade chicken stock for soups, casseroles and stews. Freeze premeasured amounts of your stock in freezer proof containers or bags when cool.
Slowly stir corn starch into simmering sauce to thicken. In a small bowl, combine two tablespoons of water and 3 teaspoons of corn starch. Stir the mixture into a warm thin sauce to thicken it. Be sure to gradually stir in the solution, and frequently stir the sauce so that it does not become too thick.
Not everyone can cook but if you follow these suggestions, you can become a better chef. It’s not as hard as you think. Apply the tips that you have read here, and nothing will be able to get in your way.