New recipes and cooking techniques can be learned by even the most seasoned chef. With the right tools and information, anyone has the power to transform a bland, tired dish into a delectable offering. Use these tips and make some great food in your kitchen.
Start out with fat-free stock in order to make a low-fat soup or stew. Use a lot of vegetables and lean meat to help to keep the soup low in fat. Before eating the soup, allow it to refrigerate for several hours. This will cause the fat to congeal and rise to the top. Then you can skim off the firm fat layer and toss it. For every teaspoon of fat that you remove, you will be taking 100 calories out of the soup.
Always buy your meat and fish on the bone. Place bones in a large, heavy-duty freezer bag and place the bag inside the freezer so that it is ready when you need it.
Using a cooking rack is good, but using a stackable cooking rack is better. Large batches of baked goodies can quickly encroach on your work space. If you need more room, buy some cooling racks that can be stacked. Using vertical space will allow you to have open space in your kitchen while the cookies are cooling.
Do not use wine for cooking that you have not tasted. The taste of the wine will be reflected in your meal. They make wines that can be used only when you’re cooking food.
When unpacking your groceries, place any unripened fruits in perforated bags. As fruits ripen, they produce a gas called ethylene. Placing fruit in a perforated bag allows air circulation in the bag, retaining ethylene gas and keeping the fruit tasting good.
To make use of those ends of vegetables and bits of leftover meat sitting in your refrigerator, create a satisfying wok filled with homemade fried rice. Dryer rice that has been cooked previously is preferred, but freshly cooked rice can be used if you simply reduce the amount of water to make it a good consistency for frying. Take your leftovers and start frying them in a small amount of oil. Once this mixture is heated up a bit, add the rice. Mix thoroughly before adding in the seasonings of your choice. Common additions include ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper for a bit of a kick and soy sauce.
Keep herbs and spices fresh and tasty by storing them in an area that is dark and cold. Herbs and spices stored above the range or in direct sunlight will degrade their flavors.
Make sure to keep your spices and herbs sealed in airtight containers, protected in a dark, cool place. Their flavor will suffer if they are exposed to heat, humidity, and light. Ground spices typically maintain their flavor for around a year. Spices that have not been ground have the potential to last upwards of five years. They’ll remain fresh longer if stored properly.
To keep your cooking efficient and stress-free, chop and prepare your ingredients before starting your cooking. This will ensure that you don’t end up in a mad search for an ingredient while your meal is burning. It won’t take you any extra time to get the ingredients ready beforehand, but will save you time and ruined food in the end.
So using the tips and hints that have been provided here, you should now be much more confident about your cooking abilities. Following these tips should be relatively easy if you take your time and try one new thing at a time.