For many people, the act of cooking is nothing more than another chore. Cooking can be very enjoyable. It can also serve as a means to a healthier style of living. Good cooks always attempt to find out as much as they can about their hobby or profession. The ideas presented in this article can help you to learn more about cooking.
Double up by setting a watch timer in addition to the oven timer. If you engage in another activity away from your oven, you will hear your watch timer beep.
You should let your cooking wait until all the necessary preparations are complete. You will save gas or electricity, and you will be able to focus on one thing at a time.
To easily slice meat thinly, place it in the freezer until firm but not frozen. Thin strips of meat are ideal for meals that are originally ethnically Asian. When the meat is partially frozen, you get a much cleaner cut and the meat fibers are less prone to stretching or tearing. To keep your meat cooking evenly, make sure you let the slices thaw completely before you cook them.
When using fresh herbs like parsley or dill, gather them into bunches and cut them with scissors. This will keep them drier and less heavy than if they are chopped.
If you have time when you are reheating food, use an oven rather than a microwave to avoid dry food and puddles of extremely hot liquid. In a microwave the oil will heat up rather quickly, causing it pool together while the rest of the dish is still relatively cold. Try to avoid microwaving oily dishes. Baking will keep the ingredients more cohesive.
Use a fat-free broth if you want to make a fat-free soup or stew. Take advantage of the vast array of colorful, tasty vegetables and lean meats to keep fat content low. Once it is ready, stick it in the fridge to chill. This allows the remaining fat to congeal on the top. Once this happens you can easily remove the fat that has hardened and discard. Every tablespoon of hardened fat is worth around 100 calories.
Always bake your crusts a little longer than is absolutely necessary. The crust should turn a golden color, not simple blonde. This golden color means that the sugar has caramelized, leaving a sweet flavor.
It is important to layer a salad well when it is going to be served a few hours after it is prepared. Those with the highest water content should be at the bottom while the top should have those inclined to wilting, such as lettuce or other leafy greens.
If you want to eat healthier and lose weight, it’s really important to use fewer oils in your cooking. Unnecessary fats are contained in butters and oils. A good alternative to using butter and oil is to use a low-fat cooking spray. Even better, you can use nonstick pans and eliminate oil altogether.
Many of the vegetables and herbs give off a strong odor which tends to leave your cutting board smelly no matter how hard you try to scrub it off. You can mark your cutting boards with permanent marker to tell which one or which side is for each type of food.
Again, good cooks are always looking for new ideas. One of the most enjoyable aspects of cooking is learning about the various techniques and interesting ingredients involved in creating meals. Help people around you by sharing your knowledge. Cooking is not just a skill to learn, but a gift that is meant to be shared with others.