There is always room for improvement when it comes to cooking. A cook that has umpteen years of experience will still be delighted to learn new and current techniques that can enhance their kitchen time. There are some great tips that new cooks can learn to make cooking easier. Here, we will give you some great advice to make your cooking adventures more satisfying.
For healthier, lower-calorie mashed potatoes, add some cooked cauliflower to your tubers. The taste of cauliflower will blend nicely with the potatoes. Cauliflower has the same texture and color as mashed potatoes, so the dish will be transformed into one that has more vegetables and fewer calories.
If you are cooking for someone you want to impress, cook something you already know how to make. Avoid any new recipes or ones that rely on unfamiliar ingredients or techniques. This can keep your stress levels in check while you cook.
If you are going to be making chicken stock, it is best to go big or not at all. Make enough stock so that you can freeze the excess and use it later. Homemade chicken stock adds great flavor to everything from soups to casseroles. Once your stock is finished, cool it and put it in heavy freezer bags.
Prepare to cook before you actually start cooking. Before you start making your food, it is a good thing to have everything prepared. When you have a timeline for your meal to be ready, things can get a bit stressful once you start cooking. You can spare yourself a great deal of hassle by doing prep work in advance.
If preparing dinner becomes overwhelming, try to get some of the prep work done the night before. Try slicing up some vegetables and onions, then make a sauce or marinate the meat before going to sleep. With so much already prepared, you will likely be less stressed.
Spices should be kept somewhere cool and dark. If they are stored in an area that they are exposed to light, heat and humidity, their shelf life is shortened. Storing your spices in a cool location far from direct sunlight will help them last longer and taste better. These fresh spices will help add flavor to your meals, making them tastier!
Whenever possible, try to eliminate excess fat from your stews and soups. If soup or stew has an excess of fat, allow the dish to cool, letting the fat collect on the surface. Place an ice cube in a spoon and skim it along the surface. Fat sticks to ice, so this will gather it right up. You can also absorb the fat with a paper towel.
You need to properly care for a wooden cutting board. Excess moisture, heat and dryness may cause a wooden chopping board to split and warp. Do not submerge the board to clean it, just sponge it off using warm, soapy water. If you have a damaged cutting board, you should purchase an oil product that is designed for cutting board restoration. Before you use the board, make sure it is dry.
You can improve the flavor of even the most simple dish by using fresh herbs. Basil and oregano are great additions to any type of dish for their zesty flavors and aesthetically pleasing appearance. The flavor of dried herbs is more subtle and slightly different than the flavor of fresh ones. Starting an herb garden is an excellent way to make sure that fresh herbs are always on hand.
Cooks with experience can learn new things about making the time they spend in the kitchen more fun and simple. New cooks should prepare for failure and be confident in their successes. Use these tips and you will soon see how much fun cooking can be and how comfortable you will become in your kitchen.