Food is a vital element to life. However, just surviving is not the goal for most people. Cooking something will make you feel proud, and you will enjoy your meal even more. The following article gives you some great tips on how you can bring your cooking prowess to a higher level.
You want to make certain you have the prep work done ahead of time. Before you start making your food, it is a good thing to have everything prepared. Trying to prepare a meal without handling the preparation beforehand can get stressful, especially if you need to finish your cooking in a set amount of time. Preparing some of the ingredients ahead of time can reduce the amount of stress you feel when it is time to prepare the meal.
Your spices should be stored in a place that is cool and dark. The shelf life of spices is greatly reduced if they are exposed to heat, humidity, or light. To keep your spices spicy and fresh, store them in an area that is cool and dark. Your food will be even more delicious if your spices are fresher.
Don’t throw away that runny sauce, as there is an easy fix available. Combine 2 tbsp. of water with 1 tbsp. of corn starch in a bowl. Stir the mixture into simmering sauce to make the sauce thicker. Avoid over-thickening by adding the starch mixture slowly and stirring the sauce often.
If you have a meal that is important, like for a date or your boss, try cooking one of your better dishes so that you are familiar with it and know it tastes good. Avoid trying to cook something new. Doing this will decrease the stress that you feel, which is always a good thing.
Do you feel you are being wasteful by discarding molded fruit? You may have wondered if it is okay to cut out the rotten part. Fruit that is rotting cannot be safely eaten. In fact it is best to throw away the fruit. Mold can grow much deeper than the eye can see, and eating it could potentially make you very ill.
Meat is not the only use for this seasoning. Blended seasonings add a delicious flavor to any food, from pumpkin seeds to scrambled eggs. Everyone will start to wonder about your secret ingredient and what it might be!
Rather than using water or milk in a specific recipe, try a different liquid to add a new flavor. Use chicken broth, beef, or juice in places where you would normally use water. If a recipe calls for milk, try using buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream. Using a variety of liquids can add a bit of zest to a favorite recipe and even make it more nutritious.
When you know how to cook, it be as entertaining as actually eating. Use the information that is provided to sharpen your cooking skills and you will be able to better your cooking over time. If you improve your cooking abilities, people will want to taste what you have cooked wherever you go.