Is cooking for your family starting to drive you nuts? The idea of cooking a meal for yourself should not be enough to send you in a tailspin! This article will show you a collection of helpful advice that can make cooking meals less stressful and more enjoyable. When you see how easy cooking can be, you are sure to wonder why you found it so difficult to begin with!
Do you cook with fresh basil? In a glass put a lot of fresh basil inside. Pour water in the glass until the stems of the fresh basil are completely covered. Put it on the counter of your kitchen in order to maintain its freshness for many weeks. Change the water regularly and roots will grow. If you keep the basil trimmed regularly, this will promote growth and allow a decent supply of basil on an ongoing basis.
A good tip when using cooking oil is to put some on the sides of the pan while cooking. This way, it will already be hot when it gets near the food. The already heated oil will do a much better job at cooking and flavoring your food.
Always buy your meat and fish on the bone. Place the bones you have gotten out of your meat into durable zip bags, whether cooked or raw, then freeze them until a date when you want to use them.
Use cooking oil for measuring sticky foods! Apply a light coating of canola or other oil with little flavor, to your measuring spoon or cup. The ingredient you are measuring will slide out easily, which will prevent messy clean-ups and waste. This will work great for things like peanut butter and honey also.
Wooden skewers should be soaked in water for a minimimum of thirty minutes before they are used. If you do not do this, your food may cook faster than you want, causing it to burn. Double up on the skewers per kebab to ensure that nothing falls off of them.
Prepping to fix a large meal, like over the holidays, can be a very stressful time. You’ll need a few quick tips to help you out. Rather than allowing yourself to panic at the last minute, you should complete all of the preparations on the night before. Ingredients can be measured, vegetables chopped, and marinades mixed well in advance of the start of the main cooking process.
Ethylene Gas
If you have purchased unripened fruits, put them into a plastic bag that is perforated. As the fruits get ripe, they’ll give off ethylene gas. Placing fruit in a perforated bag allows air circulation in the bag, retaining ethylene gas and keeping the fruit tasting good.
Many people find slicing meat into thin strips very difficult; however, if you partially freeze the meat, the task is much simpler. This is best for Asian meals such as Thai or Chinese dishes. When you freeze the meat, fibers stretch less making it cut easier. However, the meat strips should be thawed to assure even cooking.
When buying ingredients to cook with, always read the label. Lots of the time, cooking supplies have hidden ingredients that may be bad for your health. You need to see to it that the ingredients are not high in sugar or sodium because both may cause complications to your health if consumed in large quantities.
Measure the amount of cooking oil you are using! Measuring amounts into a cup when cooking instead of pouring guess amounts straight from the bottle lowers the fat you put into your dish. By doing this, you can keep a close eye on the amount of oil you use in cooking.
Fresh Garlic
If you are making a meal that requires garlic, buy fresh garlic or grow your own. Older garlic tends to smell and taste woody, while fresh garlic ensures a sweet, yet savory flavor. You will know if garlic is fresh if it is not bruised, soft or shriveled and has firm skin.
Although you may want to impress them with something fancy, never try a new recipe when cooking for someone important. Whether you are cooking for your boss, that special someone or your in-laws, you would like them to enjoy your cooking. Find out what kind of food they like and prepare something you are comfortable with.
Consider mixing flavored butter for a simple method of adding some additional flavor to your corn or rolls. Allow the butter to be at room temperature when serving. Then you want to add some sauce, herbs or spices to give the butter that extra kick. Use a flavoring that complements other components of your meal; lemon, honey and barbecue are all popular summer flavors.
It’s important to include beans and tofu in your diet if you’re trying to increase your protein intake. Both are readily available in grocery stores. A delicious alternative to meat is tofu pan fried with your favorite seasonings. The beans can be boiled with some herbs for a flavorful protein source.
Make sure you follow directions to the letter whenever you make macaroni and cheese. You will want the macaroni to have an ultimate consistency and firmness prior to melting the cheese over it. When it comes time to serve the dish, you can use a basic slotted or solid spoon. Sprinkle some pepper on top for added spice, and enjoy!
“Trussing” is simply tying the turkey’s legs and wings together with string. By holding the legs and wings close to the body, this allows for more evenly cooked meat. If the legs and wings aren’t tied together, the tips could burn, cooking much more quickly than the main part of the turkey.
Sprinkle salt on your cutting board before cutting fresh herbs. The salt will keep the herbs on the board and add extra flavor as well. Do not over-salt by making sure you don’t directly add any extra salt to the foods you’re preparing. The salt that is added to your dish with the herbs will provide enough flavor.
Cooking for other people, especially family, can be quite a hassle. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to simplify the cooking process. You no longer have to dread meal time.