Many people want to learn the culinary arts but are intimidated by the skill set required. Luckily, you can take cooking one technique at a time, so continue reading this article to learn some tips to help you take your meals from ordinary to extraordinary!
Slicing meat is easier if the meat is frozen. This technique is especially important if you are making Oriental dishes. By doing this, the meat becomes much easier to slice as the meat fibers are less likely to tear. However, the meat strips should be thawed to assure even cooking.
To take the stress out of cooking time, pull out all of your ingredients beforehand. Then you won’t ever be midway through preparing a meal when you realize that you’re missing an essential ingredient. This will only take a few minutes and will really help you.
When you are planning to use skewers for your cooking, always soak wooden skewers for at least thirty minutes in water prior to use. This helps them avoid burning when you cook. You can keep food on the skewer when you use two parallel skewers instead of one.
If you always feel harried when making dinner for the family, prepare some of the meal in advance. Make your sauces, cut your ingredients or marinate meat the day before. You will be more relaxed and better prepared to cook the following day.
Use cooking oil to help prevent sticky messes. Prior to measuring, put a little bit of a low-flavor cooking oil on the spoon (canola works well here). This way, the food you are measuring will easily slip off the spoon. This stops you from wasting food and having to clean up afterward. This is a handy trick for getting just the right amount of everything from peanut butter to jelly.
Prepare in advance as much as possible. Do not start cooking until the prep work is done. When you’re ready to begin cooking and have set your deadline to finish, you can get really stressed. Try and prepare your ingredients ahead of time to avoid unnecessary stress.
Fix your pie crust. If you have handled your dough too much it may crack. If this happens, sprinkle some cold water on the cracks, rub the dough gently with your finger. If cracks appear in the top portion of the crust you can brush it with some milk and then sprinkle a little sugar over the cracks. The crust will then have a wonderful glaze that will keep the cracks hidden after it’s done baking.
If you have purchased unripened fruits, put them into a plastic bag that is perforated. As they ripen, they will create ethylene gas. When air is allowed to reach the fruit, the gas will not escape, thereby maintaining its flavor and freshness for a longer period of time.
Trussing refers to the method of tying a turkey up with string for baking. By holding the legs and wings close to the body, this allows for more evenly cooked meat. If you don’t truss your bird, the smaller pieces could dry out and burn.
If you are trying new spices, then consider saffron. Saffron is in a class of its own, with the ability to make dishes bright and flavorful. Saffron’s flavor has delighted generations since ancient times. It is one of the most highly sought after flavors in the world, and is therefore the most expensive spice.
Creating fabulous meals is a fine skill to have, whether it is cooking a regular family meal or a special feast to impress that special someone. Sharing meals with friends and family is a worldwide practice. The following article will demonstrate several easy ways you can begin to impress others with your culinary prowess.