Don’t think of cooking as a chore that must be done. Think of it as a fun, exciting hobby. Everyone can cook, if they’re learning with the right advice and information. Anyone who can follow instructions correctly can make a delicious meal from scratch.
Every six months to one year, replace spices that have grown dull. Many times, spices are kept for too long, and they lose their flavor. If you know you will not use the whole spice bottle, give some of it to someone you know.
Tough preparation is one obstacle that sometimes prevents people from getting all the health benefits of dark, leafy greens. Removing thick, tough leaf stems can be time-consuming. To simplify things, fold it in two lengthwise and then break the stem from the middle. Alternatively, you can utilize a knife to remove the stem from the folded leaf. When you unfold the leaf, it will be ready for cooking and completely edible.
Are you using basil? Take the basil and place it in a glass. Pour water in the glass until the stems of the fresh basil are completely covered. Set the glass on the kitchen counter or windowsill to maintain its freshness for weeks. With some care, you may even be able to encourage the basil to grow roots. While the basil is alive and thriving, make sure you trim the leaves in order to progress the growth of the plant. You will have plenty of fresh basil on hand.
After you finish cooking, let your meal rest and soak in the juices. A lot of people do not wait long enough before serving food. It is highly tempting to serve the food as soon as you take it off the grill. However, you will miss out on great food if you do. Let your food, particularly meat dishes, rest for a few minutes prior to serving.
You should replace the water in soup, mashed potatoes, and many other dishes with beef or chicken stock to make them more flavorful. It is quick and easy to add a bouillon cube in water to a recipe. Your food will have the right balance of moisture but with a fuller underlying flavor.
Use a baking potato with thick skin to get a good, firm shell when making potato skins or twice baked potatoes. Red potatoes contain skins that are too thin to hold very much filling.
Add the seasonings a little at a time throughout the cooking process. This method helps to preserve and enhance the flavor of the seasoning instead of allowing it to cook away.
Get out the cooking oil when 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 peanut butter and honey too.
Partially freezing meat makes it easier to slice it into thin strips. This technique is particularly good for meats served in Asian cuisine. By partially freezing meat ingredients, slicing is cleaner and the fibers do not stretch and tear as easily. The strips should be allowed to fully thaw before they are cooked so that they can cook evenly.
It is important to properly care for your wooden cutting board. Excess moisture, heat and dryness may cause a wooden chopping board to split and warp. The correct way to clean a wooden cutting board is to use a damp, soapy sponge or cloth to wipe it clean, rinse with boiling water and towel dry. Cutting boards should be treated regularly with specifically designed oil products. Let it dry for a while after oiling.
There is more to cooking than putting a meal on the table. It can be enjoyable and delicious to do. Sometimes your dishes will be epic failures, but as you read more and more tips, you’ll have more successes and less failures. Gain culinary success with the help of these tips!