Even casual cooks can learn something new every now and then. Knowing the proper methods and how to go about applying them, will turn simple meals into amazing feasts that everyone will remember you for. The following tips will aid you in your quest to get some unique, mouth-watering flavors brewing in the kitchen.
Stay healthy by making sure your utensils do not have leftover scraps or any sort of dirt before you use them. Bits of food on your utensils could contaminate the dish you are cooking. This is especially bad when bacteria is remaining on the utensil.
Lots of recipes for fresh basil? Get a sprout of fresh basil and place it in a glass. Pour water in the glass until the stems of the fresh basil are completely covered. The basil can remain fresh for several days if it is placed in indirect sunlight. By changing the water every so often, your basil will develop roots. Occasionally trim the basil, which will encourage more growth, and you will be able to have the benefits of fresh basil for quite some time.
Brine is a great cooking method. To help you get the best flavors from your poultry, you should consider soaking such foods as goose, duck, turkey and chicken in brine for at least an hour before you start cooking preparations.
A meat thermometer should be used to check that the meats have been properly cooked. Meats have a specific internal temperature schedule that determines they are cooked and safe for human consumption. If your meats are not cooked to the proper temperature, bacteria can stay alive within the meat and make you and your family sick if they are consumed.
Your spices and herbs should be stored in a cool and dark area. If they are exposed to light, heat or humidity, they will lose much of their flavor. Usually herbs and ground spices tend to stay fresh for about a year. Whole spices are hardier, and will retain their robust flavoring for several years. If you keep these properly stored, they can sometimes stay fresh for an even longer period of time.
Never throw away turkey leftovers. Instead, cut them up and put them in an airtight package and place it in your freezer. The turkey can stay fresh for weeks this way.
To reduce the fat content of your soups or stews, try starting with low-fat or fat-free broth in the beginning. Soup is also lower in fat when it includes veggies and lean meat. After cooking, refrigerate your soup and let it cool off. As it cools, the fat will rise to the top. The congealed fat can then be removed with a spoon and discarded. For each tablespoonful of fat that you discard, you will spare yourself as much as 100 calories.
You should not add spices like salt or garlic to dried beans until they become softened. Adding some seasonings before the beans have softened can prevent them from ever getting soft. To achieve the texture you seek, make sure to save these ingredients, and add them once the beans have softened.
Utilize a cooling rack that has the ability to be stacked. Your whole counter top can quickly be covered when making cookies in large batches. That’s why you want to have stackable cooking racks at the ready. The cooling racks will take up vertical space and will still accomplish the same end goal. It is a great way to allow baked goods to cool properly while still allowing you to have the counter space you need to accomplish other projects.
If you have a desire to improve your cooking, you should pay attention to advice and suggestions that come your way. The following tips can help you become a better cook, no matter how many people you are cooking for.