A lot of people view cooking as an unwelcome task. In this article there are suggestions and tips that will help make cooking an enjoyable part of your day.
Use a fat-free soup stock or broth in order to make a stew or soup that is practically free of any fat. By using lean meat and plenty of vegetables, you will add very little fat to the soup. Let the soup rest in the refrigerator for a spell once it is fully cooked; you want it quite chilled. Once cooled, the fat will separate out at the top of the soup. Then just take a spoon and scoop off any hardened fat to throw away. You will save approximately 100 calories for each tablespoon removed.
Eat hearty winter greens. When you eat these greens, such as collard greens, broccoli rabe or kale, following the year’s first frost, they generally have a taste that is sweeter than at other times of the year. Choose vegetables that are crisp and have a deep bright green color, avoiding those that are yellow in color. During preparation, thoroughly wash these greens, which tend to gather a considerable coating of dirt. Submerge the greens in a bowl of cool water, shake off, and rinse until the water runs clear.
You should always look at the product labels before purchasing ingredients for a meal. Many common cooking ingredients include substances that may not be very healthy. Look out for excessive levels of sodium or sugar, since over-consumption of either leads to health problems.
Hold off on using too many spices until your meal is served. Popular seasonings, such as garlic, hot peppers, herbs, and salts are desirable additions to any dish. Everyone has different preferences of spices and other seasonings. Rather than adding these spices to the food as you’re cooking it, put them on the table so people can choose which ones they want to use. Everyone will enjoy your cooking more if you leave options open for them.
A cool, dark storage area will preserve your herbs freshness for the longest period of time. Their flavors will be weakened when they are exposed to light, heat or humidity. When properly stored, ground herbs and spices can retain full flavor for up to a year. Whole spices can keep their flavor for up to five years. They’ll last longest when stored properly.
Understand that different potatoes are needed for different recipes. Potatoes can be waxy, mealy or all-purpose. If mashed potatoes are on the menu for you, try using ones with a mealy texture. The russet is an example of a mealy potato. For a popular all-purpose potato, there is Yukon gold. For steaming or boiling potatoes, choose a potato of the waxy variety because they hold their shape nicely. Good waxy potatoes include the regular white potato and the red potato.
Before you cook ground meats, be sure to blot away excess moisture with paper towels. It is always wise to blot any moisture that is present on ground meat. If the moisture is left in the beef, it will be released when you start to cook it. It will not disappear harmlessly, though. The meat will then be more likely to steam, instead of the intended searing.
If you want a healthier diet, use less oil when you cook. Most of the time, the oils you cook with have high amounts of unnecessary and unhealthy fats. This is also true of butter. Another healthy alternative for low fat cooking is nonstick spray.
As was detailed in this article, there are numerous methods to make cooking more entertaining. By following the tips presented above, your time in the kitchen can be a creative, joyful experience.