If you’re not an experienced cook, you might wonder where to start. Cooking does not come naturally to everyone. Everyone’s cooking skills can be honed, whether you are an old hand or just starting out. As with anything, there are techniques and tricks that you must learn to excel at cooking. There are some wonderful ideas that will set you onto the road of success.
Are you cooking using fresh basil? Try putting a bunch of basil that is fresh inside a glass. Add water to cover the stems. Now, just sit this glass on your window sill or counter and the basil should stay fresh for a few days to a few weeks. Most often times, basil will actually take root in water. Also trim the basil every now and then to facilitate growth. Enjoy fresh basil on a regular basis.
Mushrooms will soak up a large amount of water. Get a soft, clean and wet cloth to wipe the dirt off each individual mushroom for better results.
The quality of vegetables improves when cooked. Vegetables that are cooked slowly lose a lot of their taste and nutrition. Using these techniques will mean putting healthier food on the table. Cooking better vegetables is all about cooking them for the least amount of time possible.
To add oil to food already cooking in a skillet, carefully pour it along the sides of the hot pan so that it has a chance to heat through before touching the food. Using this method can help you to boost the flavor of foods.
There are some things you should be aware of if you plan to cook with skewers. Twisted or square shaped metal skewers hold the food better than round ones will.
Make sure you are using the right type of potato for your dish. Potatoes are divided into three types: mealy, waxy, and all-purpose. Potatoes designated “mealy” are dry and crumble easily. This type of potato is what you need if you plan to make mashed potatoes. A common mealy potato is the russet. When looking for a good potato that works in almost any dish, the Yukon Gold variety is a good choice. Waxy potatoes can maintain their shape extremely well. Because of this fact, they are excellent for steaming or boiling. The most common types of waxy potatoes are red and white potatoes.
Eat yummy winter greens. Winter greens taste sweeter once the first frost has passed. When selecting fresh greens, avoid any that are partially spoiled. These are identified by yellow coloring or limpness. Aim to select ones with a dark green color. By nature, these greens are more prone to dirt collection, so wash them thoroughly and carefully before consuming them. Put the greens in water, shake clean and rinse until water is clear as it runs through.
Preparing dark, leafy greens can be a hassle, but it’s worth it as they are incredibly healthy. The stem is the most difficult to deal with. To prepare most leafy greens, you can fold the actual leaf in half like a piece of paper, grab the stem from the bottom, and then rip it out. Or slice the folded side to remove the stem. Once the leaf is unfolded, a perfect de-stemmed leave remains.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the natural ability or the dedication required to become an award-winning professional chef, however, if you can read simple directions, you can become a great cook in no time at all. This is not quite as difficult as you may believe. Implement what you’ve learned here when you make your next meal, and you’ll be cooking up a storm in no time.