There are some things you must know in order to cook well. The following article will teach you the secrets behind what is involved in being a good cook Read on to find out how you can improve the quality and flavor of your meals.
Don’t try out a new recipe on important guests or a special occasion. You don’t want to risk a culinary disaster in front of people you hope to impress. It is much better to show off a meal that you have had success with before.
Apples are used a great deal to cook in the winter and fall months, however it is important to store them properly to prevent spoiling. To properly store them, you should keep them in a plastic bag and in a cool temperature. Cull bad apples from the bag to avoid rotting more of them.
Use cooking oil for measuring sticky foods! Just coat your measuring spoon with an oil that has a very mild flavor (Canola is a good option). When you use that spoon to pick up the sticky substance, it will slip off the spoon, and into your mixing bowl, with ease. Peanut butter and honey can be measured this way as well.
Check to make sure your meat is cooked thoroughly by using a meat thermometer. Meats have a specific internal temperature schedule that determines they are cooked and safe for human consumption. Bacteria can easily survive in meat, so unless it is thoroughly cooked, this bacteria can stay in the meat and make you ill.
An excellent way to cook is to use brine. If you soak your poultry dishes in brine an hour before you cook it, you will bring out their natural flavors.
Sprinkle a small amount of salt over your cutting board surface before chopping your herbs. This should add flavor to the herb as well as keep them in place. Don’t add to much salt when doing this. The salt used on the board provides that extra bit of flavor by sticking to the herbs.
If you are on a diet or perhaps just health-conscious, you can easily make a flavorful, low-fat soup or stew. First, you will need to purchase a fat-free stock or broth. Use a lot of vegetables and lean meat to help to keep the soup low in fat. Let the soup rest in the refrigerator for a spell once it is fully cooked; you want it quite chilled. The fat will rise to the top and congeal. You can then easily pluck the fat from your soup and discard it prior to eating. You will remove not only fat, but also around 100 calories per tablespoon of fat removed.
There are different kinds of potatoes, and recipes are usually designed for one particular type. Types of potatoes include waxy, mealy and all-purpose. Mealy potatoes are flavorful, crumble well and are ideal for mashing. The russet potato is one of the most common of the mealy variety. For a general use potato, you can’t do better than the Yukon gold variety. Waxy potatoes are good for steaming or boiling because their shape is maintained. Regular white or red potatoes are the most common waxy varieties.
If you’re preparing a salad for an event that won’t happen for some hours, do some strategic layering. You should place the ingredients that are the juiciest, like the tomatoes, at the bottom of the bowl, and then place the lettuce and remaining ingredients that are likely to wilt or get soggy on the top.
Becoming a good cook takes research and practice. For some people it comes quite naturally, for other people, however, it takes a lot of studying and hard work. By reading this article, it is possible to become the cook you have always wanted to be.