Do you look at the wonderful meals your friends and family members make and wonder how they do it? The tips in this article can help even the novice cook improve their culinary skills.
Frozen sweet corn can get old after a while, which is why you should find new ways to serve it. Experiment with adding coconut flakes into the corn if you want a Thai-flavored dish that your whole family will love.
When you know that the next day will be busy, prepare some components of dinner the night before. Try chopping of veggies for a quick and easy stir fry, or putting together a lasagna or storing it in your fridge. This will allow you to serve a home cooked meal without a lot of time or effort.
Baking Sheets
When cooking pumpkins, stand them upright and cut them halfway down the middle. Place both halves cut side down on separate baking sheets. Sprinkle the baking sheets with water, and put the pumpkin in a 350-degree (Fahrenheit) oven for one hour.
Have you ever experienced difficulty judging the time your meat should be grilled? A good meat thermometer can pinpoint the cooking status of meat, inside and out. Use a digital thermometer for the most precise results. Put the grill lid on to reduce cooking time for cuts that are more than an inch and a half thick.
Cinnamon Rolls
Cut cinnamon rolls with ease. If you have made cinnamon rolls, it can be hard to prepare them for baking by slicing them. Run the thread through the dough quickly to make a clean cut. Carry the thread around every side and cross at the top, pulling the ends in opposite directions. This will make your cinnamon roll slices perfect.
Make sure that the knives you are using are very sharp. It is difficult to cut ingredients using dull knives and they are also dangerous to use as well. If you’re trying to slice a firm vegetable with a blunted knife, you’re more likely to cut yourself with it than you are if you use a sharp knife.
Try ketchup as a batter ingredient in fried foods. Just dunk everything from vegetables to meat into the ketchup before dredging them in breadcrumbs. The ketchup adds an unexpected zip to fried food, leaving everyone asking for the recipe.
It’s important to cut down on the amount of oil you use when you’re cooking, if you’re trying to eat in a healthy way and control your weight. Many oils and butters have a high concentration of fat. Nonstick cooking spray is a great alternative that will give you the same end result as the oils with less unhealthy ingredients.
You should let your meal rest for a little bit. Few people understand how important it is to allow the meal itself to rest before serving it. Many are tempted to quickly serve food hot off the grill or stovetop. But, you will not enjoy the full flavor and texture of your meal if you engage in this practice. Let the meal be for a few minutes, and give it time it cool off.
Using nonstick pots and pans will require that you use utensils made of silicone or nylon. Wood and metal utensils can scratch the coating, which reduces the pan’s effectiveness and allowing bits of the coating, a known carcinogen, to enter your food. This could be dangerous and off-putting.
When planning to prepare complicated dishes, do the prep work the evening before the actual cooking is to take place to minimize stress. Group ingredients, verify that you have all necessities on hand, and do all measuring and chopping tasks that can be done ahead of time. The next day when you have to cook your meal, all you need to think about is assembling and cooking the dish.
Mashed Potatoes
You can reduce the fat and calorie content of regular mashed potatoes by substituting part of the potatoes with mashed cauliflower. This won’t affect the taste but it adds a handful of nutrition. You will not taste the blandness of cauliflower, but notice a new interesting flavor instead. Additionally, cauliflower has the same texture and color as mashed potatoes, so it makes it an easy, healthy addition to your dish.
Be sure to soak your wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using. Being soaked in the water prevents them from getting burned when exposed to the cooking heat. Use two parallel skewers instead of one skewer to avoid food falling off.
Keep spices tucked away in cool, dry and dark areas. Shelf life can be significantly decreased for those spices which have been exposed to too much light, dampness and heat. Spices stored in a cool, dark location will taste better and last longer. Keeping your spices fresh can improve the taste of every recipe you prepare.
Macaroni and cheese should be cooked with careful attention to the instructions. The perfectly cooked macaroni is very delicious with velvety cheese mixed with the pasta. A solid, wooden spoon is the perfect serving utensil. Adding a little pepper will give the macaroni a little zing!
Use cooking oil for measuring sticky foods! Just dab a little oil on your measuring spoon or cup, and your measured ingredient will slide right off when ready. Apply this tip with honey or peanut butter too.
When you store things like flour, baking mixes and sugar, you should use containers that are airtight. Store spices, seasonings and ingredients in airtight containers to avoid exposure to light, heat and humidity. These containers are affordable and are available at most grocery stores.
Try using brine to change-up meals. Soak chicken, turkey, duck or goose in brine about an hour before preparing the dish to make the most out of the flavors in your meal.
Excess Fat
You should take the excess fat out of your stew or soup. If your homemade stew or soup has excess fat, allowing it to cool completely will cause the fat to accumulate on the surface. Place an ice-cube on a large spoon, then skim the surface of the stew or soup. The spoon will collect the fat that the ice has brought up. You can also blot the fat with a paper towel, if you prefer.
Be sure to follow the advice in this article. Soon, your friends and family will be asking you what your cooking secrets are.