Developing your culinary skills is simple, as long as you do your research. When cooking, experimentation is a good thing and will make you meals more interesting. The following tips will guide you in expanding your cooking techniques plus give you new ideas to try out. Follow these suggestions if you want to become a better cook in no time.
Find a convenient cool dark place for storing herbs and spices. Excessive warmth or light can leech the flavor from your spices and herbs.
Store unripened fruits in a plastic container that has holes in it. As fruits ripen, they produce a gas called ethylene. When you store the fruit in a perforated bag, the ethylene gas can escape so that the natural decay process slows down. This allows your produce and fruits to stay fresh longer.
Make your cooking very colorful. You need to prepare colorful meals to make them look interesting and be healthier. Colorful garnishments can be used to boost the look and nutrition of any meal. Cherry tomatoes, carrot curls, and parsley can make any meal more appealing to the eye and the palate. Let the inner artist show itself onto the dinner plates, and you’ll have the family lined up begging for more.
Replace your spices twice a year. Spices lose their flavor if kept too long. If you know you can’t use as much as is in the package, give some to a family member or friend to keep from wasting it.
To enhance the flavor and texture of your pasta sauce, set aside a small amount of the water that was used to cook the pasta. Save approximately 1/4 cup of water after cooking your pasta. Put in some of the water when you mix the pasta and the sauce. Starches present in the retained water can contribute to a creamier sauce when combined.
When food is being sauteed, make the pan is not overloaded. The excess moisture can steam the food versus sauteing, minimizing the chances that you will get that crispness you want. Use a low temperature while doing this, too.
Many times your burgers can stick to your grill and it could be nearly impossible to free them without destroying them. Brushing vegetable oil on the grill will help keep your food from sticking.
Try to keep your spices and herbs in a dark, cool area of your kitchen. Their flavors are weakened significantly by things like heat, light and humidity. When stored correctly, your spices can stay spicy for up to a year. Spices that come in the whole form will keep their flavor for around 3-5 years. Store your spices correctly to make them last.
A meat thermometer should be used to ensure that meat is being cooked properly. Each meat has minimum internal temperatures that are recommended so that it is safe to eat. 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.
When you slice fresh fruit, it can turn brown if exposed to the air. Examples of such fruits are pears, avocados, bananas, apples and peaches. Although a mixture of salt water and lemon will prevent browning, dipping the fresh fruits in pineapple juice produces a better flavor. A small dip works well, so don’t go dunking the fruit in the juice.
These tips can greatly help your cooking skills. Try each of these tips at least one time. Remember that the more you practice, the more proficient you will become. Improve your cooking skills significantly in under a week by adding these tips to your arsenal of kitchen tricks.