While everyone can eat, not everyone know how to cook. Make the most of your cooking efforts by trying the tips offered here. Don’t let complicated recipes, ingredients, or kitchen equipment put you off. Cooking can be a very good skill to have. Let these tips inspire you to pursue new culinary heights.
A cool, dark storage area will preserve your herbs freshness for the longest period of time. If they are exposed to light, moisture, or heat, they will lose much of their flavor. It has been found that ground herbs and spices maintain their flavor for roughly a year. Spices that are whole will retain flavor longer, closer to 3-5 years. When stored properly, spice stay fresh for longer periods of time.
Spices should be stored in a cool and dark place. Storing them out in the light and heat will cause them to lose some of their shelf life. Spices last longer and taste better when stored in cool, dark locations. Fresh spices can greatly enhance your meals, making this effort well worth your time.
Do not add food to the oil until it is hot. A drop of water on the pan will sizzle when the oil is at the proper temperature.
Slicing meat into thin even strips is easier when the meat is partially frozen. This is great to do when you need to slice meat thinly for Chinese or Thai meals. Partially freezing meat keep the fibers in meat from stretching and tearing resulting in perfectly sliced strips. After you have sliced the meat, allow it to thaw out before cooking. This keeps the meat cooking evenly.
Do not season all the meat immediately: try a small piece first. It’s hard to correct overly seasoned meat but spices can always be added. Do not try and cook the whole piece of meat right after adding seasoning. Cut a little piece of meat into a patty before cooking it thoroughly. Taste the cooked patty, and cook the remainder of the meat if the seasoning is just right, or make any necessary adjustments to the seasonings.
If you are preparing a meal for a boss or new date, cook something that you are familiar with. Refrain from enthusiastically whipping up a new dish or using untested ingredients. This will help to make cooking more enjoyable and less stressful.
Fresh Basil
Would you like to cook with fresh basil? Place some basil in a clean glass. Make sure the stems are covered with water. The basil will stay fresh for a matter of weeks on your windowsill or kitchen counter. You can even grow new basil plants if you feel like changing the water every day or so. The stems will sprout roots; that’s the wonder of plant life. All you need to do is keep the roots of the basil trimmed regularly and you will have fresh basil ready for use for quite some time.
Don’t be intimidated or frightened by the thought of learning how to cook. Making food at home is a money saver, much more healthy, nutritious and fun. Apply these tips the next time you go grocery shopping or cook. Celebrate your accomplishment and stick with cooking at home!