When you first start cooking, you need to begin somewhere. The truth is that not everyone is born with the ability to cook. However, the ability to master the craft of cooking is something that any person can do. Bear in mind, that in order to become a great cook there are things that you need to know. There are tips below that can help you start.
To make your cooking experience easier, you should always prepare your ingredients prior to cooking. It will speed up preparation time, and you will avoid discovering you are short an ingredient halfway through. Not only does prepping your ingredients save time, it also saves significant stress throughout the cooking process.
To add interest to to the normal dishes you prepare, add a new sauce or a new spice. Using new marinades, topping with a different sauce or using alternative spice combinations can really change the entire flavor of a dish. An easy way to find new spices and sauces, and one that is often overlooked, is to check out your local foreign food stores.
Stay organized in the kitchen to avoid easy mistakes, like overcooking or burning your food. Having all your kitchen tools handy and organized will help you turn out a good meal. Stay organized, as it will help you keep up with what you have and you won’t be wasting food or money.
When making dough for cookies, set your sticks of butter out at room temperature for a while so they are softened and avoid going further than adding sugar if the butter has been melted. If it has accidentally melted, place the butter inside the freezer and leave for several minutes to harden slightly. Alternatively, you could chill the dough once the ingredients have been mixed. When you use chilled dough, it will not spread as far on the cookie sheet.
Preparation is one of the most important things that you will have to do before you cook a meal for your friends or family. This will allow you to make sure that all the necessary ingredients are accounted for. Plan your meal a day in advance to make sure you have everything you need. Being prepared will settle your anxiety and ensure that you are ready to create a fantastic meal.
Try this quick trick to salvage your efforts. In a medium sized bowl, mix together 1 tblsp water and 2 tblsp corn starch. Stir the solution into the simmering thin sauce to make it thicker. For sauce that is too thick, add liquid until your sauce is at the desired consistency.
Try mashing potatoes using hot milk instead of boiling milk. Cold milk can weigh down an otherwise light and fluffy batch of mashed potatoes. Why eat lumpy mashed potatoes if you don’t need to.
When cooking ground meat, blot it dry before cooking. If your meal includes ground meat, then blotting the moisture is especially important. If your meat is too moist, then it can affect how it cooks. It will cause the meat to sizzle. While this may not seem like a big deal, it means that the meat will actually steam, instead of sear, which makes a huge difference in the texture.
Follow the recipe exactly when you are making macaroni and cheese. Your macaroni will turn out wonderful if you do it this way. It will also taste so good when you melt cheese over your noodles. You can just use a big solid spoon to serve your mac and cheese. Sprinkle some pepper on top for added spice, and enjoy!
Most people do not have a natural talent for cooking but skills can be acquired with time and efforts. It’s not as difficult as you might believe. Just remember the advice you learned here, and you’ll be on your way.