No matter how skilled you are, when it comes to cooking there is always something new to learn. You can transform an unremarkable meal into a memorable feast if you learn and practice the right techniques and recipes. Try some of these tips to make your meals interesting and exciting!
Pungent foods such as garlic, onions, and fish can leave an offensive odor on your hands. You can effectively remove this scent by rubbing your hands on a stainless steel object before you wash them. It doesn’t matter whether you use a spoon, one of your sink’s corners, or a stainless-steel soap bar. Performing this particular action will eliminate the odor and freshen your hands.
Partially freeze meat to make slicing into thin strips easier. This is perfect for meals that require really thin meat such as Chinese or Thai dishes. By partially freezing the meat, it can be sliced with much less effort and with little damage, too, as the fibers will will be less likely to tear. However, so they are evenly cooked, you want to make certain the meat strips are thawed before cooking.
Cooking processes like boiling can remove most of the nutrients from food. Rather than boiling, quickly steam or sauté your vegetables to retain nutrients. Even better, eat them raw!
Pie crusts and tart crusts should be cook a bit past the point that you think they should be cooked. Your crust should be a deep caramel as opposed to a light goldenrod. The golden color indicates that the sugar in the pie crust has caramelized and this will give a sweet and crisp flavor.
Homemade Stock
Homemade stock can add flavor to many dishes. Making it in huge quantities can allow you to store the leftover in some resealable bags in the freezer. This ensures that tasty, homemade stock is always available when the time comes to prepare soups and other recipes. If you make your own stock, it will not be full of preservatives.
Sprinkle salt liberally into the boiling water that is used to cook pasta. This allows the seasoning to soak into the pasta, which will retain its flavor. Pasta that is salted after it is cooked does not absorb the salt as readily.
Get your ingredients squared away ahead of time. It is essential to have all prep work finished before it’s time to begin cooking. When you have a schedule as to how long you plan to be cooking, things can get a little stressful in the kitchen. By doing all of your preparation in advance, you avoid the stress and just enjoy your meal.
A meat thermometer is a great way to show you are cooking meats properly. Follow the recommended guidelines for the correct internal temperature for each kind of meat. Meat that has not been cooked sufficiently can have bacteria growing in it, and these can cause illness if eaten.
Make big portions when preparing stock. If you make a large amount of stock you can freeze it for future use. Excellent chicken stock that is homemade is a great base for use in stews, soups, casseroles, and more. Allow your stock to cool, then put portions in heavy-duty Ziploc bags made for freezing.
Every cook needs access to a set of sharp knives. If your knife is dull, it’s obviously tougher to use, but it is also much more dangerous in general. When you use a dull knife, you often have to force the blade through whatever you are cutting. Using a sharp knife is much easier and safer.
Brining is a fabulous cooking method. Soak any poultry in a brine 1 hour before cooking to get a great taste out of it.
When you are trying to cook dried beans, don’t add garlic or salt until the beans are soft. Both garlic and salt can keep your beans from softening while they cook, particularly with old beans. Wait to add spices until the beans are close to the texture you’d like they to have.
Garlic is delicious; however the pungent aroma will get stuck on your hands. Rub your hands on the inside of a sink made of stainless steel after using garlic. This trick removes the offending scent from your hands, which prevents them from migrating to the foods you touch next.
If you are preparing a meal for a large family gathering, chances are good that you are probably more than a little stressed-out by the idea. If you want to avoid last-minute panic and confusion, all you need to do is complete as much of your preparation in advance as possible. In the very least, you can gather spices, measure ingredients, and prepare marinades.
Want to add more protein to your diet? Consider incorporating beans and tofu! Most grocery stores sell both items. A delicious alternative to meat is tofu pan fried with your favorite seasonings. For a tasty bean dish, simply boil them with your favorite herbs.
When cooking or preparing for someone important, such as your boss or a new date, it is best to cook food that you are good at. Don’t try to create a new dish when you’re not experienced in cooking it already. By doing so, you eliminate much of the stress of preparing the meal.
If you’ve made a big pot of sauce, freeze the leftovers by pouring the extra sauce into ice cube trays. This way, the next time you want some sauce, all you need to do is saute it in a pan. Freezing the sauce into cubes in the trays is safe and convenient!
When preparing a meal, make it part of your routine to wash dishes as you use them. With a two-bowl sink, you can keep one side full of hot suds and run clear water for rinsing in the other. If you wash them right away, it will be easier and leave more room for preparing food. This will also make the dishes available for use if you need them again.
Apply the tips from this article to help guide you towards having a better handle on cooking. With improved culinary skills, not only will you eat better, the people around you will eat better as well. You may be the next Julia Child.