How many times have you dreaded going into the kitchen to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You might need a new perspective. Cooking can be enjoyable and relaxing if you try to see it in another way. Here are a few cooking tips that are sure to get your taste buds tingling and entice your inner chef to come out.
It is not unusual to slip up and accidentally add excess salt to a dish you are preparing. Fortunately, there are solutions! Take two raw potatoes, peel and chop them, and add them to the sauce to simmer for a quarter hour. These potato chunks will take in the excess salt. You could also choose to add more tomatoes to counteract the saltiness.
It is important to prepare a barbecue before you are actually ready to use it. Plan to start preparing the grilling surface about half an hour before you place food on it. The heat should be moderate and the charcoal should be a little ashy. This is the ideal temperature for grilling.
Get more flavor from the milk you mash your potatoes with by heating it first. Cold milk can weigh down an otherwise light and fluffy batch of mashed potatoes. Boring, lumpy mashed potatoes are for the birds.
You can chop fresh herbs quickly by bundling them together in bunches and cutting them with scissors. This practice does not get herbs wet like chopping would, and makes them generally fluffier and lighter.
It is important to maintain a wooden cutting board properly. Wooden cutting boards can warp and split if they are exposed to heat and moisture or if they are stored in an excessively dry area. Do not immerse the cutting board in water, instead, clean it using a sponge and warm water. You can find oil designed for cutting boards to maintain yours. Let it dry for a while after oiling.
When making food that relies on seasonings, use some every few minutes, versus using it all at the start. This will allow your food to really take on the flavor of the seasonings and make the food as flavorful as it can be.
If you are just starting out with cooking, consider doing your research at your local library. There are plenty of cookbooks with simple recipes available. Try making three or four of the recipes that appeal to you the most, and give yourself plenty of time to perfect your newly acquired skill.
Use salt liberally in the water used to cook pasta. Adding salt to the water prior to cooking ensures the pasta is infused with flavor. Salting after boiling your pasta will not give the same effect of absorption.
There are different kinds of potatoes, and recipes are usually designed for one particular type. Potatoes can be waxy, mealy or all-purpose. Mealy potatoes tend to be dry and crumbly, which is ideal for mashing. Russet potatoes are common mealy potatoes. An all-purpose potato, which can be suitably used in any dish, is the Yukon gold. If you are looking for potatoes to boil or steam, then you should choose a potato that is considered waxy. The common white and red potatoes are examples of a waxy potato.
Now that you’ve read this article, take this advice, and apply it to your meals. Once you try them, you’ll be assured that cooking isn’t that bad after all! In fact, you might start looking forward to it; ultimately, you might find yourself trying all kinds of recipes and dishes. You may find that you can be a good cook, if you give it a try!