We all need to cook, but that doesn’t mean it has to just be a chore. Anybody can be a cook if he has good information and useful advice from which he can learn. You will find that kind of great advice in the following article.
You should keep your spices and herbs in a space that is cool and away from light. Warmth, humidity and light will make them stale and unflavorful. Herbs and spices generally keep their taste and flavor for about one year. Spices that are raw, or whole, can keep the original flavor for as long as five years, though it usually falls somewhere between three and five. When stored properly, spice stay fresh for longer periods of time.
Apples are a popular ingredient during fall and winter, but unless they are stored properly, they spoil quickly. Store them in your fridge or basement, in plastic bags that are loosely tied, as they tend to spoil in dry warm areas. Remember the rule, one bad apple will spoil the bunch.
Give pre-cut, raw potatoes a cold water bath for a half-hour prior to frying for crispier French fries. When your potatoes soak up cold fluids, their fibers are reinforced. This means that they will hold up better to the heat necessary for the frying process.
To reduce the calories and fat of mashed potatoes, and to avoid sacrificing taste or texture, replace some potatoes with the same amount of cauliflower. Since cauliflower is bland, it will mix right in with the potatoes along with the other ingredients. Cauliflower mixes easily with potatoes and will become hard to notice while reducing your intake of carbs.
When you are cooking, it is important to remember that a fresh ingredient is always better than a frozen or dried ingredient. Use whatever seasonal ingredients are available to create tasty dishes, which are also less expensive.
Garlic is just one of many tasty ingredients whose flavor has a downside; it transfers to your hands. Try rubbing your hands on the inside of a steel sink after you work with the garlic or other potent ingredients. This will take care of the odors clinging to your hands and enable you to handle other ingredients without contaminating them with strong aromas.
If you make sauce, freeze it into ice cubs to use later on. This way, when you want to make an easy meal another night, all you have to do is reheat it in a saute pan. Freezing the sauce in this manner will keep it fresh and ready to be reheated.
Cooking isn’t just about putting together a bunch of ingredients. Trying to make different dishes can be a very enjoyable and delicious activity. Even if you have had failures once in a while, you can improve your success rate by following the tips in this article. If you want to be a better cook, heed these suggestions.