The culinary arts use hundreds of techniques, recipes and ingredients to produce an infinite number of delicious meals and dishes. Some techniques are simple and others are quite complex. You will discover some suggestions to help you cook better, no matter what level you are on.
Being creative is a great way to get better at cooking. Cooking is about coming up with different ways of using a recipe not just following it. In some cases by making little modifications to the recipe here and there will result in a dish that is tastier than if you had used the original recipe. That is the definition of a true cook!
When you make food that contains seasoning, only put a little bit on at a time instead of putting it on all at once. If you season your food this way, you can bring out the flavors of your ingredients a lot better.
There are number of ways that are easy to prepare a better tortilla. An oven preheated to 350 degrees will make quick work of crisping up your tortillas. Just place the tortilla directly onto the rack and wait until it reaches the desired level of crispness. Another way would be to use the top of your gas stove, then place the tortilla right on top of the grill over the flame. These preparation methods allow for a fresher, tastier tortilla.
Always store your spices in a cool and dark place. Their flavors are weakened significantly by things like heat, light and humidity. For most grounded herbs and spices keep a lot of their flavor more than a year. Whole spices are hardier, and will retain their robust flavoring for several years. Storing spices in glass containers with a tight-fitting lid will keep them best.
After purchasing fruits that are not quite ripe, store them in a plastic bag that is perforated with holes. As fruits ripen, they produce a gas called ethylene. When you keep these fruits in aerated bags, the gas that might normally build up and be trapped is released and allows the fruit to maintain freshness longer.
If you plan on using fresh herbs, like parsley or dill in your food, form them into bunches and cut them with scissors. This chopping method produces lighter, fluffier herbs that are drier than conventionally cut herbs.
Try ketchup as a batter ingredient in fried foods. Ketchup isn’t only a condiment to dunk your food in, it is also great to use as part of a pre-battering dip. The ketchup adds a surprising zest to any fried food, and most people would never think of ketchup in that way.
Please your palate with tasty winter greens. Kale, collars and broccoli rabe will taste much sweeter after they have lived passed the first frost. Select greens that have a bright, deep glossy green, and avoid greens that look dull, limp or yellowish. Always wash these sorts of veggies very carefully as they tend to accumulate a ton of dirt. Completely submerge greens in cool water. Shake the water off and then rinse the greens until the water is completely clear.
Try adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes to lower the fat content. Since cauliflower is bland, it will mix right in with the potatoes along with the other ingredients. Additionally, cauliflower has the same texture and color as mashed potatoes, so it makes it an easy, healthy addition to your dish.
Have you heard the saying, “too many cooks spoil the broth?” The same is true about too many techniques, ingredients, or elements to a dish. Try to keep it simple and you can create wonderful, tasty meals that are fast and healthy! Use the tips in this article to start cooking with more understanding of how to make the best meals you can.