Most people simply view cooking as a means to an end. The truth is that cooking is a joy. Cooking can also be used as a way to promote a healthy lifestyle. A good chef constantly learns new things; hopefully, this article will deepen your knowledge of cooking and help you to enjoy your time in the kitchen.
Prepare everything you need to cook your food in advance. This can help you avoid too much heat or gas when you cook, and can also make it safer to cook with a hot pan, oil, or other dangers that could harm you if you’re distracted.
Here’s a way to turn that thin sauce around. Make a mixture of two tablespoons of water and one tablespoon corn starch. Continually stir the sauce while adding corn starch slowly. Don’t add all the starch at once, and avoid stirring erratically. Either of these could over-thicken the sauce.
By completing some food preparation ahead of time you can simplify your cooking process. Look over your recipe and determine which items can be prepared in advance and not spoil. You can make a lot of your preparations a day or more in advance. This is a great time saver, and can make that complex recipe into something that is quick and fun.
Cooking methods like boiling tend to destroy a lot of the nutrients that are in vegetables. To preserve a vegetable nutritious value, cook quickly by either steaming or sauteing it. Ideally you should consume the vegetable in its raw state.
Dab away excess moisture from ground meat before cooking it. It is a good idea to always blot away moisture before cooking ground meat. If you leave the moisture in your meat, that moisture will be released when you cook. It will start to sizzle away. The meat will then steam instead of sear like expected.
An organized cooking area is where you should focus to avoid costly mistakes while cooking your meals. An organized cooking station is a productive cooking station. If you aren’t organized, you will start to forget what you buy and that will make you spend too much money that could have been spent on something you would have eaten.
To make your French fries crispier, let the raw potatoes soak for about half an hour in cold water prior to frying. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.
Avoid cooking foods in excessive oil when you are trying to become healthier or drop a few extra pounds. Many foods can be prepared in an alternative way that does not involve frying in oil. These products contain a lot of unnecessary fat. Nonstick cooking sprays are a great substitute which ends up giving you the same result except in a healthy way, as opposed to the oil which is unhealthy.
Choose a bone-in roast if you are short on cooking time. The bone holds heat and helps cook the interior of your roast, speeding up the entire process. Cut the meat around the bone before serving.
Twice a year, you should buy all new spices. The flavor of spices diminishes if they sit around for too long. If you purchase spices that you know are not used often in your home, give some to a family member or friend.
In summary, a top-notch cook is always adding to their knowledge. The best part about cooking is not simply meal preparation, but learning about all the kinds of foods, ingredients and techniques. A lot of the joy of cooking comes from sharing. Cooking is a skill that is helpful to show others.