Not everyone knows how to cook, but everyone eats! The tips in this article will help you learn a thing or two about preparing your own food. Don’t be intimidated by ingredients, recipes, or your kitchen. Being able to cook good food is a well sought-after talent and a great joy as well! Use these tips and don’t be scared to experiment in your kitchen every now and then.
if fresh basil what you’re cooking with? Gather a bunch and put it into a glass. Next, ensure the stems are covered with water. Keep it on a kitchen counter so you remember to use it. Change the water from time to time so that the basil grows roots. Occasionally trim the basil, which will encourage more growth, and you will be able to have the benefits of fresh basil for quite some time.
A pantry or other cool, dark space will preserve the flavor of herbs and spices the longest. Warmer areas will cause your spices to lose flavor.
You can sprinkle it on many other foods besides meat. Scrambled eggs taste delicious with it, or you can create a tasty snack by sprinkling it over roasted pumpkin seeds. Everyone will start to wonder about your secret ingredient and what it might be!
Leafy greens are very good for you but it may be hard to prepare them. They often have tough stems, which must be removed. To simplify this task, take the leaf and fold it in half. After you have done this, grab the middle of the stem to make a clean break. Or slice the folded side to remove the stem. When you unfold the leaf, you will have a perfect leaf with no stem.
You can dry out your own tomatoes. Drying them is easy – simply cut Roma tomatoes in half, or cut larger tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Place cut side up on a clean cooling rack and salt lightly. Use a cookie sheet to hold the rack and set it in the oven at 190 degrees for at least 10 hours. The tomatoes can then be placed in plastic bags and stored in the freezer. Dried tomatoes could also be put in a jar with fresh herbs and topped up with olive oil. Dried tomatoes should be stored within the refrigerator and used within two weeks.
Spices should be stored in an area with little light and low temperatures, like a pantry. If they are stored in an area that they are exposed to light, heat and humidity, their shelf life is shortened. Storing your spices in a cool location far from direct sunlight will help them last longer and taste better. Your culinary preparations will taste better if your spices are fresh.
Sharp knives are imperative when being used in the kitchen. Dull knives make cutting difficult, but in addition, they are dangerous. The chance of accidentally cutting yourself while using a dull knife to cut steak is way higher than using a sharp knife to cut the same steak.
Many of the most popular fruits become brown when exposed to air: apples, bananas and pears, for example. Salt water and lemons can prevent this from occurring. However, in order to get the best flavor while preventing browning of your fruits, you should instead dip the fruit into pineapple juice. A quick dip is all that is required, so don’t worry about leaving it to soak.
The idea of preparing a delicious dish need not be terrifying. Making food at home is a money saver, much more healthy, nutritious and fun. Take what you have learned from the tips in this article to the grocery store, your kitchen, and finally to your plate. So here’s to having a great home meal!