The desire to be a great chef is inherent in many of us, but the process you must go through to become a great chef can be entirely overwhelming. However, cooking can be learned in short sessions. The following article will outline several simple ways you can enhance your cooking.
When chopping fresh herbs, you should shake some salt on a cutting board. This keeps your herbs on the cutting board and can add a bit of flavor, as well. Don’t over-salt your foods. The salt that you sprinkle on the board sticks to the herbs and gives them just the right amount of flavor.
To quickly cut herbs, bind herbs together and snip with scissors. This chopping method produces lighter, fluffier herbs that are drier than conventionally cut herbs.
Use a fat-free soup stock or broth in order to make a stew or soup that is practically free of any fat. You should next add ample vegetables and substitute your meats for leaner cuts to trim the fat from your pot of soup. Before you serve the soup, allow it to chill for a little while in the refrigerator. Any fat will rise to the top of the soup and congeal. Simply skim off the hard fat now and throw it away. This will equal about 100 calories that you have saved from each tablespoon of fat you removed.
To get a firm shell for twice baked potatoes or potato skins, use a baking potato with a thicker skin. Red potatoes have very thin skin and are unable to support dense fillings.
After eating turkey, whether for Thanksgiving or otherwise, do not throw away the leftovers. It is smarter to divide up the meat and seal it in airtight containers that you freeze. With enough leftover turkey, you can enjoy turkey sandwiches and salads for several weeks after the bird was cooked.
Are you going to cook with fresh basil? Take some fresh basil and put some of it in a glass. Make sure the basil’s stems are covered in water. Basil will stay fresh in bowl of water for up to four weeks. By changing the water every so often, your basil will develop 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.
When you are cooking, wash the dishes as you go along. Have a sink of hot, soapy water on one side and rinsing water on the other. Your utensils and containers wash up easier the sooner you get to them, and washing them as you go also allows you to re-use them while preparing the same recipe.
Grilling your fruit can be delicious. You can skewer a selection of fruits such as peaches, melon and bananas. Keep grilling them until grill marks show up. Use the cooked fruit to top off a serving of grilled pound cake or a dish of ice cream.
When purchasing recipe ingredients, always carefully read the label. There are many common supplies in cooking that contain unhealthy ingredients that are hidden. Select ingredients that have little salt or sugar in order to make the healthiest meals possible.
When cooking, it is always a good idea to get a little creative. You need not follow a recipe exactly. Give the recipe your own personal twist by leaving an ingredient or two out, substituting, or adding something. These little changes can result in an exceptionally good dish that is better than the original recipe! Now that is a real cook!
Whether you seek to cook dinner for the family or to create something special for a date, being able to cook terrific meals is a stellar quality to have. Sharing a meal with loved ones is happily practiced worldwide. Using what you’ve learned through this article will allow you to become a better cook!