Learning how to cook takes work, but it’s also enjoyable and often delicious. Regardless of what motivates you to learn more about cooking, the process itself is sure to be a rewarding one. The following article has the tips you need to take you on the path to cooking glory.
Use a fat-free broth if you want to make a fat-free soup or stew. Soup is also lower in fat when it includes veggies and lean meat. When you have cooked your soup to your liking, place it in the fridge to cool off. This allows the remaining fat to congeal on the top. You can remove and get rid of this hardened fat. For each tablespoon of fat that you remove, you will have removed approximately 100 calories.
Save the delicious taste of summer by drying tomatoes yourself. Start by cutting full-sized tomatoes into 1/2″ slices or by halving Roma tomatoes. Set them on a rack cut side up and sprinkle lightly with salt. Put the rack on a baking sheet, and slow-bake in an oven that is set to 190 degrees for about 10 hours. Keep the tomatoes fresh by storing them in freezer bags. You can also store them in jars packed with herbs and olive oil. Dried tomatoes should be stored within the refrigerator and used within two weeks.
Always bake your crusts a little longer than is absolutely necessary. They should not be a pale blond color, they need to be golden brown. The golden color indicates that the sugar in the pie crust has caramelized and this will give a sweet and crisp flavor.
An easy, potent method of adding variety to your dishes is to alternate spices and sauce combinations. Add some new spices or find some other sauces to use to marinate or top the foods. Many people don’t realize that interesting, and often inexpensive, spices and other ingredients can easily be found at shops offering foreign foods.
When you saute food, try to avoid filling the pan with oil. Excessive moisture can steam food, instead of actually sauteing it. Always saute over a low flame or low setting on your stove-top.
Blot ground meats to remove moisture before you cook. Getting rid of the excess moisture will ensure that it cooks properly. If you leave the moisture in your meat, that moisture will be released when you cook. The sizzling effect will burn off the moisture. When this happens, your ground meat may actually steam, instead of searing like you want it to.
Be careful to neither over-bake nor under-bake your cake! If you are just beginning baking, you may have a hard time understanding how to adjust recommended oven temperatures to take variables such as elevation and humidity into account. This can cause your cake to bake strangely. A better idea is to insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it removes cleanly, it’s done; if batter is on it, it needs longer to bake.
Many vegetables and herbs have a smell that has a tendency to remain on cutting boards, despite how many times you wash them. Use permanent ink to mark one end of the cutting board to identify which is which.
Are you eager to start applying the tips you just learned in the article? Use the information above as your portal to cooking exceptional food. You will be proud to serve a meal you prepared from scratch once you master these and other techniques and tips. It will take practice and determination to improve your cooking. On the other hand, a delicious dish makes the effort quite rewarding.