Back For Seconds: Cooking Tips No One Can Resist
Learning the basics of cooking is the first step you, as a new cook, need to take. The truth is that not everyone is born with the ability to cook. However, cooking is a skill that can be taught to all. You should take time to learn the basics of food safety and technique when pursuing this journey! This tips can get you started down the right path.
Cooking with skewers can provide very beneficial if you use them properly. Metal skewers will work better if they are twisted or squared.
If you are working on creating more home-cooked meals, try the library for cookbooks that offer a variety of easy recipes that will be fun to prepare. Be as patient as you can be when you are learning how to cook.
Pie crusts and tart crusts should be cook a bit past the point that you think they should be cooked. They should be a light golden brown instead of pale in color. When you see the golden color it indicates carmelization, which lends a crisp, sweet flavor to the pie crust.
Always slice your meat thinly and on the bias when you are cooking stir-fry. Perfectly sliced meat takes time and patience, though. When the meat feels firm, pull it from the freezer and cut across the grain at a 45 degree angle.
Slicing hot meat is often challenging, so consider partially freezing joints before you attempt to cut them up. If you are cooking an exotic dish that requires thinly sliced meat, this is the best way to do it. It’s easier to slice meat that has been partially frozen because the fibers don’t tear and stretch, so you can make clean cuts. Make sure to let the meat thaw before you cook it, frozen ice and hot oil do mix well together.
Improper storage techniques won’t ensure they will last from harvest through the winter months, which is when they are most often desired for inclusion in recipes. Warm, dry air rots apples quickly, so keep them in sealed or tied plastic bags and make sure they are stored in a refrigerator or a chilly basement. One bad apple will quickly ruin the other apples.
If you cooked with a sauce, save the leftover sauce in an ice cube tray that you can freeze. When you’d like to make a quick and easy meal later on, you just have to pop out a few cubes of sauce and reheat them in a pan. This process doesn’t cause the sauce to go bad, so reheat with confidence!
Chicken Stock
You should think big when preparing chicken stock. Plan on preparing a large batch so that the excess can be frozen and used later. A rich chicken stock makes a savory base for soups, stews and other dishes. Allow the stock to cool before freezing it in durable, Ziploc bags.
If you want to lose weight and eat healthier, cut back on the amout of oil that you cook with. These products contain a lot of unnecessary fat. Replace them with a nonstick cooking spray and you won’t notice the difference.
Read the nutrition facts, even for raw ingredients you purchase. Cooking staples can be full of not-so-nice things that can spoil your health. You will want to be sure that this product doesn’t have high amounts of sugar or sodium, they could cause major health problems if they are over consumed.
Whenever you season your food, try seasoning it slowly rather than all at once. This way, you’re giving the food most of the flavoring and are making the best from your ingredients.
Freshest Garlic
Buy fresh cloves of garlic and mince them yourself for use in recipes. Generally speaking, the freshest garlic will also have the sweetest taste. To choose the freshest garlic, keep away from any cloves that are bruised, soft or have skins that feel too firm.
Do not dress your guests’ salads. Serve the dressing on the side and allow your guests to dress it to their liking. Some people prefer more dressing than others; let guests pour their own dressing. Give them a choice of salad dressings.
Try making your own dried tomatoes. Dry your own by slicing ripe tomatoes 1/2″ thick, or cut Romas in half, lengthwise. Place the resulting tomato pieces on a rack, then salt their exposed flesh lightly. Heat your oven to 190 degrees and place the tomatoes inside for as long as ten hours. Place them in the freezer in plastic bags. Dried tomatoes may also be stored in a jar containing fresh herbs and olive oil. When refrigerated, they will last a minimum of two weeks.
Spices should be stored in a cool, dark area so that they stay as fresh as they can for as long as possible. Heat will cause flavor loss in your herbs and spices; therefore, they should be kept away from heat sources such as stoves.
While not everybody is a born chef, if you use this advice, you may become a beginner chef quickly. It’s not all that hard. Just keep these tips in handy and you will soon be preparing delicious meals for your family and friends.