Most people simply view cooking as a menial chore. It can also serve as a way to a healthier lifestyle. A good cook continues to learn, this article will deepen your knowledge of cooking and help you to enjoy your time in the kitchen.
A good cook takes pride in keeping a set of well-sharpened knives. If your knife is dull, it’s obviously tougher to use, but it is also much more dangerous in general. If you use a dull knife you will need to exert more force to get the job done and run the risk of cutting yourself, whereas with a sharpened knife you can do your prep work easier and quicker.
Your spices should be stored in any area that is free of light. Your culinary preparations will taste better if your spices are fresher.
Never cook your meat immediately after it has been seasoned. Cook a small piece of the mixture before you continue to cook the entire batch to ensure that the seasonings are correct.
Adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes is a great way to reduce the amount of fat and calories they contain. You should use equal portions of potatoes and cauliflower when making this delicious side. You will not taste the blandness of cauliflower, but notice a new interesting flavor instead. Additionally, cauliflower has the same texture and color as mashed potatoes, so it makes it an easy, healthy addition to your dish.
Quickly cooking vegetables makes them to retain much of their nutritional value.Vegetables that are cooked slowly lose their taste and nutrition. These cooking techniques usually produce vegetables that are more nutritious overall. Cooking better vegetables for the least amount of time possible.
Do you cook with freshly grown basil? Take a bunch of this fresh herb and set it in a glass. Make sure the basil’s stems are saturated with water. Put it on top of your kitchen counter and it will remain fresh for weeks! The basil may even start growing roots if you occasionally change the water regularly. Trim or cut the basil once in a while so it grows even more and you will be able to enjoy fresh basil!
Mushrooms soak up water that you don’t want to be added to the recipe. Try using a clean, wet cloth and wiping them off instead.
Garlic can transfer to your hands. Try rubbing your hands on stainless steel sink after you work with the garlic or other potent ingredients. This will take the odor from transferring to other foods you handle next.
Ice trays are fabulous for freezing and storing leftover sauce.This makes it easy to prepare a quick meal by reheating the sauce using a later time. The sauce will be very edible even after being in an ice tray.
Have you ever experienced difficulty judging the time your meat should be grilled? Having a high-quality meat thermometer handy, especially a digital one, is a great way to ensure the meat you serve is fully cooked. For extremely thick cuts of meat you should cook it with the lid closed to reduce the amount of time it needs to cook.
Plan to make a big pot of stock in order to freeze and store it. Good homemade chicken stock is a wonderful base in soups, casseroles, stews and other dishes.
Measure how much oil you are using! This will help you lower the fat in your cooking. This helps you keep an eye on just how much oil that you want to use.
A great source of protein for your diet can be found in beans and tofu. Both can be found at any grocery store. Tofu can be pan-fried with some seasonings, and makes a tasty meat alternative. Boil the beans with herbs to make a tasty protein-filled dish.
Leave the bone in your roast when you are cooking and pressed for time.The bone helps distribute the heat throughout the meat cook faster from the inside.
Do not use wine for cooking a recipe that you do not think normally tastes good. You can find wines that is specifically formulated for use in cooking.
Dry your own tomatoes. Cut Romas tomatoes in lengthwise halves, or slice ripe regular tomatoes into half inch slices for drying. Put them facing upwards onto a cooling rack and add a little salt. Then place that on a baking sheet and dry them in an oven that is 190 degrees for 10 hours. You can store your dried tomatoes in your freezer. Alternatively, dried tomatoes can be packed in a jar filled with olive oil and fresh herbs. The jar can be stored in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Dried Tomatoes
You can make dried tomatoes. You can do this by slicing your tomatoes about a half an inch thick, or ripe tomatoes sliced about a half inch thick. Dried tomatoes can be placed into a jar containing fresh herbs and olive oil. The jars can be stored in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
You can chop fresh herbs quickly by bundling them together in bunches and cutting them with scissors. This will keep them drier and less heavy than if they are chopped.
Spices should be replaced every 6 months. The flavor of spices fade just a few months after opening the container. If you purchase spices that you know are not used often in your home, give it to someone you love!
A wonderful cook is forever learning new ways to achieve delicious meals. Learning about different cooking methods and types of foods is half the fun of cooking. In addition, it provides you with the pleasure of teaching others the wonderful things you have learned. The ability to cook well is a skill, but it is also a treasure that is meant for sharing.
When you are using your cutting board to chop herbs, sprinkle a little salt on the board. Salt will not only add flavor to your herbs, but it will keep the herbs on the cutting board. Make sure to avoid over-salting by not adding additional salt directly to what you are preparing. Applying salt to the board will allow the herbs to stick better and give the meat a bit more flavor.