Even if you only cook for your family, there is always something new to learn. Learning the best ways to prepare different kinds of foods can turn your cooking from average to spectacular. Read on for a handful of useful cooking tips that can help you to uncover your own culinary style.
If you are cooking and you need to add some oil to the pan, drip it down the inside so that it will be a little warm when it hits the food. Having the oil at the right temperature when you cook with it will make the flavors pop.
Corn Starch
Do not throw your sauce away. This simple trick can save it. Use a bowl to combine 1 Tbsp of corn starch with 2 Tbsp of water. Stir the solution into the simmering thin sauce to make it thicker. Keep stirring your sauce and add the corn starch little by little.
Did you ever feel badly for throwing moldy fruit in the garbage? Are you tempted to just cut off the moldy part and save the rest for your meal? A half rotten fruit cannot be saved. Fruit with any mold on it must be discarded because it contains unhealthy organisms.
For crispier French fries, you should chill the peeled potatoes in water for 30 minutes or more before frying them. When you soak sliced potatoes in cold water, it strengthens their fibers, so that they can stand up to the heat when being deep fried.
Cooking vegetables quickly improves their overall quality. Vegetables which are cooked slowly can lose their taste and valuable nutrients. These quick cooking techniques will produce generally, healthier vegetable sides. Adapting the principle of faster cooking times is a crucial element in serving better quality vegetables to your family and friends.
Fresh Basil
Are you using fresh basil to cook with? Put a some of it in a cup. The stems will then need to be covered with water. Set the glass on the kitchen counter or windowsill to maintain its freshness for weeks. If you perform periodic water changes, the roots of the basil will grow in the water. 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.
If you’ve made a big pot of sauce, freeze the leftovers by pouring the extra sauce into ice cube trays. This will make reheating the sauce easy, as you can pull out as many cubes that you need for the next meal. The frozen sauce will keep extremely well until the next time you need it!
Airtight Containers
Always make sure that your flour, sugar and baking additives are stored in airtight containers. Store spices, seasonings and ingredients in airtight containers to avoid exposure to light, heat and humidity. They can be bought in lots of places, and it is an investment worth making.
If you desire to be a better cook, use these tips accomplish that. The cooking tips described in this article represent examples of the type of information that can improve the way you cook for yourself, your family and everyone else for any occasion.