Do you like a wide variety of foods? Do you wish you knew how to bake delicious cakes and sweets? Do you enjoy tucking into ethnic dishes? Do you want to learn how to make these kinds of meals at your house? Get out of dreamland and get into the kitchen! Follow these steps so you can learn how to cook tasty meals.
Many important nutrients are removed when vegetables are cooked in lengthy processes like boiling. To keep them nutritious, try quickly cooking them, like sauteing or steaming. You can also enjoy them raw.
Your spices should be stored in a place that is cool and dark. The shelf life of spices is greatly reduced if they are exposed to heat, humidity, or light. Spices stored in a cool, dark location will taste better and last longer. Your culinary preparations will taste better if your spices are fresh.
If you are making a meal for someone that you want to make a good impression on, be sure to make something you know how to make well. You can avoid stress by sticking to familiar recipes and food you enjoy. You will have a more relaxed and less anxious cooking experience.
Do you enjoy using fresh basil in your dishes? Take a few twigs of the basil and place it in a small container or glass. Cover its stems with water. This will help to keep it from going bad for quite a few days. Change the water from time to time so that the basil grows roots. Periodically prune the fresh basil; this will stimulate the plant to continue growing for a week or so.
Garlic may be a tasty addition to your meals, but the smell that stays on your hands is a bit of a downside. Rub your hands on the inside of a sink made of stainless steel after using garlic. This trick removes the offending scent from your hands, which prevents them from migrating to the foods you touch next.
Crispier fries come from potatoes that have been left to soak in ice cold water for about 30 minutes. When your potatoes soak up cold fluids, their fibers are reinforced. This means that they will hold up better to the heat necessary for the frying process.
Chicken Stock
It can be very useful to think large when making your favorite chicken stock. Make enough stock so that you can freeze the excess and use it later. You can use that delicious chicken stock in stews, casseroles, and soups. Let your stock cool off and pour it inside Ziploc bags.
When certain recipes call for milk or water, try adding some other liquids that you would see fit to experiment with flavors. Substitute plain water with juice, broth, or the water that you cooked your vegetables in. Buttermilk, yogurt and sour cream can be great substitutes for milk. Changing up the liquids in your recipes can add nutrition, while livening up a standby dish.
Dried and frozen ingredients should never be used over fresh ingredients if you want to get the most out of your cooking. When you use fresh ingredients you can bring out the true flavor of your food, and they can sometimes be cheaper in the end.
If you consider these suggestions, you will be a bit closer to making meals that you can enjoy. It is important to try new sauces and spices when you are cooking. You may even discover you new favorite dish during your cooking! Be guided by your taste buds and the tips laid out here; find that chef inside of you!