It may be surprising, but anyone can cook. If you are able to follow instructions, you too can learn to cook. Do you own basic cooking equipment? If the answer to these two questions is yes, then you too can learn how to cook. If you’d like to expand your skills in the kitchen, read the helpful tips below that will show you how you can make easy, delicious dishes for your loved ones.
Prep work can be done way ahead of time. This will simplify matters when you are cooking your meals. Cooking can get stressful when you’re working to deadline. Try to complete your preparations, so you can avoid scrambling later on.
You should know a few things before you cook anything on a skewer. When using metal skewers, opt for those that are square-shaped or twisted; these will hold onto food better than round models can.
Before preparing a nice meal for friends and relations, be sure to make a good plan. Gather all the ingredients beforehand. Along with the ingredients, you need to make sure you have the correct utensils for cooking the next day. Taking the time to prepare yourself will guarantee that the meal will be a success.
Cut your meat as thin as you can if you are using it in a stir-fry. This is not easy to do and could take some time. When the meat feels firm, pull it from the freezer and cut across the grain at a 45 degree angle.
It is extremely important that your knives are always sharp. Knives that have not been sharpened in a while can not only pose a threat to your health, but also a threat to smashing your food. Forcing dull knives through foods can result in personal injury, whereas a sharp knife will quickly and easily cut right through.
Place meat in the freezer for a few minutes to make slicing easier. This technique is especially important if you are making Oriental dishes. By marginally freezing meat, slicing it is made cleaner, as its fibers will not tear quite as easily. Allow the meat to thaw prior to cooking though, so that it can cook evenly.
Before frying raw potatoes, allow them to soak for half an hour in a bowl of cold water; this will result in crispier fries. When potatoes are allowed to absorb cold water, the texture is able to withstand the extreme heat of cooking without breaking down and becoming mushy.
Mashed Potatoes
A nutritious way to reduce the calories from your mashed potatoes is to replace some of the potatoes with cauliflower. Cauliflower does not have a strong taste and will be virtually undetectable when mixed with the potatoes and other ingredients. Cauliflower has the same texture and color as mashed potatoes, so the dish will be transformed into one that has more vegetables and fewer calories.
Do you experience a guilty twinge when you pitch out rotten fruit? Have you ever been tempted to cut the rotten bits out of a piece of fruit and eat the rest? Unfortunately, there isn’t any way to save fruit that has begun to rot. You should dispose of any rotten fruit, as mold penetrates further than the naked eye can see. Rotting food can carry a number of pathogens, so it is best to avoid the risk.
Are you cooking using fresh basil? Put some fresh basil into a glass. Fill the glass with water till the stems are covered. You can keep basil fresh for weeks on top of your kitchen counter this way. If you replace the basil’s water enough, the basil can grow roots while in the water. While the basil is alive and thriving, make sure you trim the leaves in order to progress the growth of the plant. You will have plenty of fresh basil on hand.
You can cook as a hobby, skill, and as a profession. The ways to cook food are endless. And the best advice comes from people who can share the techniques that make them good at their skills and talents. Try these tips out when you cook a meal for your family and watch their faces light up with joy when they realize how great your food tastes.