Learning how to cook is something that everyone should learn to do, no matter what the size of your family. Having the ability to cook is beneficial in so many ways, notwithstanding the nutritional and financial benefits of knowing this art. Here you will find informative tips that apply to many aspects of food preparation and cooking.
Get rid of any extra fat in your soups and stews. If you look at your stew or soup and find that there’s too much fat, first cool the dish. The fat will rise to the top. Place a cube of ice on a spoon. Skim the spoon across the top of the soup or stew. The ice will cause the fat to collect on it. If this does not work, a paper towel can be used to absorb some of the fat away.
When you prepare a turkey for Thanksgiving or any other time, don’t ever toss the leftovers. Instead, cut them up and put them in an airtight package and place it in your freezer. This will help the turkey to stay fresh over the next few weeks so that you can make sandwiches with the leftovers.
It has a wide variety of cooking uses, even outside the combination with meat. You can use it when you roast pumpkin or sunflower seeds or in any number of egg dishes. It is a simple addition, but the burst of flavor it gives will have everyone raving.
Always buy your meat and fish on the bone. Place bones in a large, heavy-duty freezer bag and place the bag inside the freezer so that it is ready when you need it.
To reheat dishes that contain oil without getting a greasy mess, bake them instead of microwaving them. Because the oil heats the fastest out of the ingredients, the heat that comes out of the microwave can make it separate from the rest of the meal. Baking will allow the entire dish to heat at the same time and keep all of the ingredients cohesive.
If you have not yet cooked with skewers you should definitely consider this fact. Try to buy twisted or other shaped skewers when they are metal, the food will stay on.
Dried Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be easily dried. Try slicing a Roma in half lengthwise, or cut larger tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Next, lightly salt the open sides and place them salt-side up on a wire cooling rack. After placing the rack atop a cookie sheet, allow the tomatoes to dry for 10 hours in an oven at 190 degrees. The dried tomatoes can be put in plastic bags and frozen. You can pack dried tomatoes in a jar stuffed with organic olive oil and your favorite freshly cut herbs. Tomatoes stored in this fashion will last for two weeks in the refrigerator.
If you have extra meat and vegetables in your refrigerator, make up a delicious stir fried rice. Use cool rice from the day before or cook fresh rice with less water that you would normally use. Fry your meats and vegetables in some oil. Then add rice and season it.
Don’t eat your meal right away. It is often overlooked, but it makes a difference when you let the food sit and allow the flavors to be absorbed. You may think it is best to serve your meat right off the grill so it is piping hot. However, your meal could be much more enjoyable if you wait. Let your food, particularly meat dishes, rest for a few minutes prior to serving.
It is not unusual for us to add too much salt when cooking a dish, but this problem can be rectified! Simply drop a couple of peeled raw potatoes into the sauce, and allow them to simmer for approximately 15 minutes. These raw potatoes will absorb any excess salt. If you are preparing a tomato based dish and you get it too salty, simply add a few more tomatoes to help dilute the salt content.
If you can cook for you and your family it is a great asset. The tips you have learned here can improve your cooking, whether you are preparing traditional, ethnic or fusion cuisines. Fast food can be convenient sometimes, but there’s nothing better than a good meal made from your own kitchen.