It is a fact that all human beings need food to survive. But eating should be much more to food than survive? Cooking a delicious meal for others can be even better than just eating good food. Here are some things you a better cook!
You should store your spices and herbs in a cool dry space out of direct sunlight to avoid flavor loss. Moisture, light and heat can affect the flavor of your spices. Generally, ground spices and herbs keep most of their flavor for a year. Whole spices last longer, possibly as long as five years. As long as they are stored properly, they will hold onto their flavor for several years.
If you are using metal skewers, avoid ones with rounded surfaces and try ones with square or beveled designs.
Cooks Evenly
To prevent wasting costly meat, test out your spice mixture on one small piece prior to adding it to the rest of the meat. Certain foods require very careful seasonings, especially dishes like meatballs, meatloaf and burgers. Never prepare the full amount after its initial seasoning. Cook a bit of the mixture before you continue to cook the entire batch to ensure that the seasonings are correct. If the flavor of the sample is to your liking, you can procede with seasoning and cooking the entire quantity of meat.
Partially freezing meat is easier to cut into thin strips easier. This is helpful if you may try that call for thin strips of meat. However, to ensure that the meat cooks evenly, so it cooks evenly.
Are you using fresh basil? Take a bunch of the basil and place it in a glass. Fill the glass with enough water till the stems. Put the basil 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. Trim or cut the basil once in a while so it grows even more and you will be able to enjoy fresh basil!
Sharp knives are essential in any kitchen. Dull knives are difficult to use and they are dangerous to cut with too. If you have to work on forcing a dull knife to go through something, you’re much more likely to accidentally cut yourself in the process than with the one quick, clean cut of a sharpened knife.
They will act like sponges and absorb the water. Wipe them off by hand with a damp cloth that is damp.
Plan to make a big pot of stock so you can freeze and used later. Good chicken stock that you make at home makes a great starter for soups, casseroles, casseroles and more.
If you are going to be making chicken stock, it is best to go big or not at all. Plan to make a big pot of stock so you can freeze and store it. A rich chicken stock makes a savory base for soups, stews and other dishes. Allow the stock to cool before freezing it in durable, Ziploc bags.
This will help to prevent burning when you cook. Use two parallel skewers instead of one skewer to keep food falling off.
Beans and tofu are great sources of protein that you may not have yet considered adding to your diet. Both are easily available to buy at most grocery store. Try frying tofu with some interesting seasonings and adding seasoning to replace meat. Beans can always be cooked with herbs is a flavorful source of protein.
When you are using wooden skewers in cooking, soak them for at least half an hour before putting the veggies on them. That way, they will not burn during the cooking process. Use two parallel skewers instead of one skewer to avoid food falling off.
Learning to cook and having fun with it can be as much fun as eating. Take these tactics into your cooking arsenal and add little touches that you like. Your friends and family will enjoy your new hobby as much as you do.