Cooking is a skill that you can never really master; there’s always get better. Even experienced cook can learn new things to impress their hungry customers. People with little cooking also benefit from learning the things that make it easier. This article will help you learn more about cooking.
Your spices and herbs should always be stored in a cool and dark place. Light, heat, and humidity will cause their flavor to weaken. Herbs and spices generally keep their taste and flavor for about one year. Whole spices can keep their flavor for up to five years. Store your herbs and spices correctly, so that they will stay fresh and keep their full flavor!
Bake pie and tart crusts a little longer than you would think is really necessary. They need to be a light golden brown instead of pale in color. The darker color results when the sugar from the crust has caramelized and this will give a much sweeter and crisper flavor.
Slice your meat very thin when you are making stir fry. This can get a little tricky and could take some time.
Try going to a library or buying a cook book if you are wanting to cook different foods. Try your hand at some of the recipes, remembering that patience is key during the learning process.
Sharp knives are an essential to cooking. Dull knives make it harder to cut with and also extremely dangerous to use.
Apples are a mainstay of fall and winter cooking, however it is important to store them properly to prevent spoiling. To keep apples at the peak of perfection, store apples in open-mesh bags or baskets in a cool basement or in the produce drawer of your refrigerator. One bad apple will quickly ruin the bunch so keep a close eye on them while stored.
You should bake crusts for a longer period of time than you think. Your objective is to cook them past the point of being pale blonde, to the point where they become a golden caramel color. This is because the golden color lets you know that the sugar from the crust has caramelized, which give it that sweet, yet crisp taste.
If you want crispier and crunchier French fries, then you should soak the potatoes in cool water for 30 minutes and then fry them.
Try adding cauliflower in with your mashed potatoes to cut some calories and fat. The somewhat bland taste of cauliflower helps it to blend nicely with the potatoes. Cauliflower is also the same texture and color of potatoes when mashed so it’s a great way to add more veggies, so the dish will be transformed into one that has more vegetables and fewer calories.
Keep all spices stored out of the sunlight. Storing spices in lighted areas or warm areas can reduce their length of freshness. Your spices will have a longer shelf life and retain their good taste if stored in a dark, cool spot. Better tasting meals are the result of the ingredients you use, including the freshest spices possible.
Even the most experienced chefs can acquire new tips and tricks to make cooking more enjoyable. Read up on the subject of cooking so you can get as much as you can out of your learning experience in the kitchen. The next time you’re in the kitchen, consider trying out one of these tips. You may find that the more you learn, the more fun you will have while cooking.