Cooking is a great thing to know if you’re cooking for yourself or a large group. There are a number of benefits to cooking at home, both nutritional and financial. You will be well armed with cooking tips with this article.
Spices and herbs should be stored in a dark and cool area. Their flavors will be weakened when they are exposed to light, heat or humidity. Another little known fact is that ground spices tend to lose their flavor quicker than whole spices. Spices that are kept whole can keep their flavor for about three, four or five years. Store your herbs and spices correctly, so that they will stay fresh and keep their full flavor!
If you have decided that you might like to cook more food at home, look for a great book that can help you. These books can be found in many places: the library, online or even a family member. Try making three or four of the recipes that appeal to you the most, and give yourself plenty of time to perfect your newly acquired skill.
Cook Vegetables
When you cook vegetables quickly over high heat, their quality is best. The longer you cook vegetables, the less flavor and nutrition they have. The quick cook methods generally make the vegetables tastier and more nutritional. It is worth it to take the time to use cooking methods that preserve the most nutrients.
Wooden skewers should be soaked in plain water before each use for an absolute minimum of thirty minutes. This will help to prevent burning when they are cooking. Prevent softer food from falling into the coals by using two parallel skewers rather than a single one.
Always read labels thoroughly when shopping for a recipe. Many of the most common ingredients can contain unhealthy and unnecessary additives. Look for products with a low level of sodium, fat and sugar to make sure you are cooking a healthy dish.
Do not use any kind of wine in your cooking that you haven’t tasted on your own. If you use a wine that you are not familiar with or do not enjoy, you are risking culinary disaster when it comes to the flavor of your food. If you want a safe bet, most liquor stores carry cooking wines.
Cooling Rack
Try making your own dried tomatoes. Dry your own by slicing ripe tomatoes 1/2″ thick, or cut Romas in half, lengthwise. Place on a cooling rack, cut-side up and lightly salt them. Heat your oven to 190 degrees and put the cooling rack with the tomatoes directly onto a cookie sheet, baking for no more than ten hours. They can then be stored in plastic freezer bags in your freezer. Another way to preserve your dried tomatoes is in olive oil, with herbs for added flavor, in a glass jar. Kept in the refrigerator, these tomatoes will keep for a couple of weeks.
In order to keep herbs and spices fresh and flavorful, keep them stored in a cool, dark area. If you keep herbs and spices in an area that is close to the stove, they will lose their flavor very quickly and just be a waste of money.
Many veggies and herbs leave strong scents and plant oils on your cutting board that are very difficult to remove completely. You should mark your cutting board on the side you will be cutting herbs on.
Unripened fruits should be placed into a plastic bag with holes in it. When fruits go through the ripening process, they release ethylene gas. By placing them in a plastic bag with holes, air will circulate in the bag, making sure that ethylene gas is retained, and the fruit keeps its great taste.
Create your own stock for tastier dishes. Making it in huge quantities can allow you to store the leftover in some resealable bags in the freezer. This allows you to have savory homemade stock available that you can use for various dishes, like soup. Homemade soup stock or bullion is a wonderful way to eliminate high sodium and preservatives that are present in commercially made products from your diet.
When planning to prepare complicated dishes, do the prep work the evening before the actual cooking is to take place to minimize stress. Gather your ingredients, chop and measure the herbs or spices and double-check that you have everything you need. When the time comes to make the meal, all you need to do is put it all together and cook it!
Add lots of salt to your water for cooking pasta. This allows the seasoning to soak into the pasta, which will retain its flavor. Salt and seasonings do not necessarily stick very well to cooked pasta, so seasoning it while it boils is your best bet to enhance the flavor.
When you are cooking, don’t be afraid to be creative. Following a recipe is not fun if you do not add a personal touch. With a little resourcefulness in adding extra ingredients, reducing or altering the amount of spices, or substituting one type of meat or vegetable for another, you can often create a meal that tastes far superior to the original. Sometimes that’s the best sort of cooking!
In today’s age of fast food and rampant obesity, the ability to cook fresh, healthy, tasty meals for your family or for yourself is an invaluable asset. You can make sure to consume an adequate amount of vital nutrients. Fast food may be convenient, but home cooked food trumps all!
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