Useful Cooking Advice From The Pros Who Know

Everyone is aware that in order to survive you need food. Most of us want to actually enjoy what we are eating and not just eat for survival. Cooking something that tastes amazing can be as satisfying as eating the dish. This article will address a few ways that you can improve your cooking skills.

When storing your herbs and spices, they should be kept in a cool, dark spot. Exposure to excessive heat, humidity, or light will affect the flavor of dried seasoning. Usually herbs and ground spices tend to stay fresh for about a year. Spices that are raw, or whole, can keep the original flavor for as long as five years, though it usually falls somewhere between three and five. If stored correctly, they will remain fresher longer.

There is a trick to save your hard work and be able to use it instantly. In a medium sized bowl, mix together 1 tblsp water and 2 tblsp corn starch. Then, stir the resulting solution with the sauce to thicken it. Make sure you add the solution slowly while stirring constantly or you risk thickening the sauce too much.



If you put your meat in the freezer to make it a little hard, it will be easier to cut into thin strips. This is best for Asian meals such as Thai or Chinese dishes. By partially freezing the meat, it can be sliced with much less effort and with little damage, too, as the fibers will will be less likely to tear. Then allow the slices to thaw so they'll cook evenly.

You can make healthier mashed potatoes with the same taste and texture you love by substituting cauliflower for potatoes in equal proportions. You will not even taste the cauliflower in with the potatoes, because it is so bland. You'll still be able to enjoy mashed potatoes, but with less fat and calories!

Mushrooms absorb large amounts of water, and this excess water will go into whatever you are cooking with. Get a soft, clean and wet cloth to wipe the dirt off each individual mushroom for better results.

Garlic is a delicious ingredient that has a place in many recipes, but it has no place on your hands. After you are done working with garlic and any other odoriferous ingredients, try rubbing your hands firmly on the inside of your stainless steel sink. Doing this cleanses your hands and silicone muffin tin won't allow the aroma to transfer to whatever you handle next.

Is it difficult for you to know how long your meat should stay on the grill? A meat thermometer, digital if possible, is always a great idea. This way you can ensure that the inside of the meat is also cooking well. A good rule of thumb to reduce the total cooking time is to always close the grill lid whenever the thickness of the meat exceeds 1.5 inches.

When cooking vegetables, it is a good idea to use chicken broth. Chicken broth is an excellent base to use when preparing vegetable dishes that helps keep them from sticking and gives them some flavor. Chicken broth is usually available for relatively low prices at most grocery stores.

If you're using wooden skewers to cook, try soaking them in water for half an hour first. Being soaked in the water prevents them from getting burned when exposed to the cooking heat. If you have issues with food falling off skewers, make it a double. Food is much more stable when you use two skewers parallel from one another instead of one.

If you have to season food while cooking it, add some in timed intervals rather than all of it at the start of cooking. This is a great way to increase the flavor of your foods and make your seasonings last longer.

When you make boxed mac and cheese, closely follow the directions. Remember that the makers of your mac and cheese designed these instructions with the best possible result in mind. A solid-faced spoon should be used to serve macaroni and cheese. Add some pepper or other seasonings to the macaroni to liven it up.

When boiling water to cook pasta, be sure to add a generous sprinkling of salt. The salt will hold better while cooking because it is absorbed by the pasta along with the water. Salting pasta after cooking it results in a less flavorful pasta dish.

When you want to chop herbs, sprinkle some salt on your cutting board. It will not only add flavor to the herbs but it will also keep them in place while they are being chopped. Do not add more salt as you are cutting the herbs. The salt you put on the board will stick to the herbs and add a bit of flavor.

Learning how to cook, as well as having fun cooking, can http://www.thefreedictionary.com/baking be as wonderful as eating. Take these tips http://www.amazon.com/Baking-From-My-Home-Yours/dp/0618443363 and make them part of your repertoire, adding little touches as you go along. Not only will you see an improvement in your cooking skills, but you will impress your loved ones.