Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Cooking Tips That Are Simple And Easy To Follow

By Zachary Layton Sanchez


Do you enjoy great meals prepared by loved ones, and ever wonder how it is they can pull off such a feast? This article will help you become a better cook.

A cool and dark location is best for storing spices and herbs. Humidity, heat and light can all cause flavors to weaken thus making your foods not able to obtain their potential. Generally, ground spices and herbs keep most of their flavor for a year. Spices that have not been ground may still be worth using for three years or a little more. The freshness can last longer if they are stored correctly.

When you blend sugar with butter for cookies, be sure to soften the butter instead of melting it. Place it in the freezer if the butter is melted or put the dough in the fridge once it is mixed. If your dough is cooler, it won't spread too much.

Always remember to use silicone, rubber or nylon spatulas and spoons when you are cooking with nonstick pans. Metal or wooden utensils could scratch the nonstick coat and cause flakes to fall from the pans. This doesn't taste great, and can also be dangerous.

Learn to use color in your cooking. It is both appealing to the eyes and healthier to your body. You can choose colorful garnishments for your meals, like raw cherry tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, or carrot curls. Have fun with colorful food, and the food you serve will eaten right up.

Spices should be replaced every six months. Spices lose their flavor if kept too long. If you do not think you will use all of the spice within six months, split it with a friend.

Measuring and chopping ingredients before you begin cooking can save you time. It's often possible to do some preparations even a couple days before you need to cook. Some ingredients even benefit from advance preparation, developing a better flavor that will enhance the quality of your meal when you cook it. Once you get used to prepping ahead of time, you will always do it.

To add a nice twist to any poultry dish, cook it in brine. Soak turkey, duck, chicken or goose in your brine for one hour prior to preparing your meal so that your dish's poultry flavors are the best they can be.

A simple sandwich can impress your family and friends if you make it perfectly by spreading the mayonnaise in a smooth, even layer across the entire surface of the bread. Too many sandwich artists hurriedly put a glob of mayonnaise in the center of their bread. When you spread it evenly, every bite of your sandwich will be unfailingly flavorful.

If you need to slice meat into thin strips, then partially freeze it beforehand. For Asian meals, such as Thai and Chinese dishes, this technique creates strips that are particularly ideal. When the meat is partially frozen, you get a much cleaner cut and the meat fibers are less prone to stretching or tearing. Having said that, you must be certain to let the meat strips thaw out prior to cooking them to ensure even cooking.

Use these tips when you are cooking your meals. Once you start tasting, you'll realized that cooking is a good thing after all. You could actually come to love cooking and the world of interesting dishes that it opens to you. You can try cooking now!




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