Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Go From Gross To Gourmet With These Cooking Tips

By Roxane J. Talisen


Are you in love with a wide variety of cuisines? Do you possess an irrepressible sweet tooth? Would you wrestle a tiger for a curry? Or swim a river for some Thai? Have you ever wished you could cook exotic dishes? Well, now you can stop dreaming and start cooking! These tips can help you learn how to cook great meals.

Before chopping fresh herbs sprinkle some salt on the cutting board. This keeps your herbs on the cutting board and can add a bit of flavor, as well. Don't over-salt; save the extra salt for the dish itself. Salt is known to boost the flavors of the items you use in your recipe, including herbs.

Make all necessary preparations for whatever you are planning on cooking before you start cooking. This will stop you from having your oven or stove on for too long, and will also give you an extra safety level if you are using oil on a hot pan or other dangerous cooking techniques.

When making your own chicken stock, prepare more than you need up front. Making more than you need in a large pot can allow you to have some left over to store in the freezer for later use. Homemade chicken stock makes a great base for casseroles, soups, stews, and many other wonderful dishes. To store your homemade stock, let it cool, pour it into a freezer bag, and stick it in the freezer.

Add hot milk to your mashed potatoes instead of boiling it to create a rich, smooth texture. Bypass the cold milk if you want mashed potatoes to be fluffy with a light texture. No one wants to eat lumpy mashed potatoes that taste bland!

When chopping fresh herbs, sprinkle a small amount of salt on the cutting board. Not only does this add a little extra flavor, it keeps the herbs you are chopping where you want them - on the board. Don't over-salt your foods. If you put salt on your cutting board it will give your herbs a little more flavor.

Quickly cooking veggies is preferable to slow-cooking methods. If you cook your vegetables for a long period of time, they might not be as nutritious. These quick cooking techniques will produce generally, healthier vegetable sides. It is worth it to take the time to use cooking methods that preserve the most nutrients.

If you are having guests over for dinner, cook a meal you are confident making. Never experiment with a new ingredient or recipe in this situation. Doing this will take some of the stress out of cooking.

If you decide to make a roast, leave the bone in if you are in a hurry. This will speed up cooking time substantially. The bone absorbs some of the heat and distributes it inside the meat and roaster. When the roast is done, slice it around the bone.

To get better results when juicing a citrus fruit, stick it in the microwave first. Put the fruit inside the microwave and heat it for about ten seconds, depending on size. Once you remove them from the microwave, roll them on the counter prior to cutting and starting the juicing process.

If you want to add flavor to your dishes, use a liquid other than milk or water. Use chicken broth, beef, or juice in places where you would normally use water. Instead of milk, try sour cream, yogurt or buttermilk. Try making your recipes stand out and more nutritious by interchanging your liquids.

If you want to cook a roast quicker, leave the bone inside of it. The bone transfers the heat from your oven to the center of the roast, helping it cook far more quickly. When the meat is finished being cooked, you can avoid the bone when you cut and serve it.

When your life is hectic and making dinner is difficult, try preparing some things in advance. Cut up vegetables and onions, put the meat in the marinade, or make the sauce before going to bed at night. You'll be less stressed when cooking the following day.

As you gain confidence in your cooking abilities, attempt more complex recipes with ingredients you don't normally use. It does not matter what kind of cooking you like to eat, these helpful tips will show you how to cook like an expert. Nothing can beat a good home-made meal!




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