Have you found that preparing meals for your family is becoming a chore? Cooking can seem like a pain - or pleasure! By reading this article, you will discover great tips to help eliminate the stress of preparing meals. After you put the information from this article to good use, you will undoubtedly wish that you'd come across it sooner.
Try using ketchup as a secret batter ingredient for your fried foods. Ketchup isn't simply a condiment! Use it to dip your food into, prior to covering it in breadcrumbs. The ketchup adds an unexpected zip to fried food, leaving everyone asking for the recipe.
Using less fats, like extra virgin oil or butter, when you cook will help you to lose weight and keep your heart healthy. Substances such as oil and butter contain unnecessary fat. Use nonstick cooking spray instead to get the same results as you do with oil but with fewer unhealthy ingredients.
Do not keep your herbs or spices in a place that is not cool and dark. Shelf life can be significantly decreased for those spices which have been exposed to too much light, dampness and heat. Storing your spices in a dark location with a lower temperature will help preserve them longer. This will help every meal that you prepare taste better.
When you want to cook your meat in strips, do it while it is slightly frozen. When you are making stir fry Asian dishes, this technique for thinly sliced meat is ideal. The meat holds a tighter form when the it is partially frozen making the strips clean cut with out any stretching of the meat. However, to make sure that the meat cooks evenly, take the time to let it thaw out prior to cooking.
When you are cooking, wash the dishes as you go along. Keep a fresh sink of hot soapy water in one side of your sink and clear rinse water in the other. If you wash them right away, it will be easier and leave more room for preparing food. This will also make the dishes available for use if you need them again.
A great start ing point when looking to expand your cooking repertoire is your local library or bookstore. Look for cookbooks which contain basic and simple recipes for you to practice and have fun preparing. Try your hand at some of the recipes, remembering that patience is key during the learning process.
If you are going to be making chicken stock, it is best to go big or not at all. 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 adds great flavor to everything from soups to casseroles. Allow your stock to cool, then put portions in heavy-duty Ziploc bags made for freezing.
When baking a cake, be sure not to over or under cook it. Even though recipes have guidelines for recommended baking times, they can vary due to differences in ovens or elevation. To determine if your cake is done, use a toothpick or clean knife blade to find out. Poke it gently into the center of the cake. If your tooth pick is clean, your cake is ready to be taken out of the oven. However, if there is batter left on the toothpick, keep baking for a longer period of time.
Always read the labels of the ingredients you buy. Some cooking supplies will contain unhealthy ingredients. Look for hidden amounts of sodium and sugar that will contribute over time to reduced health.
Potatoes should be mixed with hot milk (not boiling) when they are ready for mashing. Cold milk can weigh down an otherwise light and fluffy batch of mashed potatoes. Nobody wants to eat mashed potatoes full of lumps.
Before washing your hands, try rubbing them on stainless steal to remove strong odors such as garlic or fish. Try using a spoon, the side of the sink, or a "soap bar," this can cause your hands to again be fresh and odor-free.
When stir-frying meat, it should be thinly sliced on the bias. This can sometimes be a tricky undertaking and very time-consuming. Retrieve the meat after it has firmed a bit, an d cut thin slices across the grain, holding your knife at a 45-degree angle to the cutting board.
Select potatoes with a thick skin if you are going to make twice baked potatoes. Red potatoes have very thin skin and are unable to support dense fillings.
Perhaps the easiest way to add new flavors and shake up your regular dishes is to experiment with different sauces and seasonings. If you find some new spices to use it can change the taste of your food dramatically. Though you may not even realize they exist, ethnic grocery stores in your town can be a great source of unique and flavorful spices to try.
Are you using fresh basil to cook with? Get a sprout of fresh basil and place it in a glass. Cover its stems with water. Put the basil on your counter and it will remain fresh for up to seven days! In fact, if you periodically freshen the water, the herb may even sprout roots. All you need to do is keep the roots of the basil trimmed regularly and you will have fresh ba sil ready for use for quite some time.
It can sometimes be quite a chore to cook a great meal for your family every night. There are a lot of different methods that you can use to simplify your cooking. When you go back into your kitchen, you can relax.
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