How many times have you dreaded going into the kitchen to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You might need a new perspective. Cooking can be enjoyable and relaxing if you try to see it in another way. Here are a few cooking tips that are sure to get your taste buds tingling and entice your inner chef to come out.
Always keep your spices away from light in a cool place. Shelf life can be significantly decreased for those spices which have been exposed to too much light, dampness and heat. Always keep your spices in a dark and cool location to extend their longevity. If you use fresh spices, your food will taste better.
Many vegetable and herbs give off a smell that tends to remain in your chopping board, even though you scrub it over and over again. Make a mark with permanent ink on the end of the cutting board, so you always know which side to use for the item that you're cutting.
If you have a meal that is important, like for a date or your boss, try cooking one of you r better dishes so that you are familiar with it and know it tastes good. Don't try to create a new dish when you're not experienced in cooking it already. This can make cooking less of a chore.
Replace your spices every six months at the very least. What happens a lot is that spices are kept in a household for far too long and lose a lot of their flavor. If you find yourself buying a spice that you aren't going to finish, split it and give half away to a friend.
Microwave your citrus fruit before juicing it to get every last drop of juice. Heat your fruit for just a short time -- usually about ten seconds. Once you take it out, roll it on your counter and then cut it to begin the juicing process.
Understand that different potatoes are needed for different recipes. Waxy, mealy, and all-purpose are the three main classes of potato. Mealy potatoes are the perfect kind for mashing, as they have a texture that is dry and crumbly. The russet is a common example of a mealy p otato. Yukon gold potatoes are "all-purpose", which means they are suitable for most dishes. You can boil or steam waxy potatoes because they maintain their shape well. Red and white potatoes are familiar varieties of the waxy type.
If you're experimenting with using different spices, give saffron a try. It will give your recipes a bright, sunny taste which can't be found in any other herb or spice. Saffron is an herb that has been around forever, and still one of the most popular. It is highly sought after, and therefore the most expensive spice in the world due to its uniquely wonderful flavor.
When you are cooking, a good habit to get into is to wash the dishes as soon as you are done with them. Keep one side of the sink full of sudsy hot water and use the other side to rinse clear. It is much easier to wash cooking utensils right after using them, and in some cases, you'll need the same utensil again later in the cooking process.
When you are making a salad to serv e at a potluck dinner, layer it to retain maximum freshness. Put the juiciest ingredients like tomatoes on the bottom, then put the lettuce and other ingredients that wilt easily on top.
Sharp knives are essential in any kitchen. Blunted knives do not cut things well, and they can also pose a safety hazard. It is easy to cut yourself if you are using a dull knife than slicing it with a very sharp one.
When certain recipes call for milk or water, try adding some other liquids that you would see fit to experiment with flavors. You could use chicken broth or juice, instead of water. Use yogurt, buttermilk or sour cream in place of milk. Using liquid substitutions in your cooking can increase nutrition and give a standby dish a new flavor.
When cutting herbs, sprinkle a little salt onto your chopping board first. The salt helps to keep the herbs on the cutting board during chopping and also adds some extra flavor. Don't over-salt; save the extra salt for the dish itself. A ny salt on your cutting board can stick to the herbs you are chopping and enhance their flavor.
Prepping to fix a large meal, like over the holidays, can be a very stressful time. You'll need a few quick tips to help you out. Rather than succumbing to the urge to completely freak out, start preparing your feast in advance. In the very least, you can gather spices, measure ingredients, and prepare marinades.
Do not forget to add salt to water for making pasta. Seasoning added while it cooks will "set" in the pasta. Pasta that has been salted after cooking may not retain the flavors used in the seasoning and sauce.
Prepare your own stock to enjoy dishes that are more flavorful. Make a lot at once, so that you can divide it into batches and store it in the freezer. You will have stock on hand for soup and other things. When you create the stock that will be used in your food, you can ensure the quality and avoid unnecessary additives and preservatives.
Implement these t ips into your meals. As soon as you get a taste, you'll be dying to cook more. You should look forward to this, as you may find yourself trying so many dishes and recipes. Make cooking a fun part of your life!
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