Whether you are away from home for the first time or in years, you desire those home-cooked meals you remember. Learning how to prepare excellent home meals begins with learning some simple tricks. Thankfully, the article below provides some excellent tricks that anyone can easily apply, regardless of skill level.
Your spices and herbs should be stored in a relaxed and dark area. The flavor of herbs and spices will be diminished if they are subjected to humidity, heat, or light. Herbs and spices that are ground usually remain flavorful for a year. Whole spices will retain flavor longer, closer to 3-5 years. When stored in the correct place, they will keep their freshness for longer.
While most seasonings are added during the cooking process, certain spices are considered good after cooking options. These spices are garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt. Set these on the table, and let your guests decide on their personal preference to add a little kick to their plate.
Season meats evenly. It is important to season all of the meats you will be cooking evenly. Sprinkle the seasoning lightly over the meat like it was slowing down. This will keep the seasoning even and prevent clumping. The taste will be more consistent all through it.
Whenever you are cooking and you feel the need to add more oil, the best way to add oil is to add it through the side of the pan. By doing this, the oil will be heated when it gets to the ingredient that is being cooked. This is an excellent tip to remember.
Whenever possible, avoid canned ingredients in your cooking. They have numerous disadvantages. Canned food has lost vital nutrients that you want to cook the healthiest possible meals. They also taste different – if not worse – than fresh ingredients, potentially ruining your recipes. Finally, canned foods have unhealthy additives – especially extra sodium – that you do not need in your food.
If you are looking to reduce the sodium content of your meals, take a careful look at your spice shelf. Many prepared spices are surprisingly high in sodium, whether or not they have a salty taste. And, of course, avoid adding regular salt. Look to natural herbs and simpler spices to add flavor without sodium.
When you are cooking a dish that requires it to be sauteed, add oil around the edges of the pan rather than directly on the food. This gives the oil a chance to heat up before it reaches the cooking food in the center of the pan. Hot oil will give you improved results and makes your dish taste better.
In many cases, burgers will become stuck on the grill, and forcibly removing them will make them all misshapen. Before cooking, consider brushing the grill with vegetable oil to prevent food from sticking to the grill.
When making baked goods, try to get parchment paper for lining pans. Using parchment paper will make your baked goods easier to remove, and it will help keep your food in one piece. Also, using parchment paper makes less of a mess and is much easier to clean up afterward.
After you have drained the pasta, add fresh Parmesan Cheese to it while still hot. By putting the cheese on this way, the sauce you will be using has something to stick it. Plus, the pasta will have more flavor than adding the cheese after your pasta and sauce are mixed.
Use this valuable tip to let your poultry shine when working poultry. Soak the poultry in a brine solution composed of salt and water overnight before cooking the poultry. Soaking the poultry in brine will help unlock the flavors buried in the meat and make the poultry succulent and moist, creating an incredible poultry dish.
It would be best if you cleaned your dishes as they are used. Make it easy on yourself by filling your sink with water while reserving a separate section for rinsing. Mixing bowls and utensils wash up easily just after they have been used, and they will be clean and ready for whipping up the next ingredient of your family meal.
Put vegetables in cold water after you blanch them. Blanching – also known as boiling – a vegetable can be a tasty way to prepare them. Unfortunately, it can quite literally “blanch” your veggies. While this is only an aesthetic problem, it can be easily avoided. By putting the vegetables in cold water after blanching, they will retain their green color.
Cutting onions does not have to be a crying matter. The keys to success with onions are easy to follow and minimize tears. Chill the onions first before cutting, use your sharpest knife for cutting and turn exposed cuts down on your board. As you cut, be efficient, quick, and constantly turn the most extensive exposed cuts down against the board. Running your vent hood will help circulate air as you cut as well.
When cooking with thick and sticky ingredients like molasses or honey, make it easier with non-stick cooking spray. Spray the inside of a measuring cup before adding the viscous liquid. When pouring, it will slip out thoroughly and cleanly with no need to scrape the inside of the cup.
If you are cooking a soup or stew and adding too much salt to the pot, you can add a peeled white potato to the pot and continue boiling it. The potato’s starch will help absorb a lot of the extra salt. You can repeat with an additional potato if it is still too salty.
Start to use what you’ve learned here, and you’ll soon pick up enough knowledge to prepare home-cooked meals for yourself and those you surround yourself with. You’ll be amazed at how one cooking tip or trick often leads to learning, and you’ll soon be able to start teaching others what you know.
