Do you like different types of food? Do you possess an irrepressible sweet tooth? Is a little spicy ethnic food enough to put a spring in your step? Have you ever wanted to cook exotic dishes in your own kitchen? You do not have to think about this any longer. These tips can help you learn how to cook great meals.
Find a dark, cool area in which to store herbs and spices. Warmth, humidity and light will make them stale and unflavorful. Ground herbs and spices will retain their flavor for about a year. Spices that have not been ground have the potential to last upwards of five years. Proper storage is essential to maintaining fresh, robust flavors.
As you season meat, you should try a cooking a little piece first. A lot of foods require you to season them carefully; for instance meatloaf, hamburgers or meatballs. Avoid cooking all of it after it’s been seasoned. Just make a small piece and try it. Once you’ve done this, you can cook the rest of the meat or add additional seasoning as you see fit.
Try adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes to lower the fat content. The somewhat bland taste of cauliflower helps it to blend seamlessly with your potatoes while picking up the other ingredients. You’ll still be able to enjoy mashed potatoes, but with less fat and calories!
Garlic is one of those delicious ingredient that has a drawback; its flavor gets onto your hands. After you work with garlic or any other type of ingredients that have a strong smell, rub your hands completely on stainless steel, like the inside of your sink. This will take the scent off of you hands.
If you are going to be making chicken stock, it is best to go big or not at all. Plan on preparing a large batch so that the excess can be frozen and used later. Excellent chicken stock that is homemade is a great base for use in stews, soups, casseroles, and more. To preserve your stock for future use, just simply make sure that it is stored in heavy duty freezer bags and frozen solid. This way the stock should keep for several months or so.
Do you know grilling times for meats? It is always wise to utilize a good meat thermometer (a digital one is best to give you an exact reading) to ensure that the inner portions are cooked correctly. Think about closing your grill’s lid to cut down on grill time any time you grill meat thicker than an inch and a half.
Be sure to follow the advice in this article. Soon, you will have friends and family asking about your secret cooking abilities.
