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As with anything else, a novice must start somewhere Some people are innate in knowing how to cook, however, even if you weren't there is still much hope. However, cooking is a skill that can be taught to all. Eventually, you will be able to experiment with different spices, seasonings and ingredients to create new dishes. The article below discusses helpful advice to help you get started.

When you are baking pastry crusts, try increasing the cooking time a bit. The color should be a darker caramel instead of the pale blond so many people do. The caramelizing of the sugar in pie crust gives it crispness and extra sweetness.

There is a secret to thicken up your weak sauce. In a small bowl, combine two tablespoons of water and 3 teaspoons of corn starch. You can then add the solution to the sauce and it will become thicker. Avoid over-thickening by adding the starch mixture slowly and stirring the sauce often.

Have you ever felt sorry for throwing away moldy fruits? Is it alright to eat fruit after removing the moldy sections? A half rotten fruit cannot be saved. These foods can cause you to become ill, as mold goes much deeper than the eye can see.

Dried and frozen ingredients should never be used over fresh ingredients if you want to get the most out of your cooking. Fresh ingredients will give your dish extra flavor, and can turn out to be less expensive over time.

There are many steps you can take towards prepping your food to make your whole cooking process easier. Read your recipe and note which steps you can complete in advance without compromising the dish's quality. Lots of prep work can be completed the day before cooking. This makes preparing even more complex recipes fun and fast.

Dry ingredients and mixes should be stored in airtight containers. Bugs can creep into your food, and most food items will become stale if exposed to the open air. These are just a couple of solid reasons that you need solid containment. Airtight containers are your best friends in the kitchen. You can easily find affordable containers and you will save money by eating leftovers.

When you make chicken stock, a good piece of advice is to make it in a big quantity. Plan on preparing a large batch so that the excess can be frozen and used later. Stock is perfect for many dishes like stew, soup, and even casseroles. Allow the stock to cool before freezing it in durable, Ziploc bags.

When seasoning your food, add the seasoning in increments rather than putting it all on at once. By doing it this way, you are giving your food the most flavoring you can and you are making the most out of your ingredients.

Leave the bone in a roast when you are cooking and pressed for time. This will allow your meat to cook faster as the bone will warm up the inside quicker. After the cooking period is completed, simply remove the bone and proceed as usual.

When cooking with fresh herbs like parsley or dill, bunch them together and cut them with a pair of scissors. This will keep the herbs drier and lighter than chopped with a knife.

An excellent suggestion is to purchase solid cutting utensils for use in your kitchen. You will be more efficient when you do not have to deal with dull knives; in addition, sharp knives are safer to use than dull knives. Dull knives cause more accidents than sharp ones.

Always take good care of your wooden cutting board. Your wooden cutting board can be damaged by too much moisture or too much heat. The result can be warping or splitting. Don't immerse it in water. Instead, quickly wash it with soapy warm water. Bring a damaged wood board back to life with regular oiling, using only oil made for cutting boards. Before using it again, make sure the oil is completely dry.

If you can read and follow directions, you can learn to cook. Apply all your basic knowledge and spend some enjoyable time in the kitchen. The tips mentioned in this article will help get you started on the road to gourmet bliss.

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