One of the things that you will need to realize when you are making meats or fish is that you need to spread your seasoning evenly. Adding too much seasoning in one area of your food can reduce the flavor or lead to a tangy taste that will reduce the quality of your meal.
Perfect pasta every time. Never add oil to the water when you are boiling pasta. It prevents the sauce from coating the pasta properly. Just before you drain the pasta, set aside about 1/3 cup of the cooked pasta water. When you mix the sauce with the pasta, add a little of the cooking liquid. The starch in the water adds body and flavor to the sauce.
Learn some proper knife-work techniques to make your time in the kitchen safer, more productive, and more enjoyable. Proper cutting techniques not only help to ensure safety in the kitchen, but food cut properly and uniformly looks better (which of course makes it tastes better!) and cooks more evenly. Stop cutting off your fingertips and burning half of the French fries with proper cutting skills!
When you broil a steak, heat your broiler to the appropriate temperature before http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/puff-pastry-recipes-dinner_n_2534513.html putting the steak in. The result will be a seared steak on the outside, with a very juicy inside. The broiling process should also be quick, but will vary depending on how well done you want your steak to be. Over cooking can lead to a dried out end result.
For fluffier pancakes, allow the batter to sit for about five minutes before you start pouring it into the pan. This will allow the flour to absorb more of the moisture in the mix, making for much lighter pancakes that will rise more when you cook them and give them that great restaurant flavor!
Ensure that your baked fish is moist and tender by cooking "en papillote". This is a French technique that refers to fish baked in a parchment-paper packet. Place the fish and vegetables of your choice in the center of a large piece of parchment-paper. Bring the edges of the paper together, crease them tightly to form a seal, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 450 degrees. The fish and vegetables steam in the packet, keeping them moist and tender, and creating a tasty, healthy dish. (Clean-up is just as easy - simply throw away the paper after eating!)
A coffee grinder isn't just for coffee. A coffee grinder actually works just as well as a food processor for some jobs. This is especially true with small jobs when you don't want the trouble of lugging out a huge processor and then having to wash all the parts. Nuts and peppercorns grind perfectly in a coffee grinder, even sugar if you need a quick substitute for powdered sugar in a recipe.
Many herbs and veggies make odors on your cutting board no matter how many times you clean it. This can save you from eating garlic strawberries.
When storing items in your kitchen, you will want to make sure that they are stored in containers that are airtight and closed tightly for two reasons. While most foods will go stale having constant exposure to air, another big fear is that the product will be taken over by bugs.
If you are trying to lose weight or lower your cholesterol, try to decrease the amount of fat in your diet. Lots of unnecessary, and unhealthy, fats sneak into meals made with oils and butter. A great alternative to oils is a nonstick cooking spray. Not only does it provide the same results as cooking with oils, it also contains less unhealthy ingredients.
When a recipe calls for vegetable shortening, coconut oil is a healthy alternative that should be used. Coconut oil can be difficult to find in the typical grocery stores so you may need to look in a healthfood store to find it. It is important to read the label to make sure it is true coconut oil.
If you are preparing salsa that won't be eaten right away, make sure you use raw onions that are rinsed with cold water. A sulferous gas is contained in fresh onions. Your fresh salsa will be ruined by this gas. When the raw onions are rinsed and dried, the gas is removed.
Buy your garlic as fresh as possible for any dish that needs the flavorful ingredient. Older garlic tends to smell and taste woody, while fresh garlic ensures a sweet, yet savory flavor. Don't buy garlic that is soft, shriveled or bruised.
Plan your meals in advance. One of the biggest time wasters is engaging in the "what am I going to fix for dinner?" debate. Often, we could have dinner on the table by the time we fuss with examining the options. Over the weekend - or whenever your free time occurs - think through the upcoming week and loosely plan four or five meals you know your family will enjoy. This advance planning allows you the time to stock your fridge and pantry with the items you need.
Don't be afraid to play with recipes and change the ingredients you don't like. Recipes are not the Bible; they are simply guidelines for preparing a dish. If you do not like an ingredient like oregano for example, replace it with thyme. Most of the time, the dishes flavor is preserved, and you're happier knowing you don't have to eat something with a flavor you dislike.
You can use the last of your vegetables and meat by making them into a stir-fry or adding them to fried rice. Cold day-old rice works perfectly, but if you have to make it right away, use a little less water for drier rice. Stir-fry leftover meat and vegetables in a small amount of oil. Mix in the rice, add flavoring such as soy sauce, ginger, even teriyaki sauce.
If you are faced with cooking a meal for someone who you simply must impress, show some restraint when mixing things up in the kitchen. While it is okay to cook with a new or uncommon ingredient or to use pastry margarine a brand new recipe, it is not a good idea to risk it by attempting both.
There are few hobbies as satisfying and rewarding as cooking. Not only can you flex your creative muscles, you can also provide delicious meals for your family. Expanding your knowledge of cooking is certain to enhance your time in the kitchen. Taking these tips and hints to heart is a wonderful way to do just that.
