Having to cook meals three times, every single day can become tedious over time. In order to keep things interesting, try learning about cooking. You can then turn this craft into not only a way to feed your hungry family a nutritious meal, but also an enjoyable hobby that will provide you with an unending supply of new tricks and techniques. Below is some cooking advice to get you started.
Don’t add the dressing until right before serving. Having everything prepared before you begin cooking is important. Trying to prepare a meal without handling the preparation beforehand can get stressful, especially if you need to finish your cooking in a set amount of time. Prepare early to avoid later stress.
In order to get the most out of your selection of spices, you should store them out of the light and heat. If you leave them out somewhere, you will expose them to light, wetness, and heat, and it could ruin them. Spices last longer and taste better when stored in cool, dark locations. Using fresh spices makes meals even more delicious.
A great tip to follow if you use oil to cook is to put it on the sides of the pan while cooking, so it’s already heated by the time it reaches the food. This will help your food be more flavorful.
If you want the cooking process to be both faster and easier, prepare as much as you can ahead of time. Look through any recipes you make before you begin and prep accordingly, this can save you time before you cook letting you concentrate on your task when the time comes. You can prepare a lot of food the day prior to actually cooking. Prepping before you cook can make even advanced recipes fun and accessible.
Think big if you plan to make chicken stock. If you make a large amount of stock you can freeze it for future use. There’s nothing better than homemade chicken stock as a flavorful base for casseroles, stews and soups. First, cool the stock and then stick it in the freezer.
One of the healthiest ways to cook your vegetables is to cook them on high with a low sodium chicken broth. The vegetables will take on the broth flavor, and reduce the oil that is used when sauteing. Try this next time you cook vegetables for a great meal.
Try different liquids in recipes calling for water or milk to add some new flavors to your meals. In place of water, try adding beef or chicken broth, juice or even water used to cook vegetables. Instead of milk, try sour cream, yogurt or buttermilk. Changing up the liquids in your recipes can add nutrition, while livening up a standby dish.
Always measure cooking oil! If you want to get rid of some of the fat in your recipe make sure to measure how much you’re using instead of just pouring it into the pan. This will give you the ability to know exactly how much oil is going into the pan at a time.
Try drying your own fresh tomatoes. Drying them is easy – simply cut Roma tomatoes in half, or cut larger tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Put them facing upwards onto a cooling rack and add a little salt. Place the cooling rack on a cookie sheet and dry in a 190 degree oven for up to 10 hours. The tomatoes can then be placed in plastic bags and stored in the freezer. You can store dried tomatoes in an olive oil filled jar. Add fresh herbs for seasoning. Place in the refrigerator and consume within two weeks.
Applying these tips and developing new skills could be an opportunity to find a new hobby for you. You can learn a lot about food by simply cooking it. You may even learn something new about yourself through cooking. As cooking becomes more pleasurable to you, you’ll start to get creative with it, and your food will start to taste better and better.
