New recipes and cooking techniques can be learned by even the most seasoned chef. Using the proper techniques can change an ordinary meal into a fabulous event that will be well-remembered. Get together a repertoire of your favorite tips and you’ll be a huge success in the kitchen.
To make it easier for you to slice meat into thin strips, you should partially freeze it. This is great for various Oriental meals, such as Thai or Chinese dishes. When meat is slightly frozen, it becomes simpler to slice because the fibers won’t stretch and tear that easy. Then don’t forget to let the meat strips completely thaw, so it will cook evenly.
When you are going to be cooking for someone important, whether it’s a boss or a potential love interest, make certain you are cooking something you are familiar with. Don’t attempt cooking experiments or recipes you’ve never tried before. This will allow for an easier cooking process.
When cooking vegetables, it is a good idea to use chicken broth. It will keep veggies from getting stuck to the bottom of the pan and add a little flavor. Chicken broth doesn’t cost much, and is widely available at most grocery stores.
Always read the labels of the ingredients you buy. There can be some ingredients in foods that are unhealthy. Make sure the ingredients you get don’t contain too much sugar or sodium, because each may account for certain health problems if overused.
Try to add some broths or other ingredients to recipes that call for liquid in place of what it asks for. If the recipe has called for water, you could easily use chicken broth, beef broth, or juice when suitable. You can substitute buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream in place of the milk. By using different liquid ingredients in your side dishes, you can increase their flavor and nutritional value.
When you make food that contains seasoning, only put a little bit on at a time instead of putting it on all at once. When this is done, the flavors of the food will be enhanced, and you will be bringing out the best in all of your ingredients.
Cooking doesn’t have to be an exact science; that’s baking. But you should still measure the amount of oil you cook with. Pouring straight from a bottle does not give you an accurate idea of how much fat you are using, which can result in overindulgence. That way, you will know precisely how much oil is going into the dish you are preparing.
Many vegetable and herbs give off a smell that tends to remain in your chopping board, even though you scrub it over and over again. Mark one end, or side, of each cutting board so that you know which is which.
If you want to cook a complex meal, try doing prep work the night before so you are less stressed. You can double-check the availability of everything required, get your ingredients together, chop herbs and vegetables, and measure out quantities in advance. When the time comes to actually cook the meal, you will just have to combine the ingredients in the right order and cook them at the proper temperature for the correct amount of time.
One great cooking tip is just be flexible and creative; do your own thing. Following a recipe word for word and teaspoon for teaspoon is not always what cooking is about. You can add a little of one thing, or take out something else, to suit your tastes and enhance the recipe. That makes a person a great cook!
If you are serious about becoming a more versatile, creative cook, you must be willing to learn as much as possible about your craft. The following tips can help you become a better cook, no matter how many people you are cooking for.
