A lot of people think that cooking is a hassle. Use the advice in the article so you can do just that.
For stir-fry dishes, meat should be sliced very thinly and on the bias. Very often this is difficult to master and takes a lot of time. Take the meat out of the freezer once it firms up (not frozen) then cut at an angle of 45 degrees across the grainy part of the meat.
Oil should be added to the side of the pan. When it reaches the food, it will already be heated up. Using this technique ensures that your food will have more flavor.
Place meat in the freezer for a few minutes to make slicing easier. This method is great for oriental meals that require small strips. Partially freezing meat keep the fibers in meat from stretching and tearing resulting in perfectly sliced strips. Allow the meat to thaw prior to cooking though, so that it can cook evenly.
While garlic is excellent for cooking, it can also be absorbed into your hands. Stainless steel can remove the bad odor that comes from garlic and other smelly items. The steel will clean your hands and remove the smell. You can buy stainless steel “soaps” at your local kitchen store to keep on hand.
Ice cube trays are fabulous for freezing and storing leftover sauce. This will make reheating the sauce easy, as you can pull out as many cubes that you need for the next meal. The frozen sauce will keep extremely well until the next time you need it!
If you plan to use wooden skewers when cooking, soak them in water for about thirty minutes prior to use. Using this method, you will not burn them when you’re cooking. Double up on the skewers per kebab to ensure that nothing falls off of them.
Leftover flavors and scents can remain on your cutting board, even after repeated washing. Use a permanent pen to make a mark so you know which side you are using.
You should consider replacing your spices about twice a year. If spices are kept open for too long a time, they will eventually lose their flavor. If you know you will not use the whole spice bottle, give some of it to someone you know.
If you purchase fruit that is still green and want it to ripen quickly, put it in a plastic bag with perforations. When fruits go through the ripening process, they release ethylene gas. Bags with holes will prevent already-ripened fruit from rotting, since the ethylene gas can escape; on the other hand, under-ripened fruit benefits from a bag without holes, since the gas that causes ripening is retained.
To avoid mistakes like burning your food while you are cooking, it is of the utmost importance to stay organized. An organized cooking station is a productive cooking station. Being disorganized means having difficulty finding things and quite possibly ruining an entire dish, wasting valuable time and money!
Use a paper towel to blot moisture off of any ground meat before you put it in the pan to cook. Taking out any moisture is a positive first step in the cooking process. If you do not blot it away, the moisture will come out when the meat is cooked. It will sizzle and dissipate. While this may not seem like a big deal, it means that the meat will actually steam, instead of sear, which makes a huge difference in the texture.
Get creative to make cooking fun. You don’t always have to follow the recipe word for word. When you’re comfortable with the recipe, play within it to see what can be reduced, increased, or added for a better taste or texture. That is how a real cook gets it cooking!
To give your pasta some added zip, save the water you use to boil the pasta. Use about a fourth of a cup for this tip. When you are ready to mix your sauce and pasta together, incorporate some of this water. The pasta water contains starch, which will give your sauce a thick creaminess.
Keep butter or oil used to a minimum when sauteing. This will create extra moisture that will act to steam the food rather than adding that crispness that comes from sauteing. You need to make certain you are sauteing items at a lower temperature.
It is important to properly care for your wood cutting board if you want it to last a long time. To keep your wooden cutting board in top shape, avoid exposing it to excess moisture. The board has to be washed, but just lightly go over it with soapy water. Don’t submerge the board in the dishpan. You can find oil designed for cutting boards to maintain yours. Let it dry for a while after oiling.
Make sure that you store your herbs and spices in a cool, dry, dark area. Humidity or heat can ruin your herbs and spices quickly. This puts the spices in a position to quickly degrade.
Cut down on cooking time by doing your prep work in advance. Prepare ingredients for several days worth of meals ahead of time. A longer cooking time can yield a more flavorful meal. After you experience the benefits of preparing in advance, you may well make it your standard practice.
A stir-fry is a great way to cook up bits and pieces of leftover vegetables and meat. Use rice that is left over; if you must prepare it that day use a little less water to have drier rice. Toss the vegetables and meat into a pan with a little oil. Add your rice, and season with some soy sauce and your favorite spices.
As you’ve read, there are a variety of ways that cooking can be made fun and exciting, and not just a chore. Try following these tips and come up with new ideas on your own to start cooking meals you will enjoy more.