Everyone is not a good cook and even if you are, you can get better! There is so much to know about cooking that you can make improvements your whole life and still never learn everything. This article can help you see instant improvements to your own cooking skills. The tips provided here will assist you as you grow as a cook.
For a delicious take on pie crusts, bake them for longer than the recipe calls for. The crust should have a nice golden color to be fully cooked. The darker color results when the sugar from the crust has started to caramelize and will have a much sweeter and crisper flavor.
Apples are a popular choice for eating in autumn or winter, but they will spoil if not properly stored. Heat and oxygen spoil apples, so place them in plastic bags in a cool spot. Your fridge is ideal. Make sure to check on them regularly, as one rotten apple means the rest are soon to follow.
Do you know how long your meat should be grilled? It is a great idea to utilize a meat thermometer to make sure you cook the meat properly. For a steak, or any other meat, that is more than one and a half inches thick, you can speed up the cooking time by covering it with the grill lid.
For a high-protein diet, meat isn’t the only source available. Tofu, lentils and beans are great protein substitutes. The vast majority of grocery stores stock both of these products. A delicious alternative to meat is tofu pan fried with your favorite seasonings. Boil beans with a sauce or herbs, or add them to a salad to serve up some additional protein.
Sauteing vegetables in chicken broth is very healthy. The chicken broth will add a dimension of flavor, and let you cut down on how much oil you use. You will love this cooking style if you just give it a try!
Make your own dried tomatoes. Start by cutting full-sized tomatoes into 1/2″ slices or by halving Roma tomatoes. Place cut side up on a clean cooling rack and salt lightly. Put a cookie sheet under the rack and place in the oven for ten hours at 190 degrees. The tomatoes can then be placed in plastic bags and stored in the freezer. You can also store them in jars packed with herbs and olive oil. The jar can be stored in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Make the most of your holiday feast by reusing the leftover turkey. Instead of tossing out the leftovers, store them in a container that is airtight and place in the freezer. This will keep the turkey fresh for a month or more, and can be easily thawed to use in sandwiches, soups, and salads.
If you purchase fruit that is still green and want it to ripen quickly, put it in a plastic bag with perforations. As fruits ripen, they produce a gas called ethylene. Placing fruit in a perforated bag allows air circulation in the bag, retaining ethylene gas and keeping the fruit tasting good.
Constantly learning about new things in cooking is exciting! Not only is it exciting, but wait til you try the food! If you want to improve your cooking skills, make sure you apply the tips you have just read and experiment with new things. Cooking is like a journey with no end in sight.
