Have you always been fascinated by cooking and love to play around in the kitchen but don’t really know what you’re doing? Or perhaps you know some basic techniques but would like to learn some more advanced cooking methods. Whatever your reasoning for wanting to learn more about cooking, this article contains some tips to guide you to becoming a better cook!
(1) To successfully cook a meal you should always follow the recipe. This will assure you use the correct amount of each ingredient. Cooking is a science and each ingredient has its job. Leaving out an ingredient, putting too much of something, or cooking for too long can turn your dish into a disaster.
(2) Before you start cooking, read each recipe all the way through before you begin; you don’t want to get halfway through and realize you’ve forgotten a key ingredient. Gather all the equipment and ingredients together. This will save you time and prevent cooking mishaps and you’ll have a better product in the end.
(3) Use a heavy duty, zip-lock plastic bag to separate pan drippings. After roasting meat, pour the pan drippings into a zip-lock plastic bag. Let the fat rise to the top. Carefully snip off one of the bottom corners on the bag, and pour out the fat-free broth. The fat will stay in the plastic bag, and you will have a tasty broth as a base for gravy or a sauce.
(4) After removing corn from the cob, scrap the cob with the back of your knife. Doing this will extract the “milk” from it. Drizzle the “milk” over the corn to add extra flavor.
(6) You should use nonstick cooking spray when cooking a meal or snack. The nonstick cooking spray keeps food from sticking to a pan without adding unneeded fats and calories. There are some sprays that are flavored, so that you can get the same flavor as if you had used butter.
(7) You should try juicing if you do not like the taste of vegetables. It is very easy to mask the taste of the vegetables by juicing them with fruits that are full of flavor. Spinach, zucchini and carrots can easily be juiced with apples, strawberries and pears to make a delicious drink that is full of vitamins and nutrients.
(8) If you are making pastries, you should try to maximize the accuracy of your measurements as it is a very exact science. By adding one gram too much or too less, you are going to put the taste of your pastry in jeopardy. Always try to be precise when baking.
(9) When using the oven, always a good practice to preheat your oven for at least 15 minutes before using it so that it reaches the recommended temperature. Also, remember that cooking times can vary depending on the oven or pan you are using.
(10) Learn about herbs, both fresh and dried, so that you can season without always relying on a recipe. Chefs base some of the world’s great cuisines on the combination of a few simple herbs and spices.
Happy Cooking!