Tips On How To Be A Successful Cook
Do you ever find yourself wishing that you could recreate a favorite restaurant dish? Have you ever tried to make the same recipe at hom? This article will make you more adept at identifying ingredients in dishes and using them effectively in your own homemade meals. You'll love the results you taste after using these tips, and you will have found a new hobby to enjoy too!
Use cooking oil for measuring sticky foods! Give measuring spoons a light coat of an oil without much flavor (e.g. canola oil) before measuring. Sticky foods and ingredients will come off the spoon like a charm, making clean up easier and waste less likely. This works great for foods such as peanut butter and margarine.
There are two good ways to heat tortillas. The first way is to turn your oven on at 350 degrees and place the tortilla on the rack directly until it's as crispy as you want it. A different, super quick way to heat your tortillas is placing them right on your gas-powered stove top, on the metal grill right over the flame. Trying any of these methods will create an amazing tortilla.
Not all potatoes are the same, and if you substitute one type of potato for another, your dish may not come out like you expected. Some potatoes are waxy and are great for making things like boiled potatoes or potato salad but are not so good for french fries, mashed potatoes, or baked potatoes. For that type of side dish, Russets are a good choice of fluffy potato.
Leave raw potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes before frying them to make crispier French fries. When you soak sliced potatoes in cold water, it strengthens their fibers, so that they can stand up to the heat when being deep fried.
Apples are a popular ingredient for cooking during the cool autumn and winter months. However, if they are not stored correctly, apples can spoil very quickly. Store them in your fridge or basement, in plastic bags that are loosely tied, as they tend to spoil in dry warm areas. However, you will still need to keep a watchful eye on your apples. Even properly stored apples can spoil. They're a fickle fruit.
Prior to cooking ground meat, blot it. The reason for the blotting is to remove the surface moisture. If you do not blot it away, the moisture will come out when the meat is cooked. Basically it just burns away. The meat will then be more likely to steam, instead of the intended searing.
If you have a recipe that requires water or milk, you can change out the liquids to create a whole new flavor. Use chicken broth, beef stock or vegetable broth instead. Other dairy products such as buttermilk or sour cream can be used in place of milk. Using a variety of liquids can add a bit of zest to a favorite recipe and even make it more nutritious.
The prep work is a very important part of assembling a home-cooked meal for family or friends. Take an inventory to be sure that everything that you will need is available. Along with the ingredients, you need to make sure you have the correct utensils for cooking the next day. If you have everything ready, you won't be as worried about preparing the meal, and it's more likely to turn out well.
You're now on the way to becoming a great home chef. Let your creativity take control, and experiment with new flavors, ingredients and recipes for all your meals. With a vast array of cuisines to choose from, you can do anything with cooking!
Use cooking oil for measuring sticky foods! Give measuring spoons a light coat of an oil without much flavor (e.g. canola oil) before measuring. Sticky foods and ingredients will come off the spoon like a charm, making clean up easier and waste less likely. This works great for foods such as peanut butter and margarine.
There are two good ways to heat tortillas. The first way is to turn your oven on at 350 degrees and place the tortilla on the rack directly until it's as crispy as you want it. A different, super quick way to heat your tortillas is placing them right on your gas-powered stove top, on the metal grill right over the flame. Trying any of these methods will create an amazing tortilla.
Not all potatoes are the same, and if you substitute one type of potato for another, your dish may not come out like you expected. Some potatoes are waxy and are great for making things like boiled potatoes or potato salad but are not so good for french fries, mashed potatoes, or baked potatoes. For that type of side dish, Russets are a good choice of fluffy potato.
Leave raw potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes before frying them to make crispier French fries. When you soak sliced potatoes in cold water, it strengthens their fibers, so that they can stand up to the heat when being deep fried.
Apples are a popular ingredient for cooking during the cool autumn and winter months. However, if they are not stored correctly, apples can spoil very quickly. Store them in your fridge or basement, in plastic bags that are loosely tied, as they tend to spoil in dry warm areas. However, you will still need to keep a watchful eye on your apples. Even properly stored apples can spoil. They're a fickle fruit.
Prior to cooking ground meat, blot it. The reason for the blotting is to remove the surface moisture. If you do not blot it away, the moisture will come out when the meat is cooked. Basically it just burns away. The meat will then be more likely to steam, instead of the intended searing.
If you have a recipe that requires water or milk, you can change out the liquids to create a whole new flavor. Use chicken broth, beef stock or vegetable broth instead. Other dairy products such as buttermilk or sour cream can be used in place of milk. Using a variety of liquids can add a bit of zest to a favorite recipe and even make it more nutritious.
The prep work is a very important part of assembling a home-cooked meal for family or friends. Take an inventory to be sure that everything that you will need is available. Along with the ingredients, you need to make sure you have the correct utensils for cooking the next day. If you have everything ready, you won't be as worried about preparing the meal, and it's more likely to turn out well.
You're now on the way to becoming a great home chef. Let your creativity take control, and experiment with new flavors, ingredients and recipes for all your meals. With a vast array of cuisines to choose from, you can do anything with cooking!
