Handy Tips To Help Make Every Meal A Success!
With so many different resources available for cooking, it can seem like there is an information overload — leaving you feel extremely overwhelmed. However, just by using these simple tricks you can quickly and easily learn ways to prepare and serve high quality food that the whole family will enjoy!
Keep your kitchen knives very sharp for both safety and efficiency. A sharp knife is less likely to slip and cut you, and it’s easier to breeze through prep work without dull blades slowing you down. If you aren’t comfortable sharpening your knives, yourself, ask your favorite butcher. They may do it for free or for a small fee.
Don’t skimp and use cheap olive oil. More expensive olive oil is not only fresher, it often has a richer flavor. High-quality olive oil can draw the flavor out of all your favorite dishes, including pizza, pasta and many types of fish and meat. Even a small drizzle of more expensive olive oil can make the difference that takes your meals from drab to fab!
Buy fruit when it is at its peak at your local farmer’s market. Use airtight containers, and then freeze it so you can use it to cook or bake with all year long. Not only will this save you from having to buy pre-packaged frozen fruit at the supermarket, but also you will have the items on hand when they are not in season.
Use a paper towel to blot dry, any meat that you are browning before you put it in the hot oil. This prevents the release of moisture when your meat hits the hot oil. When you are browning meat, you want it to sear, not steam. Moisture-rich meats will steam and the brown crust that you seek from browning, will prove elusive. Surprisingly physics tuition is a really great way to learn.
If you are planning on buying fish from a supermarket or fish store, make sure that you ask the person behind the counter if you can smell the fish. The fish should be very firm and should not have any pungent odors to them. Otherwise, do not purchase it, as they are probably not fresh.
To make smooth and creamy mashed potatoes, place hot potatoes in a food ricer. After pushing them through, blend them with butter and hot milk. Finish up with an electric beater. This will keep your potatoes free of lumps, and will leave them tasting light and delicious. For extra creamy potatoes, add more butter.
While most seasonings are added at some point during the cooking process, there are certain spices that are considered good after cooking options. These spices are garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper and salt. Set these on the table, and let your guests decide on their personal preference to add a little kick to their plate.
Now that you have read about these great cooking tricks, you can begin to enjoy cooking and spend less time worrying. These tips will not only save you time but also a lot of money. When you put them to use today, you can enjoy having an overall better cooking experience.