How To Cook The Best Food Possible
No matter how good a cook you are, nobody has all the answers. Everyone can use some advice to make improvements from time to time. The tips in this article can help you to step up your game in the kitchen. Take a look and see which ones you can incorporate today.
If you are making a dish where you will need thin strips of meat (fajitas, Chinese) freeze your meet for about 20 minutes before cutting. This will allow you to slice the meat very thinly with ease. You may think this sounds a little strange, but it will definitely do the trick.
To get perfectly cooked salmon that is not too dry, remove it from the heat when the fish is opaque and it flakes whenever you press gently with the back of a fork or spoon. Salmon dries out quickly and is easy to overcook; and because it stays pink, color is not an accurate indication of whether or not it is done.
Your cake can be ruined if the baking powder is too old. In most cases, you don't remember when you bought the box you have just found in the cupboard. Don't gamble with it, test it. Put one tablespoon of baking powder in one third cup of water. If it fizzes, it's good to use. If not, throw it away and buy a new box because what you have is too old.
To discover when oil is really hot enough and ready for the food, look to its' surface. If it is no longer completely smooth and appears to be shimmering it is hot enough. When oil is allowed to over-heat it actually starts breaking down and releasing unpleasant compounds and will begin to smoke, so know when to say when!
Never wash chicken or other poultry. Washing it with water doesn't eliminate the bacteria; washing merely spreads the bacteria around to your sink, utensils, and counter top. To kill any bacteria in the chicken and ensure that it is safe to eat, cook it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
When it comes to meat, remember that cheap and tough definitely pay off in terms of flavor, with a bit of time and patience. Pork shoulder and chuck roasts are prime examples of meats that benefit from slow braising (cooking in liquid), which results in tender, delicious meat to serve with roasted veggies and gravy or to shred for BBQ sandwiches or tacos.
If you find yourself with part of a loaf of stale bread, don't throw it away or feed it to the birds. Instead, turn it into croutons for a soup or salad by tossing cubes of bread with oil and seasonings and baking them until crispy. You can also turn stale bread into breadcrumbs for many recipes.
A granite surface is great for thawing frozen foods, usually taking less than half of the time necessary for typical counter top thawing because granite absorbs the cold (and heat) of items placed on top of it so granite literally "sucks out" the cold from your frozen foods. Granite is also an amazing surface for pastry preparation when dusted with a little flour. If you can't afford to redo your kitchen in granite, check out a granite dealer for scrap pieces or have a smaller piece cut and polished for a fraction of the cost of remodeling your kitchen.
If you are making a sauce and you need to sweeten the flavor of it you can used mashed carrots or unsweetened applesauce instead of adding sugar. This is especially helpful for diabetics or anyone else that is trying to moderate the amount of sugar in their daily diets.
Try mixing course sea salt with a little bit of olive oil for added flavor instead of regular seasonings on your lettuce. Combine it with vinaigrette and you'll have a great tasting dinner salad or a nicely dressed lunchtime treat. The mixture will stay crunchy and stable on your crisp greens.
Cooking the daily meal can seem like a chore sometimes and throwing ingredients together quickly becomes tiresome. Cooking for pleasure can be relaxing, entertaining, and can be delicious. Remind yourself of some of the basic rules of cooking and make cooking fun again for you and your family.
If you are making a dish where you will need thin strips of meat (fajitas, Chinese) freeze your meet for about 20 minutes before cutting. This will allow you to slice the meat very thinly with ease. You may think this sounds a little strange, but it will definitely do the trick.
To get perfectly cooked salmon that is not too dry, remove it from the heat when the fish is opaque and it flakes whenever you press gently with the back of a fork or spoon. Salmon dries out quickly and is easy to overcook; and because it stays pink, color is not an accurate indication of whether or not it is done.
Your cake can be ruined if the baking powder is too old. In most cases, you don't remember when you bought the box you have just found in the cupboard. Don't gamble with it, test it. Put one tablespoon of baking powder in one third cup of water. If it fizzes, it's good to use. If not, throw it away and buy a new box because what you have is too old.
To discover when oil is really hot enough and ready for the food, look to its' surface. If it is no longer completely smooth and appears to be shimmering it is hot enough. When oil is allowed to over-heat it actually starts breaking down and releasing unpleasant compounds and will begin to smoke, so know when to say when!
Never wash chicken or other poultry. Washing it with water doesn't eliminate the bacteria; washing merely spreads the bacteria around to your sink, utensils, and counter top. To kill any bacteria in the chicken and ensure that it is safe to eat, cook it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
When it comes to meat, remember that cheap and tough definitely pay off in terms of flavor, with a bit of time and patience. Pork shoulder and chuck roasts are prime examples of meats that benefit from slow braising (cooking in liquid), which results in tender, delicious meat to serve with roasted veggies and gravy or to shred for BBQ sandwiches or tacos.
If you find yourself with part of a loaf of stale bread, don't throw it away or feed it to the birds. Instead, turn it into croutons for a soup or salad by tossing cubes of bread with oil and seasonings and baking them until crispy. You can also turn stale bread into breadcrumbs for many recipes.
A granite surface is great for thawing frozen foods, usually taking less than half of the time necessary for typical counter top thawing because granite absorbs the cold (and heat) of items placed on top of it so granite literally "sucks out" the cold from your frozen foods. Granite is also an amazing surface for pastry preparation when dusted with a little flour. If you can't afford to redo your kitchen in granite, check out a granite dealer for scrap pieces or have a smaller piece cut and polished for a fraction of the cost of remodeling your kitchen.
If you are making a sauce and you need to sweeten the flavor of it you can used mashed carrots or unsweetened applesauce instead of adding sugar. This is especially helpful for diabetics or anyone else that is trying to moderate the amount of sugar in their daily diets.
Try mixing course sea salt with a little bit of olive oil for added flavor instead of regular seasonings on your lettuce. Combine it with vinaigrette and you'll have a great tasting dinner salad or a nicely dressed lunchtime treat. The mixture will stay crunchy and stable on your crisp greens.
Cooking the daily meal can seem like a chore sometimes and throwing ingredients together quickly becomes tiresome. Cooking for pleasure can be relaxing, entertaining, and can be delicious. Remind yourself of some of the basic rules of cooking and make cooking fun again for you and your family.
About the Author:
Iced tea makes an excellent addition to any lunch or dinner meal. Without an iced tea maker it takes too long. To learn more about the easy healthy recipes, click here.
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