Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Is Your Kitchen A Mystery? Get Help With These Easy Cooking Tips!

Do you see the delicious meals that loved ones cook and marvel at how they are able to create such masterpieces? The information in the following article can turn anyone into a skilled chef.

If you keep herbs and spices handy, make sure you are keeping them in a dark, cool area. Heat, light, and a large amount of humidity can ruin spices and herbs. Ground herbs and spices can retain full flavor for about a year. Whole spices may retain flavor for up to five years. When stored in the correct place, they will keep their freshness for longer.

Stir-fry meat needs to be sliced thin, on the bias. It takes a little practice and time to get it right. When the meat feels firm, pull it from the freezer and cut across the grain at a 45 degree angle.

Slicing meat into thin even strips is easier when the meat is partially frozen. This method is especially useful when preparing Chinese or Thai entrees. When the meat is frozen slightly, cutting it is easier because the fibers in the muscle do not tear or stretch when slicing. However, wait until the slices are thawed before you cook them. By doing this, the strips will more evenly cook.

When planning on seasoning meats, first use a little piece, before cooking all of it. You may have to use caution when you season foods such as meatballs, meatloaf or hamburgers. After seasoning the meat, do not cook all of it. You should cook a smaller patty first, so that you can make sure that the seasoning is delicious. You are then able to decide whether to cook the rest of the meat that way, or adjust your seasoning accordingly.

The longer the cooking process, the more nutrients that you lose from most vegetables. To retain these nutrients, rely on cooking methods that don't take a lot of time, including steaming or sauteing. You can even eat them raw if you have the taste for it.

Let raw potatoes soak in some cold water for a half hour prior to frying them to increase the crispiness of French fries. When potatoes are allowed to absorb cold water, the texture is able to withstand the extreme heat of cooking without breaking down and becoming mushy.

Do you want to cook with fresh basil? Gather a small bunch of freshly cut basil and place it in a glass. Add water until the stems are covered. This will help to keep it from going bad for quite a few days. Change the water regularly and roots will grow. By cutting or trimming the basil on occasion, it will grow even further, so you can have fresh basil for quite a while.

This seasoning not only goes well with meat, but it can also work with other foods. It can be put on pumpkin seeds for a yummy snack, or even in scrambled eggs for a zesty breakfast. Simply sprinkling on these kinds of seasonings can turn your dish into an instant hit.

Look for different opportunities to use these tips. Everyone you know will be bothering you for cooking tips!

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