Go From Gross To Gourmet With These Cooking Tips

Cooking is a great thing to know if you're cooking for yourself or a large group. Cooking can benefit you not only nutritionally, but also socially and financially. The following tips give you a wealth of information on cooking, from A to Z.

Keep herbs and spices in a location that is cool and dark. Their flavors suffer when they are exposed to heat, light, and humidity. When properly stored, ground herbs and spices can retain full flavor for up to a year. Spices that have not been ground may still be worth using for three years or a little more. If spices are stored properly there is a better chance that they will stay fresher for a longer period of time

Bake pie and tart crusts for a longer time than you think is really necessary. Judge their color, not the time in the oven to determine if they are done. They will be golden brown when cooked. This is because the golden color lets you know that the sugar from the crust has caramelized, which give it that sweet, yet crisp taste.

If you are preparing stir-fry, be sure to slice the meat on the bias and very thin. This can take a lot of time and be hard to do. When the meat is partially frozen, slice it diagonally across the grain at a 45 degree angle.

Here is a little trick that can help you save your sauce so that you can use it right away. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more cornstarch until you reach the desired consistency. Stir this mixture into the sauce while it's simmering and this will make it more thick. Keep stirring your sauce and add the corn starch little by little.

When you are cooking an important dinner you want to whip up something you know how to cook well. Stay away from using new ingredients, or a new recipe. You will be more comfortable cooking, and there will be less of a risk of messing it up.

Replacing some of your mashed potatoes with equal amounts of cauliflower is a healthy alternative, reducing fat and calories. Cauliflower does not have a strong taste and will be virtually undetectable when mixed with the potatoes and other ingredients. Cauliflower mixes easily with potatoes and will become hard to notice while reducing your intake of carbs.

Are you going to prepare food with fresh basil? Fill an empty glass with fresh basil. Submerge the stems in water. Now, just sit this glass on your window sill or counter and the basil should stay fresh for a few days to a few weeks. Remember to refresh the water from time to time, and you will notice that the basil starts to grow roots. Trim your basil plants back a bit to encourage new growth, and keep enjoying your basil for a long time.

The ability to prepare meals for both yourself and your family is a highly-prized skill. As you can see, cooking has the ability to make your life better, no matter what kind of food you like. There's no reason to give up the occasional trip to the drive-thru or the restaurant, but nothing really compares to a fresh, home-cooked meal.