So You Think You Can Cook? Try These Tasty Tips!

Good food has a reputation for being many things. By using the following tips, you can learn to make delicious meals effortlessly.

Prepare in advance as much as possible. Try to have the prep work completed before cooking; this is important. When you have a schedule as to how long you plan to be cooking, things can get a little stressful in the kitchen. You can save yourself a lot of stress by doing as much preparation ahead of time as you can.

Try going to a library or buying a cook book if you are wanting to cook different foods. Be patient, and try several recipes. Like any skill, cooking can take practice.

A pie crust should be baked a little bit longer than you would think. It will help if you achieve a darker, more delicious golden caramel color, rather than stopping when the crust is still pale. The crust changes to the caramel color only after the sugar has had time to caramelize. This will give the crust the sweet flavor you want.

Your spices should be stored in a place that is cool and dark. If they are stored in an area that they are exposed to light, heat and humidity, their shelf life is shortened. Keeping your spices in darkened, cool areas will lend extra longevity and flavor. Your food will be even more delicious if your spices are fresher.

For crispier French fries, you should chill the peeled potatoes in water for 30 minutes or more before frying them. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.

Texture and taste don't have to suffer when you are trying to lighten up your mashed potatoes. Cauliflower makes for a great substitute to help drop the fat and calorie content. The bland cauliflower taste will make it so that you do not notice much difference in the taste, while accentuating the taste of some of the other ingredients. When they're mashed, cauliflowers have the same appearance and consistency as potatoes, too. Adding a little cauliflower can take calories out of your favorite mashed potato recipes and add in a little vegetable goodness, too.

The quality of vegetables improves when cooked. Using slow cooking methods can rob vegetable of their taste and nutritional value. Using these techniques will mean putting healthier food on the table. When you know how to cook vegetables in the least amount of time possible, you will enjoy better tasting and nutritious vegetables.

Fresh ingredients are always preferable to dried or frozen ones in all of your recipes. Fresh ingredients will give your dish extra flavor, and can turn out to be less expensive over time.

Add some chicken broth to your pan when cooking vegetables. Chicken broth is a great way to add flavor to your vegetables while keeping them from sticking to your pan. Broth can be found at nearly any grocery store, and is very inexpensive.

Food is one of life's basic needs, as well as one of its most powerful forces. Apply this knowledge you have just learned to impress your family and friends.