A lot of people view cooking as an unwelcome task. Here is a compilation of tips and suggestions that can help make cooking enjoyable for you.
Stainless Steel
If you’ve been handling smelly ingredients like garlic, onions, or fish, try rubbing your hands with stainless steel for about one minute before you wash them. Any stainless steel surface will absorb the nasty odor, and your hands will smell fresh and clean!
Put citruses in the microwave first to get more juice. Put fruits such as oranges, lemons or limes in for about ten seconds. For an additional boost, roll the fruit up and down the kitchen counter a few times before juicing, in order to loosen up the juice from its flesh.
Here is a handy trick you can use to save your sauce. In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons’ worth of water with 1 of corn starch. Use this solution to instantly thicken any sauce. Add your starch slowly, then stir constantly to not over-thicken it.
Try different liquids in recipes calling for water or milk to add some new flavors to your meals. As a substitute for water, try broth. Juice can work as well. Some people use the water left over from boiling vegetables. Other dairy products such as buttermilk or sour cream can be used in place of milk. Changing liquids can improve the nutrition of the dish and make it more lively.
Saffron is a fun spice to play with in the kitchen! Saffron can create a sunny, delicious flavor that you can’t get from anything else. The ancient herb, saffron, is still a delightful addition to any meal. It is a highly sought after flavor that people all over the world enjoy, making it the spice that is most expensive.
When measuring sticky substances, try a little cooking oil! Give measuring spoons a light coat of an oil without much flavor (e.g. canola oil) before measuring. Sticky foods and ingredients will come off the spoon like a charm, making clean up easier and waste less likely. You can use this method with honey, peanut butter, or anything else that is sticky.
Add lots of salt to your water for cooking pasta. The seasoning will soak into the pasta this way. If you try to salt the pasta after it is already cooked it will not hold the seasoning as well.
If you are preparing dried beans, refrain from adding any salt or garlic to the water before the beans are soft. These spices could cause your beans to not become softer when they cook, particularly if you have old beans to begin with. Waiting until the beans are soft will give you the flavor and texture you want.
Don’t add the dressing until right before serving. Having your preparation done ahead of time is very important. When you’re ready to begin cooking and have set your deadline to finish, you can get really stressed. You can save yourself a lot of stress by doing as much preparation ahead of time as you can.
Macaroni and cheese should be cooked with careful attention to the instructions. By following the instructions closely, you are far less likely to overcook your noodles. Mushy noodles make for an unappealing dish. A simple serving dish and spoon are all you need to serve dinner. To add a little flavor to your macaroni, add a hint of pepper upon serving.
Do you know grilling times for meats? The best way to figure this out is by using a meat thermometer (a digital one will work best). This will ensure that the inside of your meat is cooked properly. If you’re grilling especially thick slabs of meat – anything thicker than an inch and a half – bring the lid down on your grill to speed up the cooking process.
As you can see, cooking can be an adventure instead of a chore. By implementing the tips you have learned throughout the above text, you can really add some spice to the kitchen.