Anyone Can Cook With These Basic Tips
12/08/2014 01:24
Cooking is viewed by many as too time-consuming and bothersome to deal with. This article will give you tips on how to make cooking fun and a joy to do.
Do you ever feel bad for disposing of fruit with a little mold on it? Should you save the moldy fruit and cut away the bad parts? Sadly half rotten fruit is something you can never really save. Mold grows deeper than on the surface, and because it can make you sick, you should throw away any partially rotten fruit.
Try putting some cauliflower in with your mashed potatoes to cut some calories and fat. You will not even taste the cauliflower in with the potatoes, because it is so bland. Cauliflower mixes easily with potatoes and will become hard to notice while reducing your intake of carbs.
Are you using fresh basil to cook with? Store the basil in a jar. Cover its stems completely with water. This will allow it to stay fresh for weeks! If you keep the water as fresh as you can, roots will start growing. Picking the leaves from time to time will cause the basil to put out new growth, so you will have a constant supply!
Have you ever experienced difficulty in determining how long you should grill a piece of meat? A reliable meat thermometer can help you ensure that the meat is properly cooked on the inside. For the most accurate readings, invest in a digital thermometer. Think about closing your grill's lid to cut down on grill time any time you grill meat thicker than an inch and a half.
Add chicken broth to vegetables when you cook them. Try cooking your veggies in chicken broth. It adds a nice flavor, and the veggies will not stick to the pan. Chicken broth can be bought at almost any grocery store, and is so inexpensive.
If you are trying to lose weight or lower your cholesterol, try to decrease the amount of fat in your diet. Oil and butter provide a lot of un-needed fat. A good alternative to using butter and oil is to use a low-fat cooking spray. Even better, you can use nonstick pans and eliminate oil altogether.
When you cook a pumpkin, the first step is to slice in in half vertically. Next, take each half and place them cut side down onto separate baking sheets. Sprinkle some water on both baking sheets, then at 350 degrees bake the pumpkin for about an hour.
Never forget to measure oil when you are using it for cooking. This will help you reduce how much fat is present in your cooking. Doing this will make it easy for you to keep track of exactly how much oil is being used.
Always purchase the freshest garlic available if you plan to be cooking with this wonderfully aromatic seasoning. Fresh garlic tastes a lot sweeter than older garlic, so buy fresh to avoid the bitterness. Fresh garlic should feel firm, the cloves full, and the bulb should not be bruised or have any discoloration.
If you are having people over to your home to eat, and you are including a salad with the meal, allow your guests to put the dressing on themselves. The amount of dressing that people use on their salad will vary, so you should give them the option of adding their own dressing. Make sure you have a wide selection of dressings to choose from as well.
Prior to cooking ground meat, you should take the time to blot it. One smart move in the kitchen is to remove the moisture from ground meats. If you do not blot it away, the moisture will come out when the meat is cooked. It will sizzle and dissipate. The meat, which is suppose to sear, may steam instead.
When planning to prepare complicated dishes, do the prep work the evening before the actual cooking is to take place to minimize stress. Get the ingredients ready, chop the veggies, measure and prepare the spices and herbs. It's also a great time to make sure you have everything that is needed. When the time comes to actually cook the meal, you will just have to combine the ingredients in the right order and cook them at the proper temperature for the correct amount of time.
As was detailed in this article, there are numerous methods to make cooking more entertaining. If you use the tips in this article you'll find that you can make cooking creative and fun, enjoying every minute of it.
Do you ever feel bad for disposing of fruit with a little mold on it? Should you save the moldy fruit and cut away the bad parts? Sadly half rotten fruit is something you can never really save. Mold grows deeper than on the surface, and because it can make you sick, you should throw away any partially rotten fruit.
Try putting some cauliflower in with your mashed potatoes to cut some calories and fat. You will not even taste the cauliflower in with the potatoes, because it is so bland. Cauliflower mixes easily with potatoes and will become hard to notice while reducing your intake of carbs.
Are you using fresh basil to cook with? Store the basil in a jar. Cover its stems completely with water. This will allow it to stay fresh for weeks! If you keep the water as fresh as you can, roots will start growing. Picking the leaves from time to time will cause the basil to put out new growth, so you will have a constant supply!
Have you ever experienced difficulty in determining how long you should grill a piece of meat? A reliable meat thermometer can help you ensure that the meat is properly cooked on the inside. For the most accurate readings, invest in a digital thermometer. Think about closing your grill's lid to cut down on grill time any time you grill meat thicker than an inch and a half.
Add chicken broth to vegetables when you cook them. Try cooking your veggies in chicken broth. It adds a nice flavor, and the veggies will not stick to the pan. Chicken broth can be bought at almost any grocery store, and is so inexpensive.
If you are trying to lose weight or lower your cholesterol, try to decrease the amount of fat in your diet. Oil and butter provide a lot of un-needed fat. A good alternative to using butter and oil is to use a low-fat cooking spray. Even better, you can use nonstick pans and eliminate oil altogether.
When you cook a pumpkin, the first step is to slice in in half vertically. Next, take each half and place them cut side down onto separate baking sheets. Sprinkle some water on both baking sheets, then at 350 degrees bake the pumpkin for about an hour.
Never forget to measure oil when you are using it for cooking. This will help you reduce how much fat is present in your cooking. Doing this will make it easy for you to keep track of exactly how much oil is being used.
Always purchase the freshest garlic available if you plan to be cooking with this wonderfully aromatic seasoning. Fresh garlic tastes a lot sweeter than older garlic, so buy fresh to avoid the bitterness. Fresh garlic should feel firm, the cloves full, and the bulb should not be bruised or have any discoloration.
If you are having people over to your home to eat, and you are including a salad with the meal, allow your guests to put the dressing on themselves. The amount of dressing that people use on their salad will vary, so you should give them the option of adding their own dressing. Make sure you have a wide selection of dressings to choose from as well.
Prior to cooking ground meat, you should take the time to blot it. One smart move in the kitchen is to remove the moisture from ground meats. If you do not blot it away, the moisture will come out when the meat is cooked. It will sizzle and dissipate. The meat, which is suppose to sear, may steam instead.
When planning to prepare complicated dishes, do the prep work the evening before the actual cooking is to take place to minimize stress. Get the ingredients ready, chop the veggies, measure and prepare the spices and herbs. It's also a great time to make sure you have everything that is needed. When the time comes to actually cook the meal, you will just have to combine the ingredients in the right order and cook them at the proper temperature for the correct amount of time.
As was detailed in this article, there are numerous methods to make cooking more entertaining. If you use the tips in this article you'll find that you can make cooking creative and fun, enjoying every minute of it.