Knowing how to cook well can be one of the most useful skills you can have. Almost everyone enjoys e...

1. Can't Even Boil Water? Improve Your Cooking Skills With
These Simple Tips!
Knowing how to cook well can be one of the most useful skills you can have. Almost everyone enjoys
eating, and it is even better when you or one of your family members is the one that did the cooking.
Many people would like to learn how to be better cooks. You'll be on your way to being a better cook
if you use the advice in this article.
Prepare to cook before you actually start cooking. Having everything prepared before you begin
cooking is important. When you have a timeline for your meal to be ready, things can get a bit
stressful once you start cooking. Preparing some of the ingredients ahead of time can reduce the
amount of stress you feel when it is time to prepare the meal.
When you are making stir-fry dishes, make certain the meat is thinly sliced on the bias. It can be a
tedious, lengthy process. When the meat is firm, not frozen, slice it across the grain at an angle of 45
degrees.
You have probably felt guilty for pitching moldy fruits before. Is it alright to eat fruit after removing
the moldy sections? It's not safe to try to save partially rotted fruit. Fruit with any mold on it must be
discarded because it contains unhealthy organisms.
Dinner Recipes
The mushrooms will just absorb the water. You should use a clean, wet cloth and wipe the
mushroom off by hand.
When preparing chicken stock, it is best to make a large batch. If you prepare a large pot of stock, it
can be frozen and stored for future use. You can use that delicious chicken stock in stews,
casseroles, and soups. Let your stock cool off and pour it inside Ziploc bags.
Tofu and beans are excellent sources of protein. These can be found at most grocery stores these
days. Try pan-frying tofu with some interesting seasonings and you will have a tasty alternative to
meat. Beans boiled with herbs is a flavorful source of protein.
The simplest way to prepare a pumpkin for cooking is to half it by cutting the pumpkin in half. You
then want to get two baking sheets and put the halves on their cut side down. Make sure you
sprinkle some water on the sheets. Bake the pumpkin for an hour.
This procedure will keep fruits fresh throughout the year. You also have the benefit of enjoying fruits
out of season.
When cooking a recipe calling for garlic, use the freshest garlic for the best results. Garlic is
normally sweeter when it is fresh. You will know if garlic is fresh if it is not bruised, soft or shriveled
and has firm skin.
If you do not have time to cook for your family, prepare things in advance. Chop veggies, prepare a
sauce, or marinate meat before heading to bed. You'll be less stressed when cooking the following

2. day.
Make your own dried tomatoes. Prepare by cutting ripe tomatoes into half-inch-thick slices or slicing
Roma tomatoes in half down their long axis. Next, lightly salt the open sides and place them salt-side
up on a wire cooling rack. Set the rack on a cookie sheet in an oven at 190 degrees for a 10 hours.
You can store your dried tomatoes in a plastic bag in the freezer. You can also pack dried tomatoes
in a jar with some fresh herbs and olive oil. The jars can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2
weeks.
After eating turkey, such as for Thanksgiving, never throw away leftovers. Instead, cut it into slices,
store it in an airtight container, and place it directly in the freezer. The turkey will remain fresh this
way for a couple weeks, and you can use it for sandwiches and salads.
If you are going to cook a complex meal, doing the prep work a day before can ease some stress.
Make sure you have all the necessary ingredients and chop and measure them in advance. The next
day when you have to cook your meal, all you need to think about is assembling and cooking the
dish.
When boiling pasta, salt the cooking water generously. This is so that the seasoning will set into the
pasta. Pasta that is salted after it is cooked does not absorb the salt as readily.
When you barbecue, get your grill ready before you start. It's a good idea to prepare the grill about
half an hour before you're going to use it. The coals need to be around medium heat and covered in
ash. That is the ideal grilling temperature.
When food is being sauteed, make the pan is not overloaded. The moisture that the extra food
volume adds will cause the food to steam, which means it won't be as crispy as intended. Keep the
flame or burner around medium as you saute.
Use the freshest spices and herbs when you cook a simple dish. You can use dried herbs, such as
oregano and basil, if your dish has many complex flavors. But remember that freshness is key when
cooking, so herbs that are actually alive and freshly picked will make all the difference in the final
product. One way to ensure that you have fresh herbs is to plant a herb garden.
Do prep work first to save time when cooking. One of the things that you can do is create
components of your meals in advance. With this added preparation, you may find that meals are less
stressful, as well as more flavorful. Advanced preparation of your food can help to improve your
overall body of work as a chef.
Do not fall victim to believing that all potatoes are the same. For example, some are waxy and
wonderful for making potato salad or boiled potatoes but would not work well as french fries or
baked potatoes. When cooking those foods, try using fluffier potatoes, including Russets.
As you can see, cooking can be easy. With the right techniques, creating delicious dishes for family
and friends can suddenly become a breeze! Now that you have been introduced to these great tips
and tricks, you just need to make the time to go and give them a try!