Most people see view cooking as a chore. But cooking can be something to be enjoyed. It offers an excellent opportunity to follow a healthier lifestyle. The best cooks are those who are always willing to learn new techniques. Furthering your knowledge also makes the cooking experience far more pleasurable; use the following tips to help you grow as a cook.
When you store your spices and herbs, keep them in a place that is cool and dark. The flavor of the spices and herbs will decrease if they are kept in areas with light, humidity, and heat. Herbs and spices that are ground usually remain flavorful for a year. Whole spices can keep their flavor for up to five years. If the spices are stored properly, they will stay fresh for a longer period.
Being organized is a key step when planning to prepare a meal for family or friends. Make sure you have everything you need to make your food. Prepare everything the day prior, including the correct utensils and other cooking tools. This means you don’t have to worry when time is short, which means your cooking will be better.
Keep all spices stored out of the sunlight. Exposing spices to heat, humidity, and light will shorten their lifespan. You can preserve the flavor and freshness of your spices by storing them in a dark, cool spot. Keeping your spices fresh can improve the taste of every recipe you prepare.
In order to make it easier to slice meat into thin strips, you should first marginally freeze the meat. Asian inspired dishes such as Chinese and Thai will particularly benefit from this technique. The tissues of partially-frozen meat do not tear and stretch as much; this makes cleaner slices possible. Before you cook the sliced meat, however, you must first allow the strips to thaw.
Boiling takes time and removes the nutrients from veggies. The healthier way to prepare vegetables is by cooking them quickly, such as steaming or sauteing them; the most nutritious way of all is by serving them raw.
Apples spoil quickly if stored incorrectly. Apples are extremely perishable. In a warm, dry environment, they will quickly go bad. Store your apples in an airtight container in a cool, preferably humid place. If there is one apple that is rotten, it can make the rest of the apples go bad.
After eating turkey, whether for Thanksgiving or otherwise, do not throw away the leftovers. Instead of tossing out the leftovers, store them in a container that is airtight and place in the freezer. The turkey will stay fresh for quite a few weeks if you follow these tips. It is a great way to ensure you can have sandwiches for weeks to come.
As was stated at the beginning of the article, good cooks never stop learning. The fun is not only in the cooking, but in the learning about new foods, styles and techniques to try. A lot of the joy of cooking comes from sharing. Not only is cooking a learned skill, it is also a gift you can share with others.