Many people agree that cooking skills are some of the most difficult to master. Read on for some great tips on cooking delicious, gourmet-type dishes that will make you look like a master chef.
Always bake your crusts a little longer than is absolutely necessary. They should be golden caramel in color instead of pale blonde. The color on your pie signifies that the caramelizing process is complete in your crust, yielding a scrumptious dessert.
Whenever you are spicing up your meat, consider starting off with a small portion before you cook the whole piece. It is important not to over-season foods such as hamburger, meatballs and other meat-based dishes. You do not want to cook the whole thing immediately after seasoning it. Just make a small piece and try it. If that piece turns out well, you can continue with the rest. If not, you can make adjustments to the spices.
Always make sure that your flour, sugar and baking additives are stored in airtight containers. By storing foods in airtight containers, you can ensure its freshness and prevent any contamination. These containers can be bought at almost any store and are totally worth it!
When boiling or sauteing veggies, use chicken broth instead of water. Chicken broth adds flavor to vegetables and prevents them from getting stuck to the bottom of the pan. Chicken broth can be found at almost all local grocery stores at a very cheap price.
If you are preparing pumpkins for a meal, position the pumpkin so it is sitting upright, then cut it into two equal halves. Put each half with the cut side facing down on their own baking sheet. Sprinkle a little water on to your baking sheets, then you can bake your pumpkins for an hour in a 350 degree oven.
In recipes that call for milk or water, try substituting more flavorful liquids. If the recipe calls for water, switch it up by using a broth, juice, or cooking liquids. Other dairy products such as buttermilk or sour cream can be used in place of milk. A good method for increasing your nutritional intake is by increasing the amount of liquids you drink throughout the day.
For better seasoning results, use smaller applications of seasoning at frequent intervals throughout the cooking process instead of dumping it all in at once. As such, you are getting the best flavor, and not wasting any of the seasoning.
If you are using garlic in the cooking, ensure it’s the freshest you can buy. In general, garlic tastes sweeter when it is fresher. You will want to look for the following characteristics; firm skin, and no bruises or shriveling.
If serving salad, keep the dressing on the side, rather than pouring it on the salad. Amount and type of dressing are personal tastes, so let your guests dress their own salad. Get different kinds of dressings to leave them more choices.
Even with no prior skill, cooking techniques can be improved with just a few simple tips and ideas. With this new found culinary knowledge, what are you waiting for? Cook something! You will be cooking dishes everyone will enjoy.
Tracie William is a house wife, cooking is her passion and she loves to try new recipes.. her latest blog is aboutHow To Make Cake Pops