If you want to be a master chef or just a decent cook, you must learn some cooking basics. This article will teach you the techniques involved in cooking. Remember these tips and learn how to be great in the kitchen.
Make sure that all your preparation is done prior to cooking. Before you start making your food, it is a good thing to have everything prepared. If you are cooking a complex dish, take some of the stress out of it by having your needed ingredients lined up and ready. By doing all of your preparation in advance, you avoid the stress and just enjoy your meal.
Slice your meat very thinly for stir-fry dishes. This can sometimes be a tricky undertaking and very time-consuming. When the meat is firm, not frozen, slice it across the grain at an angle of 45 degrees.
Your spices should be stored in a place that is cool and dark. Leaving your spices out will expose them to moisture and light, which will diminish their quality. Keeping your spices in darkened, cool areas will lend extra longevity and flavor. This will help every meal that you prepare taste better.
A great tip to follow if you use oil to cook is to put it on the sides of the pan while cooking, so it’s already heated by the time it reaches the food. This will give your food the highest level of flavor.
Cook Vegetables
A healthy way to cook vegetables is to saute them with a little bit of chicken broth. The chicken broth will add a dimension of flavor, and let you cut down on how much oil you use. This is a delicious and healthy way to easily cook vegetables.
What you want to do when cooking pumpkins is to first stand it upright, then slice it in half right down the middle. Place the two halves on baking sheets. Sprinkle the baking sheet with water, and bake the pumpkin for an hour at 350 degrees.
If you are about to serve salad to multiple guests, serve the dressing separately instead of putting it directly on the salad. Let people put on their own dressing. It is important to provide your guests with a plethora of dressings.
Only cook with wine that you would actually drink. If you use a wine that you are not familiar with or do not enjoy, you are risking culinary disaster when it comes to the flavor of your food. Try using wines that are sold specifically for cooking.
As stated before, there are some tricks and secrets you have to learn in order to be a good cook. Some of the tips that were found in this article can even help well-established cooks become better. After reading, you can become the cook you want to be.