Have you ever wondered how the chef prepared your meals at your favorite restaurant? Have you ever tried to make the same recipe at hom? Implement the tips in this article and learn how you can make some of your favorite dishes and invent new ones altogether. Cooking can be a rewarding hobby for nearly anyone.
Prepare as much of your recipe as you can ahead of time. Do not start cooking until the prep work is done. That way, when you’re ready to cook, it takes some of the stress out of it, especially if you have a deadline to meet. Try to complete your preparations, so you can avoid scrambling later on.
When you are baking pastry crusts, try increasing the cooking time a bit. Wait until the crust turns golden rather than pale blond. The golden color is a sign that the sugars in the crust have finally caramelized.
When adding oil to a pan or skillet that already contains food, drizzle the oil down the side of the pan. The oil will heat as it flows toward the center. Your finished dishes will be enhanced and more flavorful if you do this.
However, there is a way that your efforts can be saved and the sauce still used. Take one tablespoon corn starch, and combine with two tablespoons water in a mixing bowl. Stir this mixture into the thin sauce and it will thicken up. You need to add this solution very slowly and stir while adding so the sauce does not become too thick or burn.
Partially Freezing
Slicing hot meat is often challenging, so consider partially freezing joints before you attempt to cut them up. This is perfect for meals that require really thin meat such as Chinese or Thai dishes. Partially freezing meat keep the fibers in meat from stretching and tearing resulting in perfectly sliced strips. Allow the meat strips to completely thaw before you throw them in the cooking pan, so you can be sure that the strips all cook evenly.
When trying out a new marinade or seasoning, test it on a small piece of meat before you cook the entire meal. It’s hard to correct overly seasoned meat but spices can always be added. Never prepare the full amount after its initial seasoning. Instead, make a small piece in the shape of a patty and initially cook that first. This is a good way to find out if you got the seasoning right.
Chicken Stock
If you are going to be making chicken stock, it is best to go big or not at all. Plan on preparing a large pot of stock in order to freeze it for storing. You can use that delicious chicken stock in stews, casseroles, and soups. Make certain the stock is cooled, and then you can portion it into heavyweight Ziploc freezer bags and place in the freezer.
You have now begun the journey to becoming a better chef at home. You should try new foods and recipes so that meal time turns into experiment time. The amount of creativity and variety in cooking is nearly limitless because of the many foods from many cultures.