Cooking skills are a valuable asset to possess. When you cook a meal at home, you are not only saving money, but you are also creating a meal that is healthy and tasty.
Your spices and herbs should always be stored in a cool and dark place. Warmth, humidity and light will make them stale and unflavorful. In general, herbs and spices that are ground will retain their flavor for up to one year. Spices that are raw, or whole, can keep the original flavor for as long as five years, though it usually falls somewhere between three and five. If you keep them correctly, they will last a lot longer.
Store your spices in a cool, dark place. Spices will last longer when they are not exposed to warm temperatures and moist air. When spices are stored in an adequately dark and cool area, they tend to retain their taste and shelf life for greater periods of time. You can prepare tastier meals if you use fresher spices.
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 make your food more flavorful when it is ready to serve.
If you’ve made a big pot of sauce, freeze the leftovers by pouring the extra sauce into ice cube trays. This makes it easier for you to make a quick meal which you can reheat at a later time. The sauce will be very edible after it comes out of the trays.
If you’re cooking pumpkins, cut them in half by positioning them upright and slicing down the middles. Once the pumpkin is cut, place it on a dampened baking sheet with the skin facing up. Sprinkle the baking sheets with water, and put the pumpkin in a 350-degree (Fahrenheit) oven for one hour.
By taking the information in the above article and putting it to use, you will find that learning to cook is much easier and way more fun then you imagine. If you test your skills a little more in the kitchen every day you will be enjoying home cooked meals and watching your savings account grow. And one of the best things about cooking your own food is you control things like fat, sugar and salt, so you family eats healthier. Go ahead! Use our advice and start creating great meals of your own!