When you know how to cook, you have a skill that is extremely valuable. Homemade foods are very yummy and more healthy than restaurants, and can save you a lot of money.
Keep all dried spices in a dark space that stays room temperature. Warmth, humidity and light will make them stale and unflavorful. Generally, ground herbs and spices stay fresh for around a year, after that they begin to lose their flavor. Whole spices can keep their flavor for up to five years. When stored properly, they will stay fresher longer.
Save yourself some time and stress by doing prep work a day ahead. Be prepared in advance to make your cooking go smoothly. Sometimes even when the prep work is done, the deadline for when the meal must be completed can still loom large and become stressful. Try to complete your preparations, so you can avoid scrambling later on.
Try this quick and handy trick to salvage your efforts. In a small bowl, combine two tablespoons of water and 3 teaspoons of corn starch. Take this mixture and slowly stir it into the thin sauce, and this will make it thicker. Avoid over-thickening by adding the starch mixture slowly and stirring the sauce often.
Partially Frozen
Meat can easily be sliced into thin strips if it is partially frozen. This is the perfect technique when you are making Thai or Chinese food. The meat holds a tighter form when the it is partially frozen making the strips clean cut with out any stretching of the meat. To ensure that the meat strips cook evenly, make sure they thaw out before use.
If you are cooking meats that need seasoning, season a small piece first before making the entire meal. Many meaty foods require careful seasoning. Season it mildly before you make the entire meal. Cook a small portion first to sample. You are then able to decide whether to cook the rest of the meat that way, or adjust your seasoning accordingly.
If you do any lengthy cooking process like boiling, many of the nutrients will be cooked out. To maintain their healthy reputation, prepare them quicker by steaming or sauteing, and you could always enjoy them naturally in their raw state.
If you implement this advice, it is a simple matter to learn to cook and prepare foods at home. Once you get better through practice, you will realize how delicious and healthy home cooking can be, not to mention the money you save. Eating good home cooking will create a healthy and happy style of living for yourself and those around you. Use the advice in this article, and start cooking delicious meals today.