Many people dream of becoming professional chefs. However, this encompasses a lot of training that can make this dream seem impossible. If you are a beginner cook, you too can become a wonderful chef by following the techniques taught in this article.
Keep all dried spices in a dark space that stays room temperature. If they are exposed to light, moisture, or heat, they will lose much of their flavor. As a general rule, most of your ground herbs and spices will stay fresh for about a year if stored correctly. 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. The freshness can last longer if they are stored correctly.
Golden Color
For a delicious take on pie crusts, bake them for longer than the recipe calls for. The crust should turn a golden color, not simple blonde. When the crust is a golden color then you know the sugar has caramalized and you will have a sweet and crispy result.
Fresh apples can be a delicious ingredient for a wide variety of recipes. Apples spoil in warm, dry air, so keep them in a refrigerator or basement, in plastic bags that are loosely tied. Make sure to check on them regularly, as one rotten apple means the rest are soon to follow.
This seasoning can also be utilized on various other ingredients. You can use your favorite spices and seasonings to enhance the naturally delicious flavor of scrambled eggs and roasted pumpkin seeds. You can cultivate a reputation as a mysterious wizard of flavor just by using a judicious dash of such seasonings.
Regardless of what you cook, it is always better to use fresh ingredients as opposed to those that are dried or frozen. Whenever possible, incorporate fresh ingredients; they enhance the flavor of other ingredients and may even be less expensive.
Mushrooms soak up water that you don’t want to be added to the recipe. Get a wet cloth instead, and wipe off each mushroom by hand.
Garlic can add a tremendous amount of flavor to your food. However, when you are cutting and chopping fresh garlic, it can also leave its odor on your hands. Try rubbing your hands on the inside of a steel sink after you work with the garlic or other potent ingredients. This handy trick cleanses your hands so the smell will not be transferred to what you are going to touch next.
If you’re using wooden skewers to cook, try soaking them in water for half an hour first. This step will stop the skewer from burning while it is being used. You can make sure that food stays on your skewers by skewing the food with parallel skewers.
When seasoning your food, add the seasoning in increments rather than putting it all on at once. When you do it like this, you give food all the flavoring you are able to give and you get all you can out of the ingredients.
Salad Dressing
When serving salad to guests, always offer the dressing on the side rather than pouring it directly on the salad. Some people like to put more salad dressing on their salads than other people do; let your guests put their own salad dressing on. Offer your guests a variety of dressings.
Make your own sun-dried tomatoes. You can do this by cutting ripe tomatoes into 1/2 inch thick slices, or by cutting Roma tomatoes in half lengthwise. Place them cut-side up on a rack that you use for cooling, and add a little salt. Put the rack on a baking sheet, and slow-bake in an oven that is set to 190 degrees for about 10 hours. You can store your dried tomatoes in a plastic bag in the freezer. Zing up your dried tomatoes and conserve them at the same time by canning them in olive oil and herbs. Refrigerate and use within 2 weeks.
Whether you seek to cook dinner for the family or to create something special for a date, being able to cook terrific meals is a stellar quality to have. In all cultures from around the world, we sit down to meals with friend and family. If you use the above tips, you will become an awesome cook and everyone will ask you to cook for the next big family event.