Tips To Help You Become A Great Cook
Tips To Help You Become A Great Cook
All people love a good meal, but not all people can make one. The tips in this article will help you learn a thing or two about preparing your own food. Do not be afraid to try cooking or new ingredients. Cooking is a priceless skill and can be a great source of joy. Try these tips and jump right in and make a mess!
The smaller the item you are cooking, the higher the baking temperature should be. Baking something delicious does not have to involve leaving food in the oven for hours. If you are baking something small, set the oven temperature higher. Just make sure you leave it in the oven for less time.
Perfect pasta every time. Never add oil to the water when you are boiling pasta. It prevents the sauce from coating the pasta properly. Just before you drain the pasta, set aside about 1/3 cup of the cooked pasta water. When you mix the sauce with the pasta, add a little of the cooking liquid. The starch in the water adds body and flavor to the sauce.
Cook your pasta one minute less than the package suggests, then finish cooking it in a pan with sauce. Your pasta will absorb more of the flavor of the sauce without having an over cooked texture. This can be a quick and effective way to prepare a pasta meal.
One of the things that you will need to realize when you are making meats or fish is that you need to spread your seasoning evenly. Adding too much seasoning in one area of your food can reduce the flavor or lead to a tangy taste that will reduce the quality of your meal.
Wash your mushrooms off with a damp cloth. Don't put them under running water to clean them. Mushrooms are like little sponges and running them under the tap will cause them to absorb too much water. This can affect their taste and your cooking time as well.
Garlic is one of those delicious ingredient that has a drawback; its flavor gets onto your hands. Rub your hands along the metal rim of your sink in order to get the odor off your hands after handling pungent food ingredients, such as garlic. The steel will clean your hands and remove the smell. You can buy stainless steel "soaps" at your local kitchen store to keep on hand.
When you are making fish or meat, make sure to sprinkle seasonings equally. You can compare the sprinkling to falling snow. By doing this, you are avoiding clumping. Also, the spices will be spread evenly so that one side of the meat or fish does not have more seasoning than the other.
You do not have to feel intimidated when cooking. Cooking is fun, helps you eat better and saves you money. Take the tips that you have learned in this article for a better way to shop, prepare meals, and then ultimately to a nice dish on your plate. Enjoy your cooking adventure!