Be A Better Chef With These Simple Cooking Tips

By Dorsey T. Emanus


Whether you can prepare Beef Wellington that could knock the socks off of a queen or you are one of the unlucky few who can barely boil water, you can benefit from the tips outlined here. Use this guide to take your cooking to a whole new level of excellence.

Have fun with flavors and spices and don't be afraid to put more seasonings into your cooking. Many cooks lightly season their food, leaving it tasting bland. It is okay to experiment with different amounts of salt and spices until you find a delicious tasting blend. Many chefs recommend adding almost twice as much as you would initially considering using, so keep it interesting and flavorful by putting in just a little bit more.

When cooking with oil, use coconut oil whenever possible. It is one of the most heat stable oils and very well-suited for high temperature cooking and frying. It is very slow to oxidize and won't go rancid as quickly as other oils. It has a high smoke point of 280 degrees.

You can avoid sticky rice by removing the starch. To do just that wash the rice several times until the water coming from the rice is crystal clear. Remove all the water, and let the rice sit for 20 minutes. Adding a few drops of lemon to the water before cooking also helps to separate the grains.

When browning meat of any kind, use a paper towel to blot dry the surface of the meat. This will prevent it from releasing moisture as it meets the hot oil. A lot of moisture can cause the meat to steam rather than sear, and you won't get that flavorful, rich crust.

If you find yourself with part of a loaf of stale bread, don't throw it away or feed it to the birds. Instead, turn it into croutons for a soup or salad by tossing cubes of bread with oil and seasonings and baking them until crispy. You can also turn stale bread into breadcrumbs for many recipes.

Do not use oil when boiling pasta. You may hear many sources tell you that oil in your water when boiling pasta will keep it from sticking when it is drained. This may hold some truth, however, the oil can not only break the pasta down prematurely, it will also prevent your sauce from sticking to it. Use salt in the water to achieve a faster boil and rinse cooked pasta with warm water to prevent sticking.

Store your spices in a cool, dark place, such as a cabinet or pantry. One of the biggest cooking mistakes people make is storing herbs and spices above the stove. The heat, humidity and light will causes herbs and spices to lose their flavor. For the most flavorful meals, take good care of your spices.

Cook perfect rice every time. When cooking plain white rice, follow these simple steps. Put 1 cup of long-grain rice into a heavy-based saucepan, with a pinch of salt and 2 cups of water. Put a lid on the saucepan, bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to a low simmer. Cook for 12 minutes. Check the rice at this point: there should be no water left, and small steam holes should have appeared in the rice. Replace the lid, and let the rice sit for 2 minutes. Enjoy!

If you are making meatloaf or meatballs, it is important to taste the meat before you cook it. You want to make sure that it has the perfect amount of seasoning. You can taste it by making a small patty and frying it on a pan, almost like a hamburger.

Now that you are armed with the cooking know-how to wow your family, friends and guests, you are prepared to make some knock-out dishes. Enjoy your time in the kitchen, and use the tips in this article to guide you towards the very best in fine dining and everyday cooking.




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