Learn To Be A Better Cook With These Helpful Hints

By Roxane J. Talisen


Whether you need to lose weight or save money by dining in, cooking homemade meals is a very rewarding prospect. You can save money, increase your health and enjoy delicious meals when you cook at home.

All is not lost if you put too much salt in. Peel one or two raw potatoes and allow them to simmer in the dish for approximately 15 minutes. The potatoes will absorb the extra salt in the dish. If your dish contains tomatoes, use extra tomatoes to get rid of the extra salt and make sure to cook them until they achieve the desired tenderness.

You should always purchase fish and other meat that is directly on the bone. Put the bones, cooked or raw, in heavy duty ziploc bags and store them in the freezer until you are ready to use.

Prepare dishes that you're an expert at when you're cooking for someone important in your life, such as a supervisor or a new partner. You do not want to deal with the stress of trying to make something that you have ever done before. This will make cooking less stressful.

Finish your prep work in advance. Having your preparation done ahead of time is very important. Trying to cook a meal that has to be on the table by a certain time can be stressful. Get everything prepared at least a day ahead of time.

If you enjoy using fresh herbs, consider bunching them together and cutting them with scissors while preparing your next meal. This will prevent them from clumping together and they will be drier than when you chop them.

Have you ever struggled to determine the time it takes to grill your meat? A meat thermometer can give you a precise temperature, reassuring you that the meat is fully cooked. If you're working with a particularly thick slice of meat, you can cut back on grilling time by closing the lid of the grill.

Winter greens can be wonderful to cook with. Winter greens are sweeter after they have lived through the first frost. Kale, collards and broccoli rabe are great examples of great winter greens. Focus on those vegetables that have a vibrant hue, while passing over their wilting, yellowing cousins. These greens are dirt magnets, so take care when washing them. Dunk them in fresh water and shake gently, then continue rinsing until no dirt remains.

Using a baked potato instead of a small one can help you to have nice thick skins to use to make twice baked potatoes. Always avoid red potatoes as they have the thinnest skins.

Make sure you use a thermometer to see if the meat is done. Different kinds of meat must be heated to a certain temperature inside to be safe to eat. Bacteria loves meat and you could ingest it if you do not cook it properly, it could cause you to become sick.

When you add seasoning to your meats, test a little bit before you cook the whole thing. Foods such as meatballs, meatloaf and hamburgers too all require delicate seasoning. Season it mildly before you make the entire meal. Cook a small, seasoned patty and taste the result. You can then cook the entire piece, or change the seasoning as needed.

If you use the informatin from this article you have the choice of becoming a great cook-at-home chef. Use your imagination to experiment with new recipes to make some delicious meals. The amount of creativity and variety in cooking is nearly limitless because of the many foods from many cultures.




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