Learning to cook can be an intimidating subject for some people. There seems to be so much to learn....

1. Cooking Advice For Beginners As well as Professionals Alike
Learning to cook can be an intimidating subject for some people. There seems to be so much to
learn. It doesn't seem like you can ever know everything there is to know about cooking. But this
article can help you gain knowledge and skill that can increase your enjoyment of cooking.
Ensure that you properly maintain your cooking utensils on a regular basis. A chef's knife, for
example, is of no use to you when blunt so ensure that these are sharpened on a regular basis. When
purchasing a chef's knife look for one with a long and wide blade as this will give you better control
and chopping speed.
When seasoning your food, remember that it is much easier to add more seasoning if needed, but
you cannot take it away if you add too much. That is why it's important to go light when seasoning
with herbs and spices. You want to compliment the flavors of the food and not overpower them.
Make sure that if you are planning a party with friends and family, to have each course planned out
in advance. You should have an appetizer course, salad course, main dish and dessert. Breaking your
meal into courses will give people a chance to digest and appreciate what you have cooked for them.
If you are making pastries, you should try to maximize the accuracy of your measurements as it is a
very exact science. By adding one gram too much or too less, you are going to put the taste of your
pastry in jeopardy. Always try to be precise when baking.
Substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise in creamy salad dressings. If you are on a diet or just trying
to eat healthy, you can still make creamy salad dressings with healthy ingredients. Just substitute
the mayonnaise in them with a low-fat Greek-style yogurt. This will make the dressing much
healthier.
Cooking a big meal? Do the preparations the day or night before! This way, you will have less to do
on the day you are going to make your meal. For instance, if a salad will be part of your meal, make
it the night before.
When making homemade salad dressings it is a good idea to use extra-virgin olive oil. It has a fruity
flavor that really adds to a salad. Extra-virgin olive oil can be somewhat expensive so it is important
to buy it when it is on sale or with a coupon to make it more affordable.
One useful tool to use when chopping herbs into smaller sizes is the cutting board. Often while
cutting, herbs move around instead of staying in place. To stop this from happening, simply apply a
little salt to the cutting board before you begin cutting your herbs. This will keep them in place and
make your cooking much easier.

2. In order to become a good cook, you should learn to use simple measuring devices. It is very
important to know how to get the right quantities because many tried and true recipes require very
specific amounts of this and that. Learn to measure and you'll be licking your chops in no time!
When you are going to make vegetable soup, add your onions, tomatoes, carrots, peppers and other
vegetables to oil or butter before you add them to water. By doing this, you will find that the soup
has a richer taste to it and the sugars are more normalized this way.
A great cooking tip is to spray your pan with oil before you cook with it. Spraying the pan with oil
will make it so that the food doesn't stick to the pan. Trying to clean a pan with food stuck on it can
be very frustrating and time consuming.
When shopping for meat, always get the freshest cuts available. If you are shopping for meat at the
butcher shop the meat is being fresh cut or ground. However, when shopping at the grocery store
try to find out when the store typically cuts meat for the day and try to arrive near that time.
Otherwise ask at the meat counter for a fresh cut or grind if you do not know the time of the last cut.

3. Keep whole, rather than ground, spices on hand. Unground cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and
peppercorns last much longer than their ground counterparts. Just use a fine grater or mortar and
pestle to grate them into your dish when needed. Their flavors will stay fresh much longer and save
you from the costs of replacing your spices.
Dry off extra moisture on ground meat before cooking. Blotting removes excess moisture from your
meats. Any moisture left on the meat will be released when it's cooked. This meaning, the moisture
will sizzle and evaporate away. This will cause the meat to steam, instead of sear like you want it to.
Grilling your fruit can be delicious. Consider grilling a skewer of fresh, sliced melons, peaches or
other juicy fruits. Cook them on a grill that is clean until you are able to see grill marks. They are
yummy over ice cream or angel food cake.
After draining boiled potatoes but before mashing them, place a lid on http://panchoscantina.com/
the hot pot and let the potatoes steam this way for 5 minutes. This allows excess water to evaporate,
and the potatoes will have a better texture because they will soak up the milk and butter more
effectively.
Fresh herbs can make a big flavor difference in a simple dish. For dishes with complex flavors, dried
herbs will work. However, fresh herbs are much better and will produce a stronger, fresher and
overall http://www.panchos.com.my better taste. If you want to have fresh herbs whenever you need
them, consider growing a little herb garden.
It can be intimidating to learn to cook but it doesn't have to be. This article can add to your base of
knowledge about cooking. The more you know about cooking, the less intimidating it is. When you
are not so intimidated, you will relax and can begin to experience the true joy of cooking.