If you want to be a master chef or just a decent cook, you must learn some healthy cooking basics. Take the advice given in this article to become a better cook. Follow the tips provided in the article and you will know exactly what things you need to do to be the best cook that you can possibly be.
You should keep your spices and herbs in a space that is cool and away from light. Many factors can cause herbs and spices to lose their flavor, especially humidity and light. Ground herbs and spices retain their flavor for 12 months under normal circumstances. Whole spices might retain their flavors for three to five years. If you store them properly, they will stay fresh for a longer period of time.
Spices should be stored in an area with little light and low temperatures, like a pantry. Your spices will not last as long if they are exposed to light, heat or humidity. Storing your spices in a dark location with a lower temperature will help preserve them longer. Fresh spices can greatly enhance your meals, making this effort well worth your time.
When you are seasoning meat, try a small piece prior to adding seasoning to the entire thing. Meats like meatballs, hamburgers or meatloaf can be easily under or over seasoned. Do not cook the entire thing right after you season it. The more you cook, the better you will get at using the right amount of spices and seasonings. Change your seasoning, or cook the rest of the meat if you are satisfied with your sample.
Healthy Cooking
While garlic imparts a delicious flavor to your healthy cooking, it may also leave a residual odor on your hands. To get rid of this odor, or any other strong healthy cooking smell, rub your hands on the inside of your stainless steal sink. This will take care of the odors clinging to your hands and enable you to handle other ingredients without contaminating them with strong aromas.
It’s very frustrating to try to cook a tasty hamburger and see it deformed or ruined, because it gets stuck to your grill. Consider brushing the grill with vegetable oil before healthy cooking to prevent food from sticking to the grill.
Use airtight containers to store baking mixes, sugar and flour. Keeping your ingredients in airtight containers will stop them from spoiling or being infected with bugs. A variety of plastic containers, bags and decorative canisters will protect your food.
To cook flavorful veggies that turn out well, use chicken broth. Using chicken broth will prevent the vegetables from sticking in the pan as well as add some tasty flavor at the same time. Chicken broth is readily available at most grocery stores, and it is very affordably priced.
It’s important to include beans and tofu in your diet if you’re trying to increase your protein intake. These can be found at most grocery stores these days. The tofu can be lightly seasoned and pan fried, which makes for a great alternative to meat. Likewise, beans cooked with herbs can also be a flavorful dish.
This way, you have fruits that stay fresh throughout the year. Furthermore, you can enjoy seasonal fruits without paying outrageous prices during the off season.
In recipes that call for milk or water, try substituting more flavorful liquids. For instance, you can use broth, stock, juice or a bit of wine to replace the water in a recipe. Buttermilk, yogurt and sour cream can be great substitutes for milk. Using a variety of liquids can add a bit of zest to a favorite recipe and even make it more nutritious.
Try adding a bit of seasoning every few minutes, rather than just adding all the seasoning to your dish at the start. Your food will taste as flavorful as ever if you season it this way.
Place salad dressing off to the side of a salad, instead of on top of it, when serving salad to guests. Some people prefer more dressing than others; let guests pour their own dressing. Get different kinds of dressings to leave them more choices.
Keep the bone in your roast if you’re trying to make it and you have no time to spare. If you leave the bone in, the meat will cook quicker. This is due to the fact that once the bone is heated it will help cook your meat from the inside out. When done healthy cooking, carve the bone out of the roast and serve.
Don’t use a type of wine in your meal that is a kind you wouldn’t drink regularly. The taste of the wine will be reflected in your meal. There is wine available that was made specifically for healthy cooking.
If you are preparing macaroni and cheese dishes, you must always closely follow the directions on the recipe. Following the directions will make for a delicious, firm pasta and perfectly melted cheese. A solid, wooden spoon is the perfect serving utensil. If you want to add a little flavor to your macaroni and cheese, feel free to spice it up with some pepper.
If you are preparing homemade salsa that won’t be consumed immediately, rinse the cut onions with cold water and thoroughly dry off any excess water before using them. Fresh onions emit sulfenic acid when cut and this turns into a gas. This gas can ruin your fresh salsa. Rinsing and drying the onions takes most of the gas away.
It does take some learning to become a great chef, but it’s well worth the effort. Some people have natural healthy cooking ability, while others need to work at it. Thankfully, you now should have the tools discussed in this article at the ready to help you craft amazing food every time you cook!