Cooking 101: Everything You Need To Know

Do you remember the last time you ate out and wondered how they made such delicious food? Have you ever tried to replicate that meal at home? Is cooking at home a bit of a lottery for you? Apply the following insights to educate yourself in preparing your favorite dishes in addition to new discoveries. People from all walks of life enjoy the fun and relaxation of cooking.

If you want to add flavor to your dishes, use a liquid other than milk or water. Use chicken broth, beef stock or vegetable broth instead. Some great replacements for milk are sour cream, yogurt and buttermilk. A good method for increasing your nutritional intake is by increasing the amount of liquids you drink throughout the day.

Always measure the amount of cooking oil you use. Measure how much oil you use to make your dish less rich in fat. Do not simply pour the oil directly in the pan. This will give you the ability to know exactly how much oil is going into the pan at a time.

Air tends to turn fresh fruits like avocados, apples and pears brown. You can prevent this from happening by lightly coating the fruit with lemon juice or salt water. However, the most flavorful way to stop fruit from browning is to dip it in pineapple juice. As a rapid dip will suffice, you don't need to immerse the fruit.

Hold off on using too many spices until your meal is served. Spices, such as red pepper, garlic, or salt, are excellent for flavoring, but don't necessarily need to be used during the meal's preparation. Let people choose their spices so that they do not waste your delicious food. Instead of putting them on your food let the people eating choose. This way, everyone can make the dish truly theirs.

Whenever you have cooked a whole turkey, never throw away your leftovers. You can put them in meal-size containers and keep them in the freezer. This will keep the turkey fresh for a month or more, and can be easily thawed to use in sandwiches, soups, and salads.

Always read the labels of what you buy. Though they seem innocent enough, many of the components of everyday cooking items can be loaded with secret things that hinder your overall health. Too much salt, sugar, and those dreaded unpronounceable chemicals can really alter the flavors of dishes and be generally unhealthy for you.

If you don't know much about the vegetable or fruit that you are handling, familiarize yourself with it. You may be surprised, with a little research, at the versatility of a new food. If you take the time to learn about the item before heading into the kitchen, the experience will be that much more enjoyable.

You can use leftover vegetables and meats to create a delicious fried rice mixture. Rice from the day before is the best choice, but if you have to make it fresh, use less water for drier rice. First, use a small amount of oil to fry the meat and vegetables. Next, add the rice to the mixture and use soy sauce, ginger and garlic according to your taste preferences.

Tying up your turkey is called trussing. This prevents the legs and wings from moving too far away from the main body, which can cause it to cook unevenly. If you don't truss your bird, the smaller pieces could dry out and burn.

If you are looking for a quick, easy and effective solution to changing up what you cook, experiment with new spices or sauces to add a little pizzazz to your dishes. If you throw in some new spices or add various sauces to marinate, the taste of your meal can significantly change. A great place to find a variety of lesser-known sauces and spices is at an ethnic food store.

To some people, cooking is just something you need to know how to do or an interesting hobby. To others, it's a way of making money. With food, the possibilities are limitless. Learn something new by studying the habits and recipes of the people who know cooking best and are willing to share that knowledge. So, the next time have control of your kitchen and a potentially fabulous meal, refer to these tips for some inspiration!