It is not uncommon to feel like your kitchen is a dull, uninspired place. If you start cooking for a hobby, all of that will change. By striving to achieve excellence in cooking, the kitchen becomes a place where you enjoy working, and your family enjoys the wonderful food you serve. This article will help you to warm up to your kitchen.
TIP! Ensure that herbs and spices are stored in an area that is dark, dry and cool. Spices can quickly lose their flavors when exposed to heat, light and humidity.
To ensure that your shells stay firm when making twice baked potatoes or loaded potato skins, use thick-skinned potatoes, such as russets. Red or new potatoes have too thin of a skin to hold the filling.
TIP! If you want to make fat free stew or soup, begin by using a soup stock or broth that is fat free. You should next add ample vegetables and substitute your meats for leaner cuts to trim the fat from your pot of soup.
When you are going to be creaming sugar and butter to make cookies, be certain that the butter is soft, but not melted. If the butter has melted, you should allow it to briefly harden in the freezer. An alternative is to mix the butter with the other ingredients, then allow the dough or batter to sit in the refrigerator. Chilled dough will keep the cookies from spreading excessively as they bake.
TIP! When you are cooking, it is important to remember that a fresh ingredient is always better than a frozen or dried ingredient. Use fresh ingredients as often as you can; they offer more flavor and tend to be less expensive as well.
Use only a very small amount of fat when sauteing a food. It will add too much moisture, which steams the food and doesn't allow it to saute or get crispy. Keep the flame or burner around medium as you saute.
TIP! Easily cut cinnamon rolls. You may have your dough ready, but it can still be difficult to cut slices that aren't messy.
When mashing potatoes use hot, but not boiling milk. Your mashed potatoes should come out fluffy and light. This technique also minimizes lumps. Nobody looks forward to mashed potatoes that are lumpy and bland.
TIP! The microwave can help to achieve optimal juicing results for your citrus fruit. Heat lemons, oranges or other citrus fruits for just ten seconds.
There are good reasons to buy meat or fish without the bones removed. All of the bones can be stored in freezer bags, so you can use them at another time.
TIP! If you've made sauce, you should place any that is leftover in an ice tray and freeze it. For a quick and easy sauce on another night, simply remove as many cubes as you need and reheat in a pan.
Use these ideas to spur new ideas of your own. Focus on making foods that allow you to savor them with your family over a nice relaxing dinner. Learning to cook can help you to improve your diet, and it can also enhance your quality of life. Good luck in your future culinary efforts.
