I don’t know about you, but when it comes to cooking there are a lot of people who don’t do great in the kitchen. We’re always looking at famous chef, reading the so-called easy recipes, but when you start cooking, something just doesn’t add up. It does take a little bit of skill to cook a tasty meal, but these ten general tips we found, might take you a bit closer to your goal.
1. Cooking vegetables
It is advisable to scrub vegetables rather than to peel them. Most nutrients can be found in the skin of the vegetables. To get the most out of your vegetable, you can steam your veggies or put them on a microwave oven rather than boiling them.
2. Need soft butter? Easy!
If you’ve forgotten to take your butter out of the refrigerator and need to soften it in a hurry, here’s the best and safest way. Put a stick of butter in a gallon zip top bag. Next, take a rolling pin or other implement and beat the living tar out of the butter. After a very short while, the butter has become pliable and room temperature.
3. Baking
Make sure that all ingredients are pre-measured. Temperature is very important in baking. Always follow temperature recommendations as indicated in the recipe. The mixing process in baking should be followed precisely. Over-mixing or under-mixing can alter the taste of your finished product adversely. Do not overcrowd your oven and avoid opening the oven door every so often.
4. Keep a nonstick cooking spray close
Nonstick cooking spray will keep foods from staining plastic utensils or storage containers. Just give them a quick spray before using. It will also help honey or peanut butter slide out of measuring cups.
5. Split mayonnaise? No problem!
Split mayonnaise can be brought back by a shot of boiling water and some vigorous whisking. If the problem is too severe then start an egg yolk whisking with some vinegar then slowly add the split batch to it.
6. The hairdryer, a useful kitchen utensil
If your ganache has lost it’s gleam thanks to refrigeration or humidity, fear not! Use a hairdryer (on a gentle setting) to blow back your cake’s sheen. Be careful not to have the heat too high, of course, lest you melt the ganache right off your cake.
7. How to keep mushrooms in the fridge
To stop mushrooms sweating and fungal growth when in the fridge, remove them from the plastic packaging and place in a brown paper bag like the ones used in supermarkets that you place loose mushrooms in. They will not sweat in the bag but may become dehydrated if left unused for a while. But that’s not a problem just drop them into clean water for a few hours and they will re-hydrate.
8. A good turkey
A turkey will cook more evenly if it is not densely stuffed. Consider adding flavor by loosely filling the cavity with aromatic vegetables — carrots, celery, onion or garlic work nicely — or by carefully tucking fresh herbs underneath the breast skin. For the stuffing lovers, cook the dressing in a casserole dish on the side.
9. The perfect tart base
Add 1 tablespoon cornflour to biscuits and butter when you are processing them for a tart base – it will ensure that the tart base stays together and does not crumble when you cut it.
10. No more onion tears!
Keep a few onions into the veg tray of your fridge. The cooled ones while peeling and chopping do not make your eyes water!
Are there any other cooking tips you know that help you in the kitchen?
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