Keeping Fit With A Few Simple Ideas
You've probably watched at least one celebrity chef on television and thought, "Hey, I can do that!" Well, until the TV network comes knocking, you can always use your own kitchen as a stage to create unforgettable catering meals. Whether you are new at cooking or an old pro, you can always use some cooking tips. Here are a few to get you started.
The smaller the item you are cooking, the higher the baking temperature should be. Baking something delicious does not have to involve leaving food in the oven for hours. If you are baking something small, set the oven temperature higher. Just make sure you leave it in the oven for less time.
Preparation is a very important part of cooking. You want to make sure you have every item you might need. You also want to make sure you have all the supplies you might need. You don't want to be in the middle of a dish and find out you are missing something important.
When deep frying foods, hold the food below the oil with the tongs for a few seconds. Holding the food under the oil for around five seconds will create a useful seal around the food. This seal will work to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
If you want to cook delicious BBQ steaks, use your oven broiler. When you properly heat your oven, the broiler will quickly sear the meat and keep it juicier. You should avoid using any utensil that will puncture the meat when you turn it. That will cause vital fluid loss. Use a spatula instead.
Cheese is one of the best things that you can add to pastas and different types of meats. If you are making pasta, do not forget to buy grated cheese and put it on the table for people to add to their dish. This will improve the quality and texture of the meal.
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 whenever possible, as they make the food more flavorful, and they may cost less over the long run.
Do you wonder whether the meat you are grilling is done yet? It is a great idea to utilize a meat thermometer to make sure you cook the meat properly. If you are grilling meat that exceeds a thickness of 1.5 inches, closing your grill's lid can make better use of the heat and cook through the meat faster.
Cooking hamburgers seems to be easy, but there are some tricks to learn. Make a hole in the center of the patty before you put it on the grill. The hole prevents the meat from rising in the middle so you won't have an uncooked middle with burnt edges any more. The whole will completely disappear during cooking so no one will notice your trick.
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When braising a pork butt, ribs, ham, carnitas or other kinds of pork in liquid, consider using cola or cherry-flavored soda instead of salty broth or plain water. The soda adds a bit of a sweet glaze to the meat and keeps it from drying out, and the flavor mingles well with BBQ sauces and other seasonings.
For a simple way to add interest and complexity to your corn on the cob or dinner rolls, try mixing up a flavored butter. Soften your butter a bit in the microwave, or let it sit out for a while until it is room temperature. Afterwards, mix in your favorite seasonings or sauces for perfect flavor. Use a flavoring that complements other components of your meal; lemon, honey and barbecue are all popular summer flavors.
When it comes to meat, remember that cheap and tough definitely pay off in terms of flavor, with a bit of time and patience. Pork shoulder and chuck roasts are prime examples of meats that benefit from slow braising (cooking in liquid), which results in tender, delicious meat to serve with roasted veggies and gravy or to shred for BBQ sandwiches or tacos.
Cooking can be great fun and a chance for you to show off. Make sure to keep these tips in mind to add to your cooking a bit, and to enhance the skills you already have. And who knows, maybe one day you'll be the celebrity chef on a TV network!
