Simple Tips And Tricks No Cook Should Be Without

By Allison Maggie Sanchez


Once you get some basic skills down, cooking can be fun. The information provided in this article will assist you in gaining new cooking skills and help you feel more proficient in the kitchen. Once you have increased your culinary skills, the fun can begin.

If you are first embarking on a quest to prepare more of your own food, head to the nearest library or bookstore and find a cookbook with simple, basic recipes that you will enjoy preparing. Cooking might take a while to master, as it requires perfecting certain techniques.

You can cook oysters in a variety of fresh, exciting ways. Usually oysters are eaten raw with a small amount of lemon juice, but there are many other ways you could prepare them. Place the oysters in a broiler pan, being careful not to remove them from their shells. Add cream to each oyster. Try putting a little Parmesan cheese and pepper on them until they are bubbling. Another thing you can do is saute them. Sprinkle them with some seasoned flour and place in the frying pan with melted butter until the are golden brown, which normally takes about two minutes. You can also bake oysters while in their shells. Use a casserole dish to bake oysters for four or five minutes at 425 degrees, after dabbing them lightly with butter and covering them with fresh breadcrumbs. The oysters are ready when the butter is bubbling; serve them hot over toasted bread.

Freezing meat will make it more solid, and easier to cut into thin strips. This is the perfect technique when you are making Thai or Chinese food. When you freeze the meat, fibers stretch less making it cut easier. To ensure the meat cooks evenly, you must let the meat strips thaw thoroughly before cooking.

When you are stir-frying, slice your cut of meat into thin pieces on the diagonal. It can be difficult to slice the meat, and it takes some time. You should take the meat out when it reaches a firm state yet not frozen, and slice across the grain at an angle of 45 degrees.

You should think big when preparing chicken stock. If you make a large amount of stock you can freeze it for future use. That tasty chicken stock is very versatile and can be perfect for your next stew, casserole or soup. Let your stock cool off and pour it inside Ziploc bags.

When cooking for important company, never try a recipe you've never cooked before. You don't want to risk a culinary disaster in front of people you hope to impress. Make the meal a big hit by preparing dishes you have had great success with in the past.

When preparing a meal for an important event, such as a date or a dinner with your boss, cook a dish you are already familiar with. Avoid the temptation to try a new dish or ingredient. This makes cooking less stressful.

When using fresh herbs in your meal, including dill and parsley, place the herbs together in bunches, and cut them with scissors. This will keep them drier and less heavy than if they are chopped.

Now, after reading this article, do you think you are ready to start practicing? Follow the tips provided as a guide in making scrumptious meals! Regardless of why you are cooking, it is always a pleasure to serve a home cooked meal. You can't just learn to cook overnight. The great dishes and the compliments you'll receive will be worth the hard work.




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