Many people have a natural inclination to be a cooking pro but are intimidated by various aspects of great cooking success. The great thing about cooking is that you can take it one step at a time, and by following the tips in this article, you will be convinced that you have what it takes to be the next top chef.

Bake pie and tart crusts a little longer than you would think they should be baked. They need to be a light golden brown instead of pale blonde. The darker color results when the sugar from the crust has caramelized and will give a sweet and crisp flavor.

If you are cooking for an important event, it is a good idea to make a meal that you have made before. You should never attempt to cook some new dish or even a new ingredient you’ve never attempted. Doing this will take some of the stress out of cooking.

It is important that your knives when cooking. Dull knives are dangerous to use and they also make cutting things hard.

Apples are a popular choice for eating in autumn or winter, but they will spoil fast if incorrectly stored. Apples tend to rot in warm dry air, warm air. One bad apple will quickly ruin the bunch so keep a close eye on them while stored.

You can make a lot of preparations when you are cooking to make it easy and fast. Examine recipes and identify which preparations can take place well in advance without risking spoilage. There are a lot of things you can prep the day before you need to cook. More complex recipes become quicker and more fun this way.

Try putting some cauliflower in with your mashed potatoes to lower the fat content.The taste of cauliflower helps it to blend seamlessly with the other ingredients. Cauliflower is also the same texture and color of potatoes when mashed so it’s a great way to add more veggies, so the dish will be transformed into one that has more vegetables and fewer calories.

Look through your recipes and determine whether or not certain steps that can be completed beforehand. You can simplify the day prior to actually cooking. This makes preparing even the most difficult recipes fun and fast.

Although garlic is a great flavor booster that compliments a wide variety of foods, it can unfortunately stick to your hands. To get rid of the odors that garlic and other pungent ingredients leave on your hands, rub them around the inside of your stainless steel sink. This will help get rid of the smell so that it is not transfered to the next food item that you handle.

Always use airtight container to store baking ingredients such as sugar or flour. Keeping your ingredients in airtight containers will keep them fresher longer as the air can’t reach them. These containers are widely available and definitely worth the money.

Always read labels on any ingredients you buy. Many common cooking supplies contain unhealthy hidden ingredients that can be unhealthy. You want to produce a product that is not high in sugar or salt because both can cause major health problems if eaten too much.

There are few things more frustrating in grilling than going to flip a burger and finding that it has stuck to the grill. Try brushing a thin coating of vegetable oil on the grill or pan to keep food from sticking.

If you have decided to serve salad with the meal that you are preparing for guests, serve the dressing separately instead of putting it directly on the salad. Let people add what they want to their own dressing. Make sure you have a wide selection of dressings to choose from.

Whatever reason for becoming a good cook, knowing how to cook will always prove beneficial. In all cultures from around the world, we sit down to meals with friend and family. If you use the above tips, you will become an awesome cook and everyone will ask you to cook for the next big family event.

Soy products and beans are a wonderful place to get protein if you need to add some to your diet. Both of these protein-rich foods are available at most grocery stores. Try pan-frying tofu with some interesting seasonings and you will have a tasty alternative to meat. Likewise, beans cooked with herbs can also be a flavorful dish.

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