Do you ever wonder how people make such wonderful meals? The information in the following article can help anyone into a great cook.

Partially freeze meat makes it easier to slice it into thin strips easier. This procedure can be particular helpful when you need to slice meat thinly for Chinese or Thai meals. Allow the meat to thaw prior to cooking though, so you can be sure that the strips all cook evenly.

Always bake your crusts a little longer than is absolutely necessary. Judge their color, not the time in the oven to determine if they are done. They will be golden brown when cooked. This is because the golden color lets you know that the sugar from the crust has caramelized, which give it that sweet, yet crisp taste.

Boiling your vegetables can drain the vitamins and other long preparation methods tend to eliminate key nutrients to be found in vegetables. To keep them loaded with nutrients that are beneficial to your body, choose to cook foods in quick methods like steaming, sauteing or even just eating them raw.

Mashed Potatoes

If you are preparing stir-fry, be sure to slice the meat on the bias and very thin. This is rather difficult to do, and can take a lot of 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.

Try adding cauliflower in with your mashed potatoes to lower the fat content. The somewhat bland taste of cauliflower helps it to blend nicely with your potatoes while picking up the other ingredients. Cauliflower has the same texture and color as potatoes, while lowering calories from classic mashed potatoes.

Do you want to cook with fresh basil in your dishes? Place several sprigs of fresh basil in a container that is glass. Make sure the the stems are saturated with water. Keep it on the kitchen counter and it should stay fresh for weeks. The basil can actually grow roots if you occasionally change the water changed occasionally. Trim or cut the basil once in a while so it grows even more and you will be able to enjoy fresh basil!

Invest in a knife sharpener to make cutting any ingredient simple. Not only can it be difficult to cut with dull knives, but it is dangerous to use them too. You will be more apt to cut yourself with a dull knife than a sharp knife, as you’ll spend a lot more time trying to force that dull knife through the food you are cutting.

You can even put it on things besides meat! Try using it to season roasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled with the seasoning for a tasty snack or mix it in your scrambled eggs. Everyone will wonder what you used to make it so good.

Do you find it tough to know grilling times for meats? Use a meat thermometer to tell when it is cooked correctly.

Apples tend to be a big ingredient during fall and winter, but they tend to spoil quickly if not stored properly. Warm, dry air rots apples quickly, so keep them in sealed or tied plastic bags and make sure they are stored in a refrigerator or a chilly basement. However, if even one apple becomes rotten, it will quickly spoil all apples in the same bag.

Always use an airtight container to store sugar or flour in the kitchen. Keeping your food in airtight containers will keep them from spoiling or being infected with bugs. You can find them pretty much anywhere and the investment is worth every penny.

Oil and butter both have lots of fat. A god nonstick spray is a wonderful substitute for the oils and is not as unhealthy.

This type of seasoning can be added to all types of foods other than meat. Sprinkle it over popcorn for an evening treat, or add a dash to pasta. It will be hard for people to guess where the flavor is coming from!

Make sure that you heed the information given in this article. In no time, family and friends will be begging for the secrets to your culinary success.

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