It is common knowledge that human beings require food in order to survive. But plain “survival” foods can be more than just having food in order to live. Cooking a great meal can be as satisfying as eating good food. Here some tips that will kick your cooking prowess.

Partially freeze meat so it becomes easier to slice into thin strips. This method is great for oriental meals such as Thai or Chinese dishes. However, so they are evenly cooked, for even cooking.

Before attempting to prepare food with skewers, take a few things to heart. When using metal skewers, square or twisted skewers hold food better than the round skewers.

You should not want to cook the whole thing immediately after it has been seasoned. Cook a small amount in a patty first.

Have you ever needed to throw away moldy fruit? Do you wonder if it would be better to just cut the rotten part and save the rest? There are no way to salvage fruit that has begun decomposing. Mold goes a lot deeper than you can’t even see and can make you ill.

You can always save the sauce that you put so much effort into. Mix together a solution of one tablespoon corn starch and two tablespoons water. Stir this into the sauce to thicken it up. Make sure you add starch slowly and are constantly stirring the sauce so it doesn’t get too thick.

Apples are a popular choice for eating in autumn or winter, but you must make sure they are properly kept so that they do not rot. Apples will be ruined if they are stored in a warm place, so store them in loosely tied plastic bags in the refrigerator or a cool basement. One rotten apple will spoil the whole bag so keep a close eye your apples.

If you wish to have crispy French fries, then soak the potatoes in a bowl of cold water for a period of at least half an hour before use.

Popular French fried potato recipes suggest soaking the potatoes in water for 30 minutes before cooking them. When potatoes are allowed to absorb cold water, the texture is able to withstand the extreme heat of cooking without breaking down and becoming mushy.

Do you regularly cook often with fresh basil? Take a large bunch of this fresh herb and set it in a glass. Fill the glass with water to cover the stems. Keep it on your counter and it should stay fresh for weeks. The basil may even start growing roots if you change the water regularly. You should also trim the basil once in a while so that it keeps growing.

Garlic is just one of many tasty ingredients whose flavor with a downside; it transfers to your hands and fingers. Try rubbing your hands on stainless steel sink after you work with the garlic or other potent ingredients. This will remove the odors clinging to your hands and enable you to handle other ingredients without contaminating them with strong aromas.

Take the stress out of a major cooking endeavor by completing as much prep work in advance as possible. Try looking at recipes and see what can be done in advance without spoiling. Many different prep tasks can be finished a day or so before cooking the meal. By doing this, your cooking task will be quick and easy – even for very complex recipes.

If you do not cook, you are missing out on a lot of fun and satisfaction. Use these tips to make them a part of your experience, add some new things as you go. You will improve as a cook and everyone will notice that your meals are better each time you serve them.