Solid Advice Every Cook Should Be Aware Of

Their flavor will suffer if they are exposed to heat, humidity, and light. Another little known fact is that ground spices tend to lose their flavor quicker than whole spices. Spices that have not been ground may still be worth using for three years or a little more. Storing your spices properly can help you achieve a longer shelf-life for your spices.

When you need to add oil and your food is already cooking, add it on the sides of the pan so that it will heat as it rolls towards the food. The already heated oil will do a much better job at cooking and flavoring your food.

To make your French fries crispier, let the raw potatoes soak for about half an hour in cold water prior to frying. Soaking the potatoes helps to make the fibers within them stronger, which makes them better able to handle the heat during frying.

Are you partial to using fresh basil in your cooking? Store the basil within a glass. Make sure the stems are submerged in water. Place it on your kitchen counter to keep it fresh for weeks! If the water is changed periodically, the basil may even sprout roots. Trim your basil plants once in awhile to promote more growth, and enjoy your fresh basil for quite a long time.

Try to read all the labels of the ingredients that you buy. A lot of ingredients that are common to cook with have hidden, unhealthy ingredients. Check the sugar and sodium levels in the ingredient, as over consumption of these items can cause health problems in certain people.

Give pre-cut, raw potatoes a cold water bath for a half-hour prior to frying for crispier French fries. When you soak sliced potatoes in cold water, it strengthens their fibers, so that they can stand up to the heat when being deep fried.

To make the cooking process easier and faster, many preparatory steps can be completed ahead of time. Look at your recipe ahead of time and draft up a list of what you can do to get ready, but don't risk spoiling any ingredients. Many different prep tasks can be finished a day or so before cooking the meal. This is a great time saver, and can make that complex recipe into something that is quick and fun.

When you will be cooking a pumpkin, stand it up and then slice it down the middle. Put both halves of the pumpkin on different baking sheets with the cut side down. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Sprinkle a little bit of water onto the baking sheets, then bake for about one hour.

Always follow instructions to the letter whenever you cook macaroni and cheese. The macaroni will be perfect once the cheese melts over the noodles. Use a solid spoon to serve your macaroni and cheese. Adding pepper is a terrific way to add a little spice.

Before preparing ground meat, blot it. Take a paper towel and soak up any extra moisture on ground beef before you cook it. Moisture that is left on your meat will release as steam while you're cooking. The moisture will steam away. The meat is likely to steam, rather than sear as it is supposed to.

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