If you have ever considered learning more about cooking, you may feel overwhelmed. Looking at a cookbook or watching the cooking channel, makes cooking seem like a complicated science. However, learning to cook does not have to be that difficult. Follow the tips presented here and you will be well on your way.
To prevent your homemade pizza from becoming soggy with all of the juicy toppings you add, lightly coat the bare dough with olive oil. Pizza sauce, peppers and meats can all weigh down a pizza dough and cause it to be soggy even after baking so be sure to brush on a bit of olive oil for a crispier, firmer pizza!
When cooking stock, make it in a large quantity and store it in smaller bags in the freezer. Stock has a long freezer life and can be useful in so many recipes. Making a larger batch is no more difficult than making a small batch. You’ll save yourself time later by having a freezer store to turn to.
A good cook takes pride in keeping a set of well-sharpened knives. A dull knife will not only make it more difficult to slice and chop your ingredients, but it will also be a hazard to use. Attempting to force a blunt blade through a tough root vegetable is much more likely to lead to an accident, than quickly dicing and slicing the same tough root vegetable with a sharp blade.
Rising the dough requires patience and an optimal environment. Don’t just leave the bowl with the dough where it’s not in your way. Create the perfect conditions to get the best results. Find a place with constant, warmer temperature without draft. Constantly changing temperature and draft makes the dough rise slowly and unevenly.
Take the guesswork out of reducing liquids. When a recipe calls for you to cook until the liquid is reduced by a certain amount, dip the handle of a wooden spoon into the liquid to mark the depth. This will leave a line on the wooden spoon. Later, you can dip the spoon again to see how much the liquid has actually reduced.
When you do this, the mushroom will become absorbent and soak up the water. Instead, you want to wet a clean cloth and use that to wipe the mushroom off.
Herbs and spices have a powerful impact on the quality of your cooking. To preserve these important, expensive ingredients, keep them in a cool, dark place with minimal humidity. All too often spices are left near ovens and sinks. The heat, light and moisture in such places leach the flavor out of high-quality spices.
This article has presented several different tips to help you become the best cook you can be. IF you start with this advice and simply build on this, you will gain experience and become more comfortable in the kitchen. Soon, you will present your family with new meals and treats, that are sure to please their palates.