It doesn't matter if you are single or are feeding a larger family full of hungry people, cooking is...

1. Top Ten Recipes Inspired By French Chefs
It doesn't matter if you are single or are feeding a larger family full of hungry people, cooking is a
big thing to learn, so take your time learning. Having the right knowledge will lead you to create
meals which are nutritious and delicious while also being affordable. You will be well armed with
cooking tips with this article.
Cooking a large meal for friends or family requires a great deal of preparation ahead of time. Take
an inventory to be sure that everything that you will need is available. Organize everything so you
can start cooking, including the spices and utensils. This will aid you in keeping calm and doing your
best.
Slice meats into thin strips on the bias when prepping for stir-fry. This can take a lot of time and be
hard to do. When it has firmed (not frozen), take it out of the freezer and then cut it against the meat
grain at an angle of 45 degrees.
For Additional Information About Cooking
Do not throw away the product of your hard work. In a small bowl, combine two tablespoons of
water and 3 teaspoons of corn starch. Thicken your sauce by stirring the mixture into the simmering
liquid. Stir constantly as you pour the cornstarch and water mixture slowly into the pot.
Sharp knives are essential in any kitchen. Make sure your knife is not dull when you are cutting
something, this is very dangerous. You can cut yourself so easily trying to force dull knives through
something than it is to make a simple cut with a sharp one.
To make your French fries crisper, try leaving the raw potatoes in some cold water for half an hour
before you fry them. Allowing the sliced potatoes to soak up more cold fluids helps to reinforce the
fibers that are in the vegetable, that way when they are deep fried, they are better able to stand up
to the heat and won't completely break down.
Ice cube trays are fabulous for freezing and storing leftover sauce. Take them out to use on another
night when you'd like a no hassle home cooked meal. Simply reheat the sauce cubes slowly in a
medium pan on your stove top. The frozen sauce will keep extremely well until the next time you
need it!
Think big if you plan to make chicken stock. Make enough so that you can freeze it and use it in your
recipes. Good chicken stock that you make at home makes a great starter for soups, casseroles,
stews and other dishes. To preserve your stock for future use, just simply make sure that it is stored
in heavy duty freezer bags and frozen solid. This way the stock should keep for several months or so.
To cook flavorful veggies that turn out well, use chicken broth. Not only will the chicken broth stop
the vegetables from getting stuck to the pan, but it will also make the dish more tasty. Chicken broth
can be bought at almost any grocery store, and is so inexpensive.
If you want to lose weight and eat healthier, cut back on the amout of oil that you cook with. Oil and
butter provide a lot of un-needed fat. You can use a low-fat non-stick cooking spray instead to keep

2. your foods from sticking but still tasting great.
Measure the oil you use when cooking! This will help you lower the fat content when you cook as
opposed to just pouring directly into the pan without measuring. You'll be able to carefully account
for all of the oil that you use.
Your favorite herbs should always be stored in a dark, cool area. Herbs and spices that are stored in
cabinets above or beside a stove or in similar locations that may become warm or moist will lose
much of their flavor, consequently costing you money.
When you are cooking, a good habit to get into is to wash the dishes as soon as you are done with
them. You should have one sink filled with water that is hot and soapy. The other sink needs to be
filled with clear water for rinsing. Utensils and mixing bowls can wash up quickly, and you will have
them ready to use again as you prepare additional courses of the meal.
Remove the excess moisture of ground meats by blotting them before you cook. Take a paper towel
and soak up any extra moisture on ground beef before you cook it. If you skip this step, the moisture
will be released during the cooking process. This will cause it to sizzle. This will cause your meat to
be steamed rather than seared.
You should let your meal rest for a little bit. It is a new idea to many, but allowing your food to rest
can be quite beneficial. Many of us prefer to simply serve a dish right out of the oven. Eating it so
quickly after cooking doesn't give the juices or flavors enough time to sink down into the meats, or
whatever you may be preparing. Let your meal sit and cool off for a couple minutes before serving.
Being creative is a great way to get better at cooking. Following a recipe word for word and
teaspoon for teaspoon is not always what cooking is about. With a little resourcefulness in adding
extra ingredients, reducing or altering the amount of spices, or substituting one type of meat or
vegetable for another, you can often create a meal that tastes far superior to the original. That is a
sign of a true cook!
To make your pasta sauce a little better, use some of the water that you cooked your noodles in. Set
aside approximately one-fourth cup. Before adding the sauce to the pasta, mix in the cooking water.
The water from the pasta contains starch that, when mixed with your sauce, will create a creamy
texture.
When you can cook for yourself and your family, you will benefit. As these tips can show you, you
can be a better cook no matter what type of food you like! Though drive-thrus offer convenience and
speed, the taste offered by a meal prepared at home triumphs over any drive-thru any day.