Want To Be A Better Cook? Read On

Do you find your kitchen boring? Deciding to make cooking your newest hobby alters this perception. You will start to look forward to spending time in your kitchen, and friends and family members will look forward to the results. Here are some suggestions to consider.

Make sure to keep herbs and spices in an area that is cool and dim. Warmth, humidity and light will make them stale and unflavorful. Another little known fact is that ground spices tend to lose their flavor quicker than whole spices. Spices that have not been ground have the potential to last upwards of five years. The length of time that they stay fresh depends on how they are stored.

Don’t throw away that runny sauce, as there is an easy fix available. Mix two spoons of water and one spoon of corn starch in a bowl. Stir it into your sauce as it simmers and it will get thicker. Be sure to slowly add the starch solution to your sauce until you achieve the desired thickness.

Sharp knives are essential in any kitchen. The duller the knife, the more difficult your kitchen task will be. You are also in danger of cutting yourself if you choose a dull knife. A sharp knife, however, makes quick and clean work of vegetables, meat, and anything else that you’re cutting. You won’t have to force the issue; a sharp knife glides through the task.

Slowly stir corn starch into simmering sauce to thicken. In a separate bowl, blend 1 Tbs of corn starch with 2 Tbs of water. In order to create a thicker sauce, add the mixture to the sauce, while it is cooking on low heat. Stir the sauce constantly as you slowly add the starch mixture until it reaches the desired thickness.

Take cooking as seriously as you want to. The only limit to what you can make is your imagination, but you need to learn some of the principles of good cooking from the masters in order to make your perfect dish a reality. Make use of this advice next time you need to cook something!