For some people, cooking is a fun hobby. For others, cooking is a must in their daily life. No matter what your specific situation is, learning more about cooking is what will make you become a better cook.
Cookware You Should Have
Cast Iron Wok
To cook well, one of the items that you should spend some money on is your cookware. Investing in the best cookware set is extremely valuable as these pots and pans serve as the foundation for all of your cooking. You will want to extend the life of these tools as long as possible. Cooking is so much easier if you use high quality cookware.
Use non-stick cookware when you want to cook healthier. These pans have a coating on them that makes food easily slide out, even with no oil. This is great for trying to cut down the fat in your diet. If you do use oil, you will use far less oil.
Always use rubber, nylon or silicone spoons and spatulas when cooking in non-stick cookware. Harder utensils, such as metal one, can scratch or gouge the coating, reducing the effectiveness of the pan and potentially allowing the coating to flake into your food. This is not only unappetizing, but possibly harmful to your health.
If you invest in nothing else in the line of cookware, purchase a non-stick roasting pan with a removable roasting rack. Instead of wrestling with a disposable roasting pan this Thanksgiving, praying it doesn't collapse, a decent quality roasting pan can save you time, money and heartache. Look for a deep pan with steel handles able to hold the largest turkey or piece of meat that you would normally buy for your family, along with a roasting rack that enables you to lift the meat from the pan effortlessly. The non-stick coating will make cleaning a breeze and the pan can also be used for a large sheet cake, a pan of lasagna and so much more.
Cooking Tips
When you are cooking meat, you should never use a fork to turn the meat over. You should always use a pair of tongs or a spatula. Piercing meat with a fork allows all of the juices to run out and your meat will be drier, so you never want to use anything pointy to flip the meat.
While cooking pasta, you should cook it about 60 seconds less than the cooking time that is printed on the package. You can then put the pasta in whatever sauce you have prepared with it and let it complete its cooking process while it soaks up all of the flavors of the sauce.
If you are making a salad for a potluck or picnic, place an upside-down saucer at the bottom of the salad bowl. Extra dressing and juice from vegetables like tomatoes will seep to the bottom and run underneath the saucer, which keeps the greens in the salad crisp and free from wilting.
These ideas are a fantastic beginning to creating a variety of healthful and tasty dishes. Use them in your own cooking to give your family a special treat today. There's no such thing as a bad cook. Cooking delicious meals is something that anyone can learn to do. With a little practice, you'll be making great tasting food in no time.