20 Cooking tips to make your time easier in the kitchen
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cook, it is a good idea to remember these 20 cooking tips to make your time spent in the kitchen easier.
A kitchen is never complete without the proper tools. You don’t have to break the bank to have all the gadgets and tools to have a perfect kitchen. An ideal kitchen does not exist! You may have all the tools and gadgets you need for your kitchen, but someone will always tell you that you need to have this and that. Buy what you need! It is that simple; don’t go crazy.
- Read a recipe thoroughly before cooking. You have to make sure that you have all the ingredients, the proper tools and that you can also make the dish. No one is perfect! Published cookbooks and websites sometimes leave out ingredients, steps, etc. Read the list of ingredientts and instructions before cooking.
2. Prep and organize your cooking area, ingredients, tools, etc., ahead of time. To be a successful cook, you must not only be organized, but you must also have everything you need on hand. Your countertop should be cleaned. Before cooking, everything should be washed, chopped, diced, minced, and set out on your countertop. But the most important thing is to be comfortable in your kitchen. Wear proper clothing and comfortable shoes. And try not to stress too much about what you are about to make. Don’t worry; you will be a master chef soon! Practice makes perfect!
3. Always purchase quality ingredients. Do not settle for cheap ingredients. A cake made with King Arthur Flour does not taste like a cake made with Pillsbury Flour. You may think the texture and taste are different, but they are not the same. Each ingredient is manufactured or processed differently.
4. Whether you love baking or not, you need these three items.
To note that Wax paper and Parchment paper are not the same. Wax paper melts when exposed to heat, while parchment can withstand temperatures up to 450°F.
5. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables. If you love flavorful dishes, then fresh fruits and vegetables are a must. They contain more flavor, and you can’t compete with freshness. Taste, flavor, and flavor are essential to a successful meal.
6. Buy quality meat, poultry, and seafood. Going to a slaughterhouse is not recommended because most of us cannot take the order, see traces of blood, or see our livestock before a kill – My apologies for being so blunt. If you are a vegetarian, there’s nothing to worry about. It would be best if you found other types of protein replacements. Examine your meat, poultry, and seafood before purchasing. Make sure that whatever you are buying looks fresh and smells fresh.
7. Research food brands before making your purchases. Food is getting expensive every day. If you follow a healthy lifestyle, it is even more costly. Caring about the environment and caring about humanity has always been an essential factor when it comes to researching a brand. Of course, there’s a lot that we are not aware of because no brand is 100% transparent. Generic brands or not, you still have to do your research. Brands with a legitimate foodservice footprint (a brand that follows proper nutrition guidelines and regulations) are the ones to follow and buy their products.
8. When cooking on the stovetop, turn your pan-handle to the side. Who wants to get burned or create messes in the kitchen. We all know that cleaning a kitchen is not something you take lightly. With all the potential cross-contamination and pathogens that may be lurking without your knowledge, minimizing messes and injuries is on top of the list.
9. Eyeballing or measuring your ingredients correctly. Many experienced cooks do not use measuring cups or spoons often. They know precisely the amount of seasoning and spices to put when preparing a whole roasted chicken. They can tell exactly the amount of spices needed to flavor that chicken. For a baker, it is different. You DO NEED to measure. No eyeballing allowed. You need to measure the ingredients and adjust the ratios when necessary properly. You cannot bake a Cake a L’orange that requires 2 cups of flour and think that one tablespoon of sugar will be enough. Not in this kitchen! Always use your measuring tools for both cooking and baking.
10. Get a good knife set. Knives are perhaps the essential tools in the kitchen. Having a good knife set is recommended as you will need to use different types and sizes to prepare your meals. When buying your knives, make sure they sit comfortably in your hand and are easy to handle. Make sure that the knives are a reputable brand and easy to sharpen.
11. Use proper measuring spoons: The spoons ensure that the correct amount of ingredients is used. Using measuring spoons is practical when baking as it may not be recommended to change the amount of the ingredients. When adding salt, a measuring spoon is helpful not to ruin the dish.
12. Don’t turn up your stovetop on high and walk away. In many recipes, it may be necessary to turn up the heat. It is not advisable to leave the kitchen while the stovetop is in high heat settings. We don’t want any accidents to happen.
13. Do not add oil to your pasta water, and don’t forget to salt it. Olive oil causes more harm than good. It prevents the sauce from sticking to the pasta noodles. It will simply float on top as the oil is less dense than water and creates a layer across at the top. When the pasta is drained, it is poured through this oiled layer and leaves a fresh coat of oil on the pasta.
14. Keep your dried spices and seasonings away from heat. Your spices should be stored away from heat at all times. Spices and dried herbs should be kept in airtight containers in dark, cool places for ultimate flavor.
15. Buying whole poultry, meat or fish may be cost-effective. Bulk purchases may save you tons of money. Buying meat, poultry, and seafood are sometimes more advantageous at Costco or BJs. It is a good idea to compare the price per pound. This is also a good idea if you meal plan.
16. Clean your cutting board thoroughly with vinegar. White Vinegar is inexpensive, but it is also a great cleaning product for the kitchen to remove dirt and mildew. Vinegar is also a natural solution that fights bacteria. Spray your cutting board with vinegar before washing with soap.
17. A Microplane Grater is perfect to have in the kitchen. One of the best gadgets you will ever one is a Microplane Grater. This great gadget can be used to grate lemon, lime, ginger, nutmeg, and even cheese.
18. It’s always good to have lemon or lime around. Looking for ways to enhance your stews, vegetables, and meat flavors, add a few drops of fresh lemon juice. You may also use lime, but be aware that the taste is more pungent than lemon.
19. An Instant-Read thermometer is an excellent investment in the kitchen. An instant-thermometer is the answer to always wondering at what temperature it is safe to eat your meat or poultry. This gadget will not only serve a purpose with a small portion but for a significant portion as well. There is no need to break the bank when purchasing one; buy an affordable thermometer and easy to use.
20. Always taste your food before adding additional seasoning. Taste matters all around. Choose the right spices and herbs to season your food. Salt and pepper are not the answer to making food taste delicious. It would help if you had a combination or blend of several spices such as garlic, parsley, thyme, sage; some of the best ones make poultry taste lovely. Start using combined blends to flavor all your foods. Check out our Noubess Shop for Poultry Seasoning, Fish Seasoning, and many more flavors and spice varieties.
Sources:
- https://www.bhg.com/
- http://foodsafety.gov/
- https://www.thespruceeats.com/
