Ask anyone who takes cooking seriously, and they will tell you that they have their own tips and tricks that they use to consistently prepare delicious meals: Maybe it’s a secret ingredient or an extra step during preparation or perhaps hours of watching direct.tv cooking specials. Many of these tricks have been passed down from generation to generation, and some remain closely-guarded secrets to this very day.
And some of them are, to be perfectly honest, complete nonsense. But while that may be true, and while it’s not uncommon to receive five different types of advice from five different people when it comes to cooking, there are some well-known tips that will not only make food preparation easier but will also make the end result tastier.
Grilling Tips
- Use tongues instead of a fork to turn meat on the grill. Poking holes in the meat will cause its juices to run out.
- When preparing kabobs, soak wooden skewers in cold water for 30 minutes prior to cooking to prevent burning. Also, for best results make sure pieces of meat, fruit or veggies are threaded closely together with no space in between.
- Never place cooked meat on the same plate that held raw meat.
Healthy Cooking Tips
- Don’t remove skins from fruits and vegetables: The skins contain lots of healthy nutrients.
- To retain vitamins and nutrients, keep the lid on the pot while cooking vegetables.
- When sauteing meat or vegetables, use chicken broth instead of butter to reduce fat.
Tasty Tricks
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried whenever possible.
- When serving roast, let it stand for five to ten minutes before carving so that it retains its juices.
