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]]>Sheet Pan Meals
One-pot or sheet pan meals are ideal when short on time because they are one-done. Try some sheet pan chicken and roasted veggies, and drizzle with your favorite spices and oil of choice, and dinner done in 20-30 minutes. With sheet pan meals, the possibilities are endless.
Prepare Ahead of Time
On days when you have a little extra time on your hands, stock your fridge with fresh-cut veggies for roasting, a big pot of rice for various bowls throughout the week, or marinate a protein source to sit in the fridge for a day or so when it is ready to be cooked when you’re in a rush.
Invest in Cooking Gadgets
Cooking equipment such as crockpots are great when on the go because you can prepare stews, soups, or curries in the morning, and go about your day and have dinner done when you get home from work. Other tools like air fryers and rice cookers whip up things quicker than ovens as well, making them an affordable and faster alternative way of cooking.
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]]>One common mistake people tend to make is using low-quality wine in cooking, which can poorly impact the flavor of dishes (as the wine’s taste will be intensified during cooking). Another common error is using a wine with flavors that don’t complement your dish. So, how do you make sure you get optimal results when cooking with wine? Here are a few handy tips.
Follow Your Drinking Taste
Choose a wine that you would also enjoy drinking. If you wouldn’t enjoy drinking it, it’s likely not suitable for cooking, either.
Dry for Savory, Sweet for Dessert
Generally, dry wines are better for savory dishes and sweet wines are better for desserts. It’s not a total must-follow rule and there are exceptions, but it can help avoid strange taste combinations.
Cooking Wine – Out
As counterintuitive as it may sound, try not to use wine that’s labeled as “cooking wine”. These wines often contain additives and preservatives that can change the taste of your dish in unexpected ways, and that’s not always a fun surprise.
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]]>Seasonings & Spices
In general, it’s fine to multiply by two when it comes to the core ingredients that constitute a recipe—things like meat, veggies, and grains. Where you’re more likely to run into trouble is with spices, which can pack a disproportionately strong punch when doubled. Start by adding spices at a 1.5 ratio, then taste your dish and adjust as needed. This also goes for alcohol, when adding too much can impart a bitter taste.
Time & Temperature
Larger quantities of food often require longer cooking times, as differences in volume can affect heat distribution. While this definitely doesn’t mean doubling the cook time, it is important to be aware of to avoid under or overcooking. Use a thermometer for meats or a clean toothpick for baked goods to check for doneness at the time indicated by your recipe. If it needs more time, continue to check every 5 minutes until done.
Proper Cookware
As with time and temperature, it’s essential to use proper-size cookware when working with larger quantities of food. Crowding a pot with too many ingredients can prevent browning and lead to unevenly cooked dishes, while overfilling a baking pan with too much batter can cause it to spill over or develop a dense texture.
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]]>The post Alternative Ways to Use a Waffle Maker appeared first on Cooking 4 All.
]]>Falafel
Falafel is a type of Middle Eastern fritter made of ground chickpeas, herbs, and spices. Like most fritters, it’s usually prepared in a ball or disc shape, but the way we see it, there’s no reason not to prepare your very own fa-waffle. Prepare your falafel mix of choice, then heat it in ¼ cup batches in a waffle maker for about 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Cinnamon Rolls
Topped with whipped cream and maple syrup, waffles can certainly make for a tasty dessert in their own right, but when we’re looking for something a bit more indulgent, we love using our waffle makers to prepare cinnamon rolls. Any brand of canned cinnamon rolls will do—just give your iron a spritz with some non-stick spray, then place one uncooked roll in each corner. Heat on medium for about 3 minutes, then serve with plenty of cream cheese icing.
Omelets
From scrambled to hard-boiled to sunny side up, there are few foods that can be prepared in as many forms as eggs, and we’re here today to suggest one more. Crack and beat two eggs in a bowl and whisk with your preferred seasonings, then pour the mixture into a greased waffle iron and heat for about 2 minutes. Carefully remove and serve as part of any breakfast spread.
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]]>The post 4 Exciting Kinds of Vinegar to Add to Your Repertoire appeared first on Cooking 4 All.
]]>Red Wine Vinegar
As the name suggests, this comes from red wine. The result is a deep and tangy flavor that works great with meats and other dishes where you want a rich, savory flavor.
Rice Vinegar
This is a classic in East and Southeast Asia and comes from fermented rice. It has quite a delicate, sweet flavor and can be used in a wide range of ways from dipping sauces to marinades.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This sour, tangy vinegar is well-known for its homeopathic benefits, but it’s also a great cooking ingredient. It’s ideal to use as a dressing for slaw or works well with pork and poultry dishes.
Balsamic Vinegar
This popular vinegar also comes from grapes but is very different from red wine vinegar. It’s known for its dark color and is commonly used as a glaze or to drizzle over dishes for aesthetic and flavor.
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]]>The post Cooling is Essential for a Great Loaf of Homemade Bread appeared first on Cooking 4 All.
]]>If you slice up bread as soon as it leaves the oven without letting it cool down first, you are bound to ruin it. It will be all gummy-like, without that airy texture we love so much. This is because cooling is essential for a great loaf of homemade bread.
When you take the bread out of the oven, it still isn’t finished with baking. It retains warm air inside, which continues to cook the bread from the inside when you place it on the kitchen counter.
This prolonged cooking causes starches, which take on a gooey consistency at high temperatures, to stiffen up and become solid while the temperature lowers. It also allows excess moisture to evaporate.
Tips for Proper Bread Cooling
If you want to get the best loaf of homemade bread, then don’t touch it when it comes out of the oven. Instead, let it cool down to at least room temperature. The better method is to wait between one and two hours, depending on the size of the loaf.
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]]>Use Butter
Try using salted butter instead of vegetable oil to cook your eggs. Eggs are ultimately quite bland, and so they soak up flavors really well. Cooking them in butter will give them a deliciously rich, buttery taste that makes them much more appealing.
Be Careful With Heat
Scrambled eggs ideally want to be cooked on a low and slow heat. If they get too hot then they’ll quickly become dry and leathery which is not at all what you want. You can even take them off the heat a bit before they’re done and let the final cooking take place from their own residual heat.
Add Salt and Pepper at the End
It can be very easy to overdo the seasoning and end up ruining the overall flavor of the eggs. Adding salt and pepper early on also affects their flavor. Leave it to the end and sprinkle a tiny bit in – this will enhance the flavor without being too much.
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]]>The post 3 Pieces of Kitchen Equipment That Will Up Your Game appeared first on Cooking 4 All.
]]>Food Processor
This may seem like a big investment, both in terms of money and in the space it will take up in your kitchen. But the doors it will open up for you are unparalleled and well worth the time and money. So many recipes will ask for certain ingredients to be ground or blitzed, and a good quality food processor will be able to handle anything that comes its way.
High-Quality Knife
You’ll no doubt have some sharp knives lying around your kitchen, so this may seem unnecessary. But the difference that a proper knife makes to your cooking process is enormous and a reason to upgrade.
A Slow Cooker
Another one that takes up space but will make such a huge difference. So many food items are hugely improved by being slowly cooked. Think of tender meat and succulent vegetables that are minimal effort to prepare.
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]]>The post 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Cooking with Beans appeared first on Cooking 4 All.
]]>Soaking (A Short-Cut)
The common wisdom suggests soaking beans overnight before cooking them to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility. But, if you’re short on time, the quick soak method can be a lifesaver. Simply boil the beans for two minutes, then remove them from the heat and let them stand, covered, for an hour. Same result, much less time!
Adding Baking Soda
A little-known trick to achieving perfectly soft beans is the addition of baking soda to the cooking water. Baking soda creates a slightly alkaline environment, which helps break down the beans’ surface, making them softer and reducing cooking time. As little as a quarter teaspoon per pound of beans is all you need.
The Right Time to Salt
There’s a longstanding myth that salting beans at the beginning of cooking can toughen their skins. However, recent culinary insights suggest otherwise. Adding salt to the soaking water or at the beginning of cooking can actually help the beans cook more evenly and enhance their flavor from the inside out.
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]]>The post Basic Cooking Techniques Everyone Should Know appeared first on Cooking 4 All.
]]>Precision in Measurement
Accurate measuring can mean the difference between a successful dish and an inedible mess that even the dog won’t touch. Invest in reliable measuring cups and spoons, and stick to measurements as outlined in recipes until you develop an understanding of how ingredients work together. For baking, precision is especially important, so use a digital kitchen scale for dry ingredients like flour and sugar to ensure that your pastries come out perfectly every time.
Mise en Place
A French term that literally translates to “putting in place,” mise en place is the practice of preparing and organizing ingredients before starting to cook. While the specifics will vary depending on the recipe, in general, taking a few extra minutes to chop, peel, and measure everything in advance will allow you to focus on the joy of cooking rather than end up scrambling mid-recipe.
Knife Skills
For mincing, slicing, dicing, and more, knife skills are a fundamental part of preparing ingredients. Different types of knives and techniques can be used for different types of recipes, but getting the hang of some simple techniques and understanding the importance of proper knife safety can go a long way in empowering new cooks to feel comfortable in the kitchen. YouTube is a great resource for finding visual demonstrations.
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