Need Some Help In The Cooking Department? Read On

Cooking is enjoyable once you have gained some skill, experience and confidence. You can gain a lot of confidence in your skills and learn how to be a better cook with this article. When you get the skills, the fun will begin.

Keep all dried spices in a dark space that stays room temperature. Your spices and herbs will lose some of their flavor when exposed to light, humidity and heat. Ground spices, when stored correctly, can retain flavor for up to a year. It is possible for whole spices to hold their flavor for several years. Store your herbs and spices correctly, so that they will stay fresh and keep their full flavor!

Are you going to cook with fresh basil? Try putting a bunch of basil that is fresh inside a glass. Add water to cover the stems. Leave it on your counter and it will stay fresh for a very long time! If you perform periodic water changes, the roots of the basil will grow in the water. Occasionally trim the basil, which will encourage more growth, and you will be able to have the benefits of fresh basil for quite some time.

Adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes is a great way to reduce the amount of fat and calories they contain. You should use equal portions of potatoes and cauliflower when making this delicious side. Cauliflower has a kind of bland taste that mixes well with potatoes and the other ingredients in them. When they’re mashed, cauliflowers have the same appearance and consistency as potatoes, too. Adding a little cauliflower can take calories out of your favorite mashed potato recipes and add in a little vegetable goodness, too.

When you are making chicken stock, think big. Make enough so that you can freeze it and use it in your recipes. Excellent chicken stock that is homemade is a great base for use in stews, soups, casseroles, and more. After the liquid has cooled you can store it in heavy-duty freezer bags.

So you can see how very useful it can be to acquire the skills necessary to prepare meals for your family or yourself. As you have leaned, learning to cook better has many advantages. Takeaway foods will always have their place in moderation, but nothing will take the number one spot of a home-cooked feast.