Simplify Your Life With These Cooking Tips

People say many good things about good food. Use the tips presented below to advance your culinary skills to a higher level.

Make sure to keep your spices and herbs sealed in airtight containers, protected in a dark, cool place. Humidity and heat, in addition to light, will cause spices and herbs to lose their flavor. It has been found that ground herbs and spices maintain their flavor for roughly a year. Though if you have whole spices, you will notice the flavors are strong for 3-5 years. If spices are stored properly there is a better chance that they will stay fresher for a longer period of time

They will soak up a ton of water, just like a sponge. Use a clean cloth to wipe them off.

It is absolutely essential that you have sharp knives whenever you cook. Only the dull-witted use dull knives, as they are both ineffective and dangerous. A cut is more likely when you push down hard on a dull knife that when you cut easily with a sharp one.

Before frying raw potatoes, allow them to soak for half an hour in a bowl of cold water; this will result in crispier fries. The fibers of raw cut potatoes that have been soaked in cold water prior to hitting the deep fryer, are stronger and can handle the heat better without breakage.

There is a secret to thicken up your weak sauce. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more cornstarch until you reach the desired consistency. Add this mix to the sauce little by little until it becomes thicker. Be sure to gradually stir in the solution, and frequently stir the sauce so that it does not become too thick.

The feeling of a the first bite of a self prepared meal, especially when it tastes amazing, is unmistakable. You can become a good cook without years of training. Anyone with a desire to cook can learn the basics and then improve on them. After reading this article, you now have the skills that are necessary to become a master in the kitchen.