Often, individuals perceive cooking as a chore; however, the truth is that food is an art, and cooks are artists! Not only that, food is what fuels our bodies, so it’s important to put love into it to ensure our bodies remain healthy and happy.
Contrary to what most think, cooking skills can be improved by a few simple tips and tricks that are usually overlooked. Keep reading ahead to discover some simple hacks to turning your cooking time into an enjoyable downtime where you’ll be the MasterChef creating the dishes you crave!
1) Pre-Prepare and Organize
I’m sure you’ve had moments where your sauce was burning on the stove while you were scurrying around the kitchen in search of a critical ingredient. Such incidents are what chefs aim to avoid by pre-preparing and organising their ingredients and kitchen.
Before you begin the cooking process, lay out all the necessary ingredients and equipment. Also, measuring the ingredients before laying them out is helpful and time-saving. Moreover, ensure the ingredients are clean, stacked, and labelled instead of scattered across the countertop.
It is also essential to keep your kitchen clutter-free and clean as you go instead of letting the mess and dishes pile up for the very end. This makes for a very unpleasant scenario and creates obstacles while you cook.
Another vital tactic for a smooth cooking process is thoroughly reading the recipes a day before cooking them. This is because we often forget that the flavours of dishes will only peak through if we allow the spices and mixtures to marinate overnight or for at least a few hours.
Other times, there are often some essential ingredients that home cooks do not keep available at home, so you may need to do a quick grocery run before you roll up your sleeves and get to cooking!
2) Invest in the Perfect Set of Knives
Utensils are essential for devouring meals and preparing and cooking the meals.
Therefore, investing in the perfect set of knives is crucial- first and foremost, ensure they aren’t too heavy because you do not want your arms to be aching during what is supposed to be an enjoyable process. Moreover, ensure they are comfortable to hold; otherwise, your hands will also blossom with bruises and blemishes.
If you want to transition into a more advanced version of the cook you used to be, make sure to store knives in drawers. Knife sets belong in knife blocks and demand to be washed and kept clean.
It’s important to remember that knives come as a family pack, and each member of this pack has different functions and uses. You must be aware of the various types of knives and ensure you have all the essential variations in your knife block.
The biggest one is known as a ‘large cook’s knife’ and is used to prep most food. A ‘paring knife’ is used for chopping and cutting smaller ingredients because it gives you the perfect control to do the job safely and quickly. A last important family member is a ‘long serrated knife’ for smoothly cutting cakes and bread.
When purchasing the perfect set of knives, getting a sharpening steel is essential. Knives tend to lose their edge and sharpness over time, so a protip is to sharpen and hone them every time you use them. Contrary to what you may think, sharper knives are safer to use.
The last thing to get to compliment your set of knives is a chopping board. It’s recommended to get at least two for cooked and raw food.
3) Invest in Efficient Gadgets and Kitchen Appliances
With the evolution of technology, you can speed up your cooking process. However, tech gadgets can also overcomplicate the process if you lack the correct ones.
The following are the top gadgets that are must-haves in the kitchen- a free-standing mixer, spice grinder, food processor, stick blender, electric mixer, and pasta machine. Moreover, the following items are ones you can make do without but are still helpful- a meat thermometer, kitchen tongs, a microplane grater, and a mandolin.
Furthermore, make sure to choose heavy-based frypans and saucepans, as this is the telltale sign that they are high quality. Remember to purchase ones with lids because some recipes require the mixtures or sauces to be covered while they simmer. Moreover, they also retain heat for a more extended period.
Lastly, the appliances in your kitchen affect the quality of the food you’ll be producing. Therefore, ensure your kitchen is equipped with professional kitchen appliances, such as high-quality ranges, range tops, cooktops, and ventilation systems.
Conclusion
Once you have purchased the right tools and nailed all the essential hacks for your cooking experience, we hope you cook some tasty dishes. Moreover, when you have the budget and time, we recommend you give your kitchen a makeover to help create the perfect mood and setting to make your cooking experience all the more pleasant.
