Steak Cooking Tips

These great steak cooking tips will help you cook the sort of steak that you thought only professional chefs could create!

· One of the most important steak cooking tips is to start out with a good steak in the first place! A poorly cooked steak that is of prime grade will still likely taste better than a low grade steak that is cooked well.

· Look for a steak with marbling throughout. This will ensure that it is flavorful and remains juicy.

· For a great steak, get a great cut of meat like top loin or filet mignon.

· Refrain from cutting open your steak to see if it is done! Doing so will release valuable juices.

o To see if your steak is done, touch it! A firm steak is well done, a springy steak is medium, and a soft steak is rare. The more often you cook your steak, the more obvious this will be.

o If you have a meat thermometer, use it! A medium rare steak will be about 145 degrees.
· Ditto on turning your steak with forks - you want to keep all of the juice and flavor contained in the steak. Instead of using a fork, use tongs (long-handled ones are best... then you do not have to get too close to the heat).

· Realize that if you have a large and thick cut of meat, it will continue to cook, even after you have removed it from the oven. Therefore, take it off a little early or serve them immediately!

· Do not be worried about cooking and serving a rare steak. Once you have browned all sides of the steak, you have effectively killed off any bacteria. This is because the steak can only be contaminated with bacteria on the outer service. Therefore, you simply need to make sure that the outside of the steak has been thoroughly cooked.

· Use seasonings and marinades to enhance the flavor of your steak, not to mask it. You may find that you do not need any seasonings beyond salt and pepper! A good steak will already be tender.

· When grilling, be sure that the grill is extremely hot. When it is very hot, it will sear the outside of the meat and lock in the juices. (For the same reason, preheat your broiler if you are cooking your steak in it).

· If cooking your steak in a pan, be sure to oil your steak rather than the pan.

· Once you are done cooking your steak, take it off the heat source and let it "rest" for at least five minutes. This will allow the juices to spread out.

General Cooking Tips for Novice

Working in the kitchen table for the first time may be quite a thrill. Cooking is something that you should take seriously. Here are some basic cooking tips that everyone should know before putting on an apron.

Preparation is the key

Prepare the things that you need to work with before cooking. Purchase all the ingredients that you need and make a checklist of the tools and equipments that you will use. Proper preparation is one of the key things that separate the professional from the novice.

Food hygiene

When preparing to cook, always wear clean clothes and put on an apron. Briskly wash your hands before and after working with raw meat and other food items. Pull your hair back to prevent any loose hair to come in contact with your food. Wash all meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables before cooking them. Avoid handling food when you are sick or feel ill.

Frying

Frying is one of the most common cooking procedures. Cool and dry places are the best storage for oil. It is not advisable to deep fry salted or moist products. Fry in small portions of food so that the oil would not cool down fast. Frying pans should be heated up with just the right temperature so that food would not stick to the pan.

Baking

Make sure that all ingredients are pre-measured. Temperature is very important in baking. Always follow temperature recommendations as indicated in the recipe. The mixing process in baking should be followed precisely. Over-mixing or under-mixing can alter the taste of your finished product adversely. Do not overcrowd your oven and avoid opening the oven door every so often.

On cooking pasta

Remember that fresh pasta cooks quickly. Cooking pasta in plenty of water and constant stirring can prevent them from sticking together. To prevent mushy pasta, make sure not to allow your pasta to stay in water longer than it should. Salt does not only bring out the flavor of pastas but it could also add to its firmness.

Cooking vegetables

It is advisable to scrub vegetables rather than to peel them. Most nutrients can be found in the skin of the vegetables. To get the most out of your vegetable, you can steam your veggies or put them on a microwave oven rather than boiling them.

Finish up with a good presentation

With a nice presentation, you would definitely entice anyone to have a taste of the food you prepared. It is a good idea to decorate your food only with things that are edible. Edible garnishing should always go with the food that you prepared. One tip: use the similar ingredients that are dominant in your food for garnishing. For instance, you can create chocolate curls to top of a delicious chocolate cupcake.

Grilling

The marinade is the key to a good grilled food. Put a generous amount of marinade to the food that you are about to grill. The best cut for marinated food should at least one inch thick. When cooking directly from a charcoal grill, sufficient amount of coal can add to the quality of your food.

With these basic tips in mind, you are sure to make your way to a delectable and satisfying meal!

Penny Pinching Cooking Tips

Stop going out to dinner! Period! - O.K. if you're family is screaming at you then take them out maybe once a month. Make it an occasion. Most of us get caught up in fast paced living and eat out more frequent then we really should. It's just an insane waste of money. Remember that the cost of dinner for four at a nice restaurant can feed the family for a week or more.

So what is the first Penny Pinching Cooking Tip? That's it, COOK!

Cooking can be a problem when you don't have all of the right ingredients but there are penny pinching substitutes. You can still cook like a pro and use what's available.

What I am trying to do is show you how to save money and give different cooking tips. Looking on the web, everybody and their brother has recipes. I have put in a few recipes, but mostly cooking tips to pinch those pennies and stretch those dollars.

Some substitutions and varying ways to save money, still serving your family tasty and healthy food. How to use what is on hand in your kitchen if you don't have the exact item.

ROAST BEEF cooking tip

Easy, use your crock pot. Place your potatoes carrots and onions in the bottom and put your roast on top. Pour a pkg of onion soup mix over and add a cup of water. Turn on low and by the time you get home from work you will have a deliciously cooked meal to serve.

o Don't have onion soup mix, substitute!!
Crush a couple beef bouillon cubes and add some dried onion flakes, you will never know the difference.

Want a little different flavor? Instead of water, pour in a cup of bourbon or a cup of wine (any kind). The alcohol cooks out, so don't let that be a worry.

STROGANOFF

Now that you have leftover roast beef, you can make stroganoff. Cut your beef into small cubes, heat through with a can of mushroom soup, stir in a cup of sour cream and if you want add a little bit of red wine; serve over hot buttered noodles.

o Don't have any sour cream? Substitute!!
Do you have a cup of cottage cheese? Place I cup of cottage cheese, 5 Tbs of milk and 1 Tbs of lemon juice in the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

CHICKEN AND GRAVY

Use your crock pot. Place your chicken pieces (any pieces will do, drumsticks, thighs or whole cut up) in the crock pot. Add a can of cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, cream of celery, or creamy tomato. You could even use bar-b-que sauce. Cook on low and when you are ready to eat, serve over rice or noodles. Your family will love you.

o Don't have creamy tomato, but have a can of regular tomato soup? Make your own, simply add a half can of milk and blend together. You could even make it spicy by adding some salsa or Tabasco.

POTATO PANCAKES

Don't know what to do with that little bit of mashed potatoes? Make potato pancakes. Stir the potatoes with some milk and baking powder. The consistency of regular pancakes. Fry in a little bit of butter or margarine, making them about the size of dollar pancakes.

If you wish add some onion or grated cheese or both. Serve with sour cream or spread cheese. Delicious!!

GREAT GREEN BEANS

Want a change from ordinary plain green beans? Take a can of green beans and drain. Cook until heated through in a pan or in the microwave, add a little butter to coat and add garlic salt or garlic powder and sour cream or mayonnaise. Tasty!! Even my children who didn't like vegetables loved them this way.

CHOPPED ONION

Use chopped onions all the time, but tired of chopping every time you need them?

Prepare ahead. Buy that bag of onions and chop all of them to the size you like. Spread out on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. After they are frozen, put into a zip lock bag and put back in the freezer. Ready to use anytime you need them.

I believe in the saying that a penny saved is a penny earned and if you want to learn more penny pinching tips check out Grandma's web site at: http://www.pennypinching-grandma.com

Try Out These Great Cooking Tips Today!

There are always new things to learn about cooking, even if you are just cooking for your family. Knowing the right methods and techniques could turn ordinary or bland meals into spectacular feasts you will be remembered for. Get some tips like these together, so you can get a great flavor going in the kitchen.

To help you cook the best meals, it is important to pick recipes that excite you. Cooking can be stimulating when you select recipes and ingredients that expose you to new cultures and flavors. Instead of ordering fast food open up a cookbook and you will be on your way to great tasting meals.

When you are cooking pasta you should cook it about 60 seconds less than the cooking time that is printed on the package. You can then put the pasta in whatever sauce you have prepared with it and let it complete its cooking process while it soaks up all of the flavors of the sauce.

Carrots are a tasty and inexpensive staple that can be used in many ways. Raw carrots cut into strips of convenient sizes are great snacks and popular with many kids, but can also be baked in popular dishes like carrot cakes, tossed into salads, or blanched and glazed with honey.

Cook a hard boiled egg properly. It is very simple to cook the perfect hard boiled egg if you follow these simple instructions. Pierce the raw egg at its rounded end,where there is a little air space. This will make the egg easier to peel. Lower the egg into hot water and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes at a gentle boil. When they are done, drain the water and shake the pan. This will crack the egg shells. Fill with cold water, and allow to stand until the eggs are completely cold.

Are you looking for an easy way to peel chestnuts? Cut an x in the flat side of the chestnut and place them in a shallow pan. Cover the pan tightly with foil and roast for 20 to 30 minutes on 450 shake the pan twice. Remove and peel while hot. If they become to cool to peel place them back in the oven for a minute

To remove the hard core from a head of iceberg lettuce, whack the bottom of the lettuce head on the counter to loosen the core from the rest of the leaves. You should be able to pull it out easily, leaving you with lettuce that's ready for sandwiches, shredding, or chopping.

Buy fruit when it is at its peak at your local farmer's market. Use airtight containers, and then freeze it so you can use it to cook or bake with all year long. Not only will this save you from having to buy pre-packaged frozen fruit at the supermarket, but also you will have the items on hand when they are not in season.

When it comes to cooking, be sure that you know the allergy concerns of all of those who will be eating your meal. This is extremely important because the effects of food allergy can range anywhere from mild discomfort to death - both of which you want to avoid at all costs.

Cook fish on a plank! Use a cedar plank to replicate the taste you get in expensive restaurants right on your campfire. Clean your freshly caught fish and split them open so they are less than one inch thick. Tack the fish to the board and position it beside the campfire so it absorbs the heat of the fire but is not so close that the whole thing catches fire!

If you want to get a better hand in cooking, you have to use the advice and tips that are offered to you. The cooking tips in this article are a great example of things that could help you cook better for yourself, your friends, your family, or even for the crowd.

Top Meat Cooking Tips And More To Help You Improve Your Cooking

Novice cooks need lots of cooking tips to help them in the kitchen and even the most experienced cooks could always use a little extra help. Here are some of my favorite cooking tips, which you may know or may be new to you. So for come top cooking tips, read on.

Always leave the bone in when you roast a meat joint if you can. Not only does the bone have a lot of flavor which will ensure the meat it really tasty, but the bone actually helps to transfer the heat throughout the roast, making cooking more even and reducing the cooking time.

Never overload the pan with food if you are sauteing food. This is because moisture will get trapped between the foodstuffs and your food will end up being steamed (and soggy) instead of sauteed (and crisp).

For the same reason, make sure you remove excess water from ground meat before pan frying, by blotting with a kitchen towel. If you don't your meat will steam rather than sear in the frying pan and the texture of your dish will be ruined.

If you like to cook with a grill, make sure that the it is hot before you put the meat onto it. If you don't, rather than having those attractive sear markings, your meat will stick to the grill. Not great! And if you have a counter top grill, make sure you use as non-stick spray!

If you want to add more flavor to soups, stews and mashed potatoes, used beef or chicken stock instead of plain water. And because you can do so much with chicken and beef stocks, always make big portions up when you have the opportunity. You should aim to make enough for whatever you need it for now, AND have enough left to freeze some for another day's cooking. Always allow your stock to cool before freezing it. This will allow any excess fat in it to congeal so you can remove it.

Always prepare as much of the meal's ingredients as you can in advance if you want to stay organized. Do all of the prep work the night before if you are cooking a big meal for guests. Always work out when you need to begin cooking each part of the meal by starting with the deadline to finish and calculating backwards. This will ensure that your meat and vegetables are ready at the same time - and remember to let the meat "rest" before carving or it will bleed meat juices which are best kept inside the joint!

If you are stir frying, prep your meat by slicing it into thin strip on the bias. This will give you the largest surface area for best and quickest cooking. However it is difficult to do. To make it easier, pop your meat into the freezer until solid (not frozen). Then, with a sharp knife, cut at 45 degrees across the grain of the meat. Perfect!

Remember, it is easy to learn new cooking tips and skills. You just need to want to! Use these tips to help you.