Although for many there are things that seem obvious, when you are new to the kitchen you have doubts about everything. Don’t feel bad, it’s normal and even more so when there’s no other option but to learn, so here are 10 basic things you should know or do if you’re your first time.
Boil the water
It seems like a joke but it is anecdote when they send you to check if the water is already boiling, you look at that hot pot and you simply don’t know what to answer.
To identify when a liquid is already boiling or boiling -as its scientific term is known- it is enough to notice some bubbles that begin to come out on the surface and there is steam, this means that due to the heat it is already changing to its gaseous form.
It is important that you know that there is no specific time since it varies depending on the height in which you are. When you are at sea level the boiling point happens at 100°C and for every 300 meters of height that increases, it decreases 1°C. In other words, in Mexico City it begins to boil at 93°C.
What to wash after the market or the super?
We have some bad news for you: once you return from shopping for food -and even more so during times of covid-19- you must wash absolutely everything, from bananas to lettuce, in addition to disinfecting packaging such as plastic or metal.
Go ahead and turn on the oven
We have a surprise, using the oven on your stove is often more practical than the burners for a simple reason: while you bake you can take advantage of that time for other things.
Do not forget to always take into account the temperature and time in order not to cause any accident and not ruin your food.
To light it, place a hole inside, usually it is on one of the sides or at the bottom, turn the knob and bring the fire closer -if possible with a long lighter- and that’s it! It is much easier than you think.
Use broths or funds instead of water
When you cook a piece of meat or vegetables with water, do not throw away the remaining broth! This is also known in gastronomic slang as fund and it is liquid gold.
You can use it for all those things that require water. This way you will achieve more flavor in your preparations, an example is to use it for your sauces.
Freeze and thaw correctly
It seems like a simple task and it is, you just have to pick up the skill and know some of the secrets. For example, there are vegetables and fruits that need to be put through boiling water for a few minutes before freezing so that they better preserve their flavors and also their organoleptic properties such as textures and smells as well as their nutrients.
Here we give you the best tips to correctly freeze some fruits and vegetables.
Once you’ve managed to do it, don’t ruin it by defrosting badly. The first tip is to have time since it is best to move them from the freezer to the fridge so that little by little they increase their temperature. If you have little time there are some secrets like placing them in water or giving them soft taps.
Better al dente pasta and vegetables
Making pasta and boiled vegetables is easy for beginners, but we recommend that you do not spend too much time or temperature so as not to destroy the texture of your food.
For this we recommend cooking al dente, this means that it is well cooked but retains its firmness. Achieving it is even easier than leaving it for hours on the fire, you just need practice.
Follow the recipes
Creativity and imagination in the kitchen often lead you to create incredible things; however, if you are new to it, we recommend following the instructions and sticking as closely as possible to the recipe.
This has a specific reason. In the kitchen, many chemical processes take place that begin either by increasing or decreasing the temperature, mixing certain ingredients, or being patient for time to do its job.
In confectionery this rule is even stricter since an extra gram or the order in which you integrate the ingredients makes all the difference in the result.
Once you gain more experience you will be ready to experiment, don’t despair.
Save time, effort and money
Order in the kitchen is essential. When your refrigerator and pantry have a good arrangement, it is more difficult for you to buy extra food or for the ones you already have to expire.
A good tip is to use the first-in-first-out method, this means that your ingredients will follow an order of use in order to avoid waste.
This saves time, money and effort.
Do not leave the dishes for later
Creating habits in the kitchen will make your life much easier in the long run. Start washing the utensils and dishes that you will no longer need in the rest of your preparation while you wait for the cooking of your food to finish.
We also recommend that you wash the dishes and glasses after eating and not leave this task for later. The more time passes, the heavier it becomes just thinking about investing time in it.
Be patient
The most important ingredient in the kitchen is patience. If you are clear about this since you are a beginner, this space in your home will be really comforting, it can even help you calm down negative feelings or anxiety.
Everything takes time, from minutes to days so keep this in mind from the start. Both the preparation and the actual act of eating can be pleasurable if you work on your patience.
