Tips to Make Cooking Easier

So you are starting to cook or you are trying to make cooking more enjoyable. Here are a few tips to make cooking easier for you.

A problem that some of us have is making a mess in the kitchen. We bump into something and that cup of liquid or an ingredient is spilled on the counter or you drop an egg on the floor. Such accidents are commonplace while cooking.

Sometimes we look away from the recipe for a second...interruped by the doorbell, phone, or family member...and forget that it is a teaspoon of __ and we add a tablespoon of __.

You probably know or have heard these tips before. It is always good to remind yourself you are not the only one who has these experiences.

Clean-up

Clean-up seems to be the number one reason people hate to cook. Before you start preparing your meal, have a sink of hot, sudsy water available. That way, when you spill something, you can clean it up immediately. Also, when you put your foods into serving dishes, you can wash your pots and pans immediately or put them in the water to soak for easy cleaning. Nothing is worse than having food stuck to your pots and pans and having to scrub them.

Cooking Instructions

Before you prepare your dish, read the instructions carefully. Most instructions state you should preheat your oven before placing the dish inside. The instructions will also tell you the temperature and cooking time for your particular dish. If you are preparing a meat dish by itself, most packages as well as cookbooks state at what temperature the meat should reach to be fully cooked as you desire.

It is important to follow these instructions because you can burn your food if the temperature is too high or you can undercook the food. Undercooking meats is particularly dangerous because all microorganisms may not be killed during the cooking process.

Timing is also important. If you cook your dish too long, it may turn out to be rubbery or unpalatable.

Recipe Selection

When you are a beginner at cooking, it is best to start with a simple recipe. This helps you to understand the cooking process and your dish will turn out as you expect. It will make you comfortable about cooking. This does not mean that you will "love" cooking. It means that cooking will not be stressful for you.

Read your selected recipe a couple of times before you start gathering your ingredients and utensils. This will help you to understand the steps involved and will also help you to decide on the appropriate ingredients and utensils to use. You will also know at what temperature your dish should be cooked and for how long.

Avoid Cross-Contamination

In the clean-up step, we suggested you have a sink of sudsy water available. You can use this to wash any cutting boards, plates, or utensils that come into contact with raw meat. You want to avoid cross-contamination by cleaning these as you work.

You will also want to wash your hands thoroughly and often while you are preparing your dishes. If you are preparing a meat dish and vegetables, you will want to wash your hands after you have handled the meat and before you start to prepare the vegetables or vice versa.

These are very simple cooking tips. The more experienced cooks will nod and say I know this. For the inexperienced, the tips provide a means to develop good cooking habits.

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