Tips and Tricks of the Trade

I love cooking and I assume most of the people who come here enjoy it too but nonetheless its a task to be accomplished… and some things here and there sometimes back it very enjoyable… this is a page I will be keep jotting my tips

COOKING TIPS

When frying butter u can prevent it from burning by adding a little (2-3 drops) of cooking oil to it #cookingtips

Simplest way to check the freshness of eggs is to dip in salted water. fresh egg will sink and the stale float #cookingtips

To measure honey & other sweet syrups use spoon dipped in hot water and they will not stick to the spoon #cookingtips

Have left over wine from a party, freeze it in ice trays and u can use in sauces and dips later. works very well #cookingtips

Hard Cheeses like Parmesan and cheddar stay fresh for long if u wrap them in a damp cloth dipped in beer #cookingtips

while on cheese always replace the plastic cover u buy it in with parchment paper or butter paper before u store it #cookingtips

Shallots and garlic will peel easier if u pour hot water over them before u start peeling #cookingtips

To prevent your potatoes from sprouting store an apple with them#cookingtips

And while on apple it can also be used to ripen tomatoes faster, store apple and raw tomatoes in a paper together #cookingtips

To prevent eggs from cracking put a pinch of salt before the water starts boiling #cookingtips

And if they still crack add a little vinegar to the water to prevent further leak #cookingtips

And to prevent the black ring around the yellow of a hard boiled egg drain them ASAP and dip in cold water and peel #cookingtips

Also longer u leave the boiled egg to peel more difficult it’ll be. so peel & store it will stay fine in fridge for upto 3 days #cookingtips

To get lighter scrambled eggs add a little bit of water to eggs, dont add milk it will make the eggs tough #cookingtips

An over browned garlic can sometimes add bitterness to the gravy so add it to hot oil and fry just for a min #cookingtips

Or use garlic infused oil, I love it. Warm some oil remove from stove, add garlic, leave for 10 minutes and sieve #cookingtips

To prevent an apple from browning before using keep it dipped in a lemon water (2 tsp of lemon juice + bowl of water) #cookingtips

Also if u wanna pack it for kiddie lunch u can add lemon juice & spoon of honey to the slices before packing #cookingtips

While grating cheese spray the grater with non stick cooking spray To keep cheese from sticking to the grater #cookingtips

To take out the smell from burnt rice put a slice of white bread in the rice pot & the bread will absorb all the smell #CookingTips

Always store the butter wrapped in a butter paper it picks up smells very easily #CookingTips

Contrary to the popular belief never salt ur meat before cooking it will make it tougher, marinate but w/o salt #CookingTips

Cook ur green leafy veggies uncovered and they will retain their lovely color #CookingTips

When using canned stuff always empty the can if u have something left pour it into a bowl & store an open can will rust #CookingTips

Now this one I think is most used & needed in my house – to get rid of odors & germs on ur chopping board rub with a lemon#CookingTips

Greens veggies store the best if u chop the lower stems and wrap them in aluminum foil and keep in fridge #CookingTips

To cook the perfect pasta, boil it in salted water, drain and wash well and then add some drops of olive oil to the same #CookingTips

The last one works for noodles too #CookingTips

BakingTips

First and foremost its very important to preheat the oven just on the oven at the specified temp for 10 mins #BakingTips

if you are using a OTG at home heating at 10C more than required & reverting it to the required temp while baking works ideal #BakingTips

When making muffins don’t I repeat DONT overmix the batter u will get hard and tough muffins #BakingTips

Before starting to make the batter/dough for baking always make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature #BakingTips

Always seive the flour & baking powder together, it aerates the mixture + lets u remove the lumps double win #BakingTips

If the recipe asks for grilling always leave the over done slightly open a close door will result in baking of the veggie/meat #BakingTips

Want to keep baked goodies fresh longer keep a piece of small bread in the jar u store ur cookies it will absorb the moisture #BakingTips

while using muffin tray, dont have enough batter to fill all of them, fill the empty ones with water will ensure uniform baking #BakingTips

According to my exp Cookies are always best baked in the lower most rack though some people believe otherwise  #BakingTips

watch out your cookie while baking, it doesnt take more than 8 mins or so and 1 minute is the diff between a crisp & a burnt one #BakingTips

Dont have self raising flour make ur own – 2 1/2 tsp of baking pwd for 225gms of flour and its ready #BakingTips

If u are adding dried fruit to cake or bread batter coat it with plain flour and it will not sink to the bottom of the cake #BakingTips

Reduce the oven temperature by 25° when using glass or dark color baking dishes #BakingTips

Always grease and dust the pan well before baking, too much flour-oil will give a strange taste whereas less will make it stick #BakingTips

Also if baking a chocolate cake dust the baking tin with cocca powder rather than flour #BakingTips

Baking is a half science half art DONT experiment with andaaza measure all your ingredients #BakingTips

To speed up the softening of cold butter thinly slice it and let stand for about 10 minutes over a bowl of warm water #BakingTips

To make sure the cake comes out clean out of the tin wait for it to completely cool down I know its tough but required  #BakingTips

When whipping cream for the frosting of the cake make sure the bowl the beater blade and ofcourse the cream is chilled #BakingTips

It will bring it to the firm peks level faster. also dont overbeat it stop just when firm peaks are starting to get formed #BakingTips

For making Chocolate whipped cream – add 2 tbspn of coca + 2 tbspn of icing sugar + 1 cup of whipping cream & whip as usual #BakingTips

For making Coffee Whipped cream add 2 tbspn of strong coffee decotion to 1 cup of whipping cream & whip as usual #BakingTips

Never ever open the oven door for the first 10 mins when baking a cake/muffin it will sink after 10 mins its ur choice  #BakingTips

While we are talking about whipping lets talk about whipping eggs.. yes getting the meringue right its a art which can be learnt #BakingTips

1. Always use fresh egg whites for making #meringue old egg whites will collage when u fold other ingredients #BakingTips

2. Seperate white & yellow very well NEVER EVER let a yellow come in the white portion while making a #meringue #BakingTips

3. There should be no water or moisture in the bowl in which u are beating eggs for making #meringue #BakingTips

4. Add a pinhc or salt/vinegar to the eggs before u start beating & beat just till foamy. dont overbeat #meringue #BakingTips

Mixing of fat (butter/oil etc) with sugar can be done in various ways in baking – rubbing, creaming and whipping are the main #BakingTips

Rubbing – chilled fat is mixed into sugar to form a breadcumbs like mixture, used for breads and cookies more #BakingTips

Creaming – cream fat on the kitchen counter in circular motion till soft, add sugar slowly and continue creaming #BakingTips

Never full the baking dish to the full leave, fill it 2/3 and leave some space for the cake to rise #BakingTips

When baking cookies always line the baking tray with butter paper or parchment paper #BakingTips

Always bake the cake in the center rack of the oven #BakingTips

Cool baked goodies on the wire rack else the moisture from the bottom makes it soggy #BakingTips

In baking folding is a very important technique, its designed to combine ingredients without knocking air out of the mixture #BakingTips

• Rubber spatulas work the best, always add the lighter mixture to the heavier mixture while folding #BakingTips
• In a single action, run the spatula around the side, then along the base, of the bowl. Now fold the mixture over onto itself #BakingTips
• Rotate the bowl 90°. Repeat until just combined. #BakingTips