One of the most rewarding and enjoyable tasks is cooking, allowing you to experiment with the flavours and create delectable meals. However, if you're a beginner chef, you might encounter some common mistakes that can lead to less-than-perfect results.
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Cooking blunders like overcooked vegetables, soggy fries, or overly salty dishes are common among new cooks. But don’t worry, as each mistake has a simple solution. This article is the guide that will help you tackle these common issues with easy solutions so you can improve your cooking skills and enjoy better results in the kitchen.
Avoid Overcooking The Vegetables
As a beginner, you might overcook the sabzi, making them mushy and soggy. Additionally, when you boil vegetables and leafy greens, they might frequently lose their crunch. To avoid these problems, try these two solutions. The first simple solution is to boil the vegetables in salted water rather than cold water, as the cold water will take longer to digest and cook the vegetables.
The second tricky solution to avoid this blunder is to immerse the boiled vegetables in a bowl of ice water. However, it is an additional tip that while cooking, use a metal skewer to inspect the vegetables; this prevents them from overcooking and becoming soggy.
Make Crunchy Fries
Are you the one who wants to make fries that stay crispy instead of getting soggy? Here's a simple trick to help you out. This easy technique can keep your homemade fries from getting soggy. Simply wash them twice in cold water, blot dry with a kitchen towel, and while frying, ensure that the oil is coated uniformly to produce crispy and crunchy fries.
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Fixing Salty Dishes
Salt is an important ingredient of a meal, and the meal can indeed be enhanced or broken by the amount of salt used. Additionally, even a small amount of additional salt can destroy your delicacy.
So, to fix the excess salt in your meals, dilute the dish with vegetable stock, water, cream, spices, and vegetables, or simply add a tiny dough of atta and wait for a while; this will absorb the extra salt and smoothen up your gravies and curries.
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Fix Gravy’s Bitter Flavour
It happens to you sometimes that you are cooking a delicious meal but the use of jeera and haldi has ruined its taste. Don't worry, but for you here is an easy solution. Simply adding some sugar, cream, butter, or milk will fix this mistake. Adding fats and sugar can assist in reducing the bitterness of these spices.
Additional Tips
Keep Greens Vibrant
Keeping greens like fresh spinach and kale from losing their vibrant green colour might be complex. But you will be surprised to know that with the technique called blanching, this problem can be easily solved. Just blanch the leafy greens briefly in boiling water and then immediately transfer them to ice water. This process will help you preserve the colour and texture of the greens, making them look fresher and more appealing in your dishes.
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Partially Freeze Meat
It is important to note that before slicing or cutting meat for cooking curries, partially freeze it for about 30 minutes. This makes it firmer and easier to cut into thin, even slices. This technique is beneficial for dishes that require precise cuts, such as stir-fries or seafood dishes.
Storing Greens And Herbs
If you want to keep your greens and herbs fresh for longer, store them in the refrigerator wrapped in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag. The moisture from the paper towel will help them to prevent wilting and keep the greens crisp, reducing the need for frequent trips to the store.
Preventing Eggs From Sticking
Are you cooking eggs to enjoy a healthy meal but having trouble keeping them from adhering to the pans? Then try this incredible hack: just apply some oil to tissue paper and brush your pan to make healthy fried eggs without using any oil.
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Preventing Rice From Sticking
It is important to wash the rice 3-4 times before boiling it. This trick helps to remove extra starch and pesticides and prevents stickiness while cooking. Soak the rice for 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure to boil the water first, then add rice to it. So that you can cook delectable dishes like Vegetable Pulao.
Cut Onions Without Teary Eyes
Have you ever wondered how others cut onions without shedding a single tear? And your eyes well up the moment you step foot in the kitchen. Well, it happens with professional chefs also but let me tell you how to cater to this problem. Just spread some vinegar on your knife before it touches the onion. Additionally, make sure to leave the root intact before chopping the onion. As soon as the root is removed, the juices are released into the air. So, directly slice the onion and take it from there to chop it further to the root.