9 cooking tips that can make your life easier in the kitchen

We all like delicious food, and some also love to cook. According to research, the average person spends six and a half hours a week in the kitchen. At the same time, only one in three people enjoy cooking. And it is thanks to these enthusiasts that we learn more and more about how to bring ordinary dishes to perfection.

we, from awesome.club, we know some of these secrets. And believe me, with them, even a simple pasta can be as delicious as that of a sophisticated restaurant.

It seems that there is no dish easier to make than pasta, but even its preparation has its nuances. It is recommended to use a pan of at least 6 liters. put plenty of water, so that it occupies 3/4 of the total volume. Otherwise, the dough will be too soft and sticky. If you are going to serve it with some sauce, don’t put oil in the water: it ends up forming a film that prevents the sauce from being absorbed by the pasta.

And the most important, cook the pasta for about 1 to 2 minutes less than the package says. Then add the boiling sauce and let it finish cooking. Don’t be afraid to try this trick. In fact, chef Michael Chiarello advises removing the pasta from the water 4 minutes beforehand, to allow it to cook with the sauce for longer.

Even seasoned chefs may not be able to get fried fish to a crispy crust. In fact, this is not such a difficult task, the main thing here is to be patient and attentive. The choice of frying pan also plays an important role. A non-stick frying pan won’t do: the fish will never be dry and crispy; neither does a cast iron one, as it absorbs odors and flavors from other foods. Ideally, use a stainless steel pan.🇧🇷

Heat the oil over medium or high heat until it starts to smoke a little. Place the fish, skin side down, in the center of the pan and press down firmly. It’s normal for it to stick. Wait 3-4 minutes. During this time, all the moisture will evaporate and the skin will begin to brown and peel away from the surface. At this stage, turn the fish over and fry the other side over low heat.

It is recommended to fry eggs over low heat. You can use butter or vegetable oil — you choose. Crack the egg very close to the bottom of the skillet to prevent the yolk from bursting and spreading across the surface. Then, puncture the film that is close to the yolk so that it slips and mixes with the rest of the liquid content. To do this, run the tip of the knife around the yolk.

After frying or roasting meats and vegetables in a skillet or roasting pan, burnt bits and fat remain on the bottom of the dishes. Few people know that this can be used to prepare a delicious sauce. There is a simple cooking technique — deglazing. Pour liquid into the dish you just cooked. It can be beef or vegetable broth. Add about 1 cup of liquid, then bring to a boil and simmer until the sauce boils and thickens.

One Reddit user shared this little-obvious secret: “All my friends think my hot chocolate is the best. But I use regular cocoa powder, just I add milk and a pinch of salt. For some reason, it makes the drink more chocolatey.” The fact is that thanks to the sodium contained in the salt, the receptors work more actively and the cocoa flavor is enhanced.

Looks like we’ve finally discovered the recipe for the perfect tomato sauce. Fry chopped onions with garlic in olive oil, then add the tomatoes and cook for 20 minutes. And now, we reveal the secret ingredient — butter🇧🇷 It helps to reduce acidity, making the sauce smoother. You only need 1-2 small pieces, and voila — the perfect sauce is ready.

Making poached eggs is not so easy, their preparation requires skill and constant practice. the chef Jamie Oliver recommends for beginner cooks to use plastic wrap. put the film at the bottom of a small bowl, grease it with oil and crack the egg inside. Then boil the water in a pan and remove it from the heat for a short time so that the bubbles disappear. Then put the pan back on the heat and dip the eggs in the plastic wrap for 3-4 minutes.

Fried chicken is one of chef Marcus Samuelsson’s favorite dishes. And he certainly knows all the secrets of his preparation. One of the main tricks is to soak the chicken in water beforehand. For this, in a container put 1 cup of salt in 2 cups of boiling water and let the salt dissolve completely. Then add another 6 cups of cold water, put the chicken and put it in the fridge for an hour and a half🇧🇷 Check out the full recipe here.

There are many ways to prepare beans, one of the most consumed foods by Brazilians and one of the most versatile in terms of cooking. While some people serve it with simple seasonings, others prefer to add side dishes, to make it more flavorful and voluminous. The same happens, therefore, with the consistency of the broth. It’s likely that those who like it thinner won’t have any problems preparing it, but for those who like to keep it thick and full-bodied, the sweet spot can be a challenge.

In these cases, it is advisable to control the amount of water that will be used to sauté it, gradually adding it to the pan and keeping the fire always at low temperature. But if the intention is for the broth to become even thicker, a tip is mash some already cooked beans and mix them during cooking🇧🇷 In this way, the starch in the seeds is released, making the much-loved bean reach another level of consistency.

What is your specialty in the kitchen? What culinary secrets could you share?