Cooking in your kitchen at home can seem rather redundant and uninspiring. A hobby, such as cooking, will completely revolutionize this. This turns the kitchen into a place of fun and experimentation, which results in wonderful meals and time well-spent. The tips below will get you started.

Store your spices and herbs in a cool and dark spot when you decide where to keep them. If they are exposed to light, moisture, or heat, they will lose much of their flavor. Another little known fact is that ground spices tend to lose their flavor quicker than whole spices. Whole spices are hardier, and will retain their robust flavoring for several years. If they are stored properly, they will stay fresh longer.

Bake pie and tart crusts for a longer time than you think is really necessary. The crust should turn a golden color, not simple blonde. This deeper color is evidence that the sugar has caramelized in the crust for added sweetness.

For crispier French fries, put raw potatoes into cold water and let them sit there for about half an hour before frying. By leaving the potatoes to soak up cold water, the fibers are reinforced. This makes it so when you fry them, they’ll withstand the heat better and won’t break down completely.

Do you cook with fresh basil? Fill an empty glass with fresh basil. Fill the glass just enough with water so that the stems can absorb it. You can put it on the kitchen counter and keep it for weeks. With some care, you may even be able to encourage the basil to grow roots. Plant the fresh basil in a small pot with rich soil to have fresh basil available at all times.

It is always better to choose fresh ingredients for your recipes instead of dried or frozen ones. Your recipe will be more flavorful if you use fresh ingredients, and the cost can be lower as well.

Keep sauce easily by filling an ice tray with the leftovers and freezing it. When you feel the need to create another meal, you will have them handy to heat up. Do not worry, the sauce will still be edible after it has been in the ice cube trays!

It can be very useful to think large when making your favorite chicken stock. If you make a large pot of stock, you can freeze it and store it for future use. Excellent chicken stock that is homemade is a great base for use in stews, soups, casseroles, and more. Just cool your stock and freeze it in heavyweight Ziploc freezer bags.

Reduce the amount of cooking oil you use if you are looking to lose weight and make your diet healthier. Unnecessary fats are contained in butters and oils. You can use a cooking spray rather than butter or oil to cook your foods just as easily, and the important bonus is that it is healthier for you.

Use the ideas from this article to …