Cooking - Cookware : Tips

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Blue Shoots Ltd is a provider of high quality kitchenware, including a large range of cookware, cutlery, kitchen knives, knife sharpeners, toasters, kettles, blenders, food processors and mixers, a wide selection of aprons and so much more. Key brands available include Sabatier, Stellar, Magimix, Zyliss, Dualit, KitchenAid, Judge Vista amongst others. For More Information Visit : www.blueshoots.com

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Uses for Salt: Cooking Tips


Fish and seafood : Freshen up the fish just brought home from the market by returning it to its natural environment for a short time. Add 1 tablespoon of sea salt to 2 quarts of cold water, then add a lot of ice cubes. Soak the fish in this saltwater for about 15 minutes, then remove it and dry it off before preparing as desired.

To get a good grip on a fish while trying to skin it for cooking, sprinkle your hands with a little salt.

Dairy products : Add a pinch of salt to any plain or mild-flavored yogurt to give it some extra zing.

Fruits and vegetables : To poach asparagus, add salt to the water and simmer exactly 5 minutes. The stalks should all be pointing in the same direction. (Some culinary experts insist the asparagus should sit upright in the boiling pot.)

The unusable portions of broccoli stalks can be served as a snack. Cut the stalks into 1-inch-thick slices, then stir-fry them with salt. They will be ready to serve.

After cutting hot chili peppers, be sure to scrub your hands and nails with soapy water, then soak them in saltwater and rinse. This will prevent the stinging chili oil from getting in your eyes.

Salt can help remove the gritty dirt that comes with some fresh vegetables. When washing arugula, leeks, or spinach, you should trim them first, then place them in a bowl of lukewarm water. Add a tablespoon of kosher salt, gently shake the bowl so the water swishes around a little, and let the vegetables soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a colander then rinse them thoroughly with water.

Meat : Salt will force juices out of the meat and prevent it from browning. Wait to salt the meat until midway through the cooking process, then salt it lightly. Another option is to wait until cooking is complete, then salt the meat to taste.

Pasta : Adding salt to cooking water is a good idea, but wait until the water boils then add 2 tablespoons of salt for each pound of pasta. If you salt the water prior to boiling, it will take longer to boil.

Seasoning : Sprinkle peeled garlic cloves with a little coarse salt before attempting to chop them. The salt will absorb the garlic's juice and then dissolve, which will help spread the garlic flavor further.

Cooking - Cookware information Posted by : Blueshoots.com

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Alcohol in Cooking

Contrary to what most people believe, and that includes most professionals, when using beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages in recipes, a lot of alcohol is left after cooking.


Alcohol remaining after preparation:

100% Immediate consumption
70% Overnight storage
85% Boiling liquid, remove from heat
75% flamed

Alcohol remaining: baked or simmered:

40% 15 min.
35% 30 min.
25% 1 hour
20% 1.5 hour
10% 2 hours
5% 2.5 hours

Substitutions for Alcoholic Beverages in Recipes
Choose the substitute considering the sweetness of the dish

White Wine substitutes in recipes

Apple juice or carrot juice.
Vegetable stock or Chicken stock straight or with a little white wine vinegar
1/2 cup rice vinegar and 1 tablespoon white grape juice.

Red Wine substitutes in recipes

1/2 cup of grape juice with 2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar.
1/2 cup water and 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar.
Beef stock or chicken stock straight or with a little red wine vinegar.

Champagne substitutes in recipes
Ginger ale, sparkling grape juice.

Brandy substitutes in recipes
Apple juice, peach juice, white grape juice, pear juice.

Marsala substitutes in recipies
Orange, peach or pear juice.

Orange Liqueur substitutes in recipes
Frozen orange juice concentrate.

Beer substitutes in recipes
Chicken broth, beef broth, ginger ale.

Cooking - Cookware information Posted by : Blueshoots.com

Orignal Source : http://www.foodreference.com/

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Calculating Amounts for Canning

Here are some general guidelines for the amount of fresh produce you'll need for each quart jar when canning...

Apples: 2-1/2 to 3 Pounds
Apricots: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 Pounds
Asparagus: 2-1/2 to 4-1/2 Pounds
Beans: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 Pounds
Beets: 3 Pounds
Berries: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 Pounds
Carrots: 1 Pound
Cherries: 2 to 3 Pounds
Corn: 4 to 5 Pounds
Nectarines: 2 to 3 Pounds
Peaches: 2 to 3 Pounds
Pears: 2 to 3 Pounds
Plums: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 Pounds
Rhubarb: 1 to 2 Pounds
Tomatoes: 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 Pounds


Cooking - Cookware information Posted by : Blueshoots.com


Orignal Source :http://cooking.lifetips.com/

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

PEPPERS (CHILI PEPPERS)

The seeds are NOT the hottest part of peppers. It is at the point where the seed is attached to the white membrane inside the pepper that the highest concentration of capsaicin (the compound giving peppers their pungent flavor) is found.

AVAILABILITY, SELECTION, AND STORAGE --- Chili peppers are available year round and in the United States they are grown in California, New Mexico and Texas. When selecting chilies, look for firm, glossy chilies with taut, unwrinkled skin and fresh green stems. Dried hot peppers should be glossy yet unbroken.

Chilies should be stored unwashed and wrapped in paper towels in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Dried chilies should be stored in airtight containers at room temperature for a maximum of four months. To keep dried chilies for more than four months, store them in the refrigerator.

PREPARATION --- It is very important not to touch your nose, eyes or mouth after handling or eating hot peppers. If you do, flush with water immediately. The capsaicin in the peppers can be extremely painful to your eyes and can even burn or irritate your skin (especially if you have cuts on your hands). If possible, wear thin rubber gloves while preparing chili peppers. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water when done working with chilies. If the bite is too strong when you eat a chili, chew on bread or another starchy food; water only makes the bite worse as it spreads it.

To decrease the heat intensity of chilies, wash them, cut them open and remove the seeds and veins. Also, soaking cut up chilies in salt water for at least an hour will help cool them off. To add a mild pepper flavor to your dish, poke holes in the chili of your choice with a toothpick (or cut slits in it) and add it to a food that is already cooking. When cooking is complete, remove the chili from the dish.

Chilies can also be roasted whole over a gas stove, broiler, or on a grill. Use a cooking fork to hold each pepper over flame. Turn frequently until the chili’s skin is blackened. After cooking is complete, place chilies in a paper or plastic bag for 15 minutes. Scrape off skin, cut off stem and pull out core. Scrape any remaining seeds.

PREPARING DRIED HOT PEPPERS --- Use a damp cloth to wipe peppers. Grind chilies in a food processor for use as chili powder. To soften their texture and make their flavor more mild, soak chili peppers in water prior to using.

Cooking - Cookware information Posted by : Blueshoots.com