|
|
 |
Looking for ways to step it up a notch in the kitchen? Knowing what’s in your kitchen and how to work with your ingredients will turn you into a everyone’s favourite cook, while handy storage rules will ensure nothing goes to waste.
|
| Click on a heading below to expand the menu |
|
|
| |
|
General Cooking Tips
We all know the frustration of converting measurements in foreign recipes or trying to understand the complicated labels on our food. Use these simple guides to make life easier in the kitchen.
Ingredients and Methods
Get the best out of your ingredients, find easy tips for different cooking methods and discover new ways to use your favourite food items.
Storage
You’ve cooked, you’ve indulged, now what? The right storage techniques mean you’ll be able to enjoy your delicious food again and again.
Chef`s Dictionary
Flambé! Sauté! Find an explanation for any cooking term that’s leaving you puzzled.
|
| |
|
|
Flash in a pan Stir-Frying |
|
|
Quick, easy and healthy – perfect for a family meal. - Make sure the wok or frying pan and the oil is very hot before adding the ingredients. Sunflower oil is always the best option when stir-frying, because it reaches a much higher temperature than other oils, such as olive oil or butter.
- Make sure you have all the ingredients you need before you start cooking.
- Cut all the ingredients into similar sizes to help the food cook evenly.
- If the recipe calls for meat and vegetables, cook the meat first to seal in the juices. Remove the meat and then cook the vegetables – this will ensure that the vegetables remain crispy and don’t overcook.
- Stir-fry using two wooden spatulas or spoons, tossing (not stirring) the food every few seconds.
- Garlic and ginger add a good flavour to stir fry recipes and are very healthy ingredients.
- Serve stir-fried dishes immediately to enjoy the food’s crisp texture and fresh flavour.
- Start cooking with a little oil and only add more if needed. Stir-fried dishes should never be oily or greasy.
- Pre-cook vegetables that take longer to cook (like asparagus, broccoli and beans), lightly in salted oiling water. Rinse them under cold, running water and then toss them into the stir-fry with the other vegetables that cook quickly. This way the latter won’t have lost their crisp, crunchy texture by the time the slow cooking vegetables are done.
- Use lean cuts of meat or trim away as much fat as possible before cooking.
- All meat can be marinated in a little soy or oyster sauce, a pinch of sugar and a little oil before cooking. This will add flavour and ensure that the meat remains tender.
- Make sure frozen vegetables are defrosted and that all additional water has been drained before adding them to stir-fry. Try and avoid using frozen vegetables though, as they have a high water content that can cause the food to stew rather than fry.
Click here for a nutritious Crunchy Beef Noodle Stir-Fry recipe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| There are currently no competitions running, but watch this space for great new giveaways coming soon! |
| |
| CHECK THE WINNERS' LIST |
| |
|
|
The best years of my life are...
Still ahead of me
Right now
Behind me
*Click on bar to vote
|
|
| |
|
