Tips to Save Time, And Money and Become Professional in the Kitchen

Tip Number 1

Be a smart shopper! Watch for sales and take advantage of them. Shopping at local farmers’ markets is a great way to get fresh vegetables and fruits from local growers.

Even in your local supermarket, you can find bargains on in-season produce.

Tip Number 2

Plan your weekly menus. Taking advantage of sales and fresh produce is a money saver but you also need to think of how to feed your family with what you purchase.

Plan your meals including summertime snacks by what and how much you purchase. Many things like tomatoes can be used in many different ways but other more perishable items like fruits can go to waste if you do not plan on how to use them. Some fruits can be washed and frozen and used in smoothies. Vegetables like green beans purchased in bulk can be frozen and then steamed in the microwave.

Tip Number 3

When you come home from grocery shopping, wash and bag your produce to make it quicker and easier to use for meal preparation. Meats can be put in freezer bags with marinade and frozen until the day before you want to use them. Buying in bulk can save money if you are careful to plan out when you will use the groceries.

Tip Number 4

Make sure that you have staples on hand for marinades, dressings, and side dishes for your summer meals.

Tip Number 5

Using tortilla wraps instead of bread is a great way to make lighter sandwiches for the summertime. They are great for going to the beach and are smaller to pack than a big sandwich on a roll.

Tip Number 6

Freezing seedless grapes in small bags make great take-along snacks for hot summer days.

Tip Number 7

You can even use your blender to puree fruit and pour it into molds to make your own freezer pops.

Thinking of all the different ways to use fresh summer produce that you buy can save you money and time. The planning and preparation are worth the effort!

Measurements

When you are just getting familiar with cooking, be sure to stick to the measurements. Have your measuring cups readily available when baking or cooking. As you get more advanced you won’t even need to measure things, it will just come naturally.

Tasting Skills

Learn to acquire good tasting skills. When you are preparing a meal, you have to taste it along the way, to make sure that it has the right amount of flavor and spices. Add more if needed to give your finished product a delectable taste.

Temperature

Temperature is also important when cooking. Follow the required temperature in your recipe book. Making the temperature too hot can dry out the juices that are needed to make your dish moist. You may want to use a cooking thermometer, to help determine the right temperature.

Use a Timer

For first-timers, in order for you to produce a well-cooked dish, you have to have a timer that will help you to determine when to take the finished product out of the oven or when to turn off the stove. You can save your dishes from becoming a disaster by investing in a timer.

How To Present the Dish

Learning how to present a dish is very important. When you are presenting your dish, it needs to not only taste great but also have an appealing look. Garnish your meals with edible decorations, to give them an appealing look. You can use a sprig of parsley or fruits and vegetables carved in different designs. Use a variety of colors to enhance your dish. When you are finished, you will be so proud of yourself that you will want to do this all over again.