Have you ever made a meal that you knew was going to wow your dinner guests only to have it fall flat? You thought you did everything right, followed the recipe word for word, but it just wasn’t great.
Most likely, it was the ingredients that feel short. It can be difficult choosing ingredients that are ripe, fresh, and at their peak tastiness. Fortunately, there are some ways to make it easier. Keep reading to learn more.
How to Level up Your Skills
There are certain things you should become familiar with and learn a little bit more about to be able to pick the best quality cooking ingredients. Here are 8 tips to help you chose delicious food products:
1. Seek Out What’s Seasonal
Learning what food is in season will help you choose the right stuff. Find out when tomatoes are the best in your part of the world and what season pomegranates are readily available.
2. Know What Ripe Looks Like
It’s important to find out when every piece of produce is at its peak. Should it be firm and crisp or have a bit of give to it when squeezed? Discover the optimal look and feel of your favorite staples.
3. Plan Out Your Meals
If you know what you’ll be cooking, it makes it a lot easier to find the best, high-quality ingredients. Before you set out for the market, have at least a loose idea of what you want to whip up later.
4. Look for Good Colors
Another thing to look for is a good color. Once you know what each ingredient is ideally colored you can avoid too far gone fruit and meat that’s going rotten.
5. Give Em a Sniff
The smell is also a great indicator of freshness. The smell of meat going bad is easy to detect. The scent of ripe tomatoes or strawberries should be subtle but fragrant.
6. Know Lean vs Tender Meat
Lean cuts of meat are best for long, slow cooking, while tender cuts of meat will have less connective tissue and marbling. Get to know the difference and learn which cuts are best for your favorite recipes.
7. Shop Local
One way to ensure that you have the best fixings to cook with is to stay local whenever possible. Find out who the farmers and butchers are in your town and utilize their expertise.
8. Enjoy Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s markets are some of the best places to shop for fresh, flavorful ingredients. Get to know the suppliers in your area, as well as dairy technology experts. Making connections with these folks can make it easier to stay on top of all the above tips.
Start Choosing Ingredients Like a Chef
It’s clear to see that choosing ingredients that are fresh, seasonal, and flavorful will have a big impact on how delicious your meal will taste. Following these tips can bring your cooking game up and impress your friends and family.
Are you looking for more lifestyle advice? Be sure to check out more informative articles here on our blog.
