Learning to cook can be an intimidating subject for some people. There seems to be so much to learn. It doesn’t seem like you can ever know everything there is to know about cooking. But this article can help you gain knowledge and skill that can increase your enjoyment of cooking.

When you shelve an herb or a spice, make sure it’s dark and cool. The flavor of the spices and herbs will decrease if they are kept in areas with light, humidity, and heat. Usually, ground herbs and spices retain their flavor for 12 months. Whole spices can stay fresh for up to five years. Proper storage can extend their shelf life even longer.

For those dishes that have longer cooking times, you will want to add your spices and herbs about an hour or so before eating. If these spices are cooked too long, then the resulting flavors may be too strong. In addition, it’s best to keep it simple by not using any more than three herbs or spices in any dish.

It’s nice to have a pie quickly when unexpected guests arrive. When you don’t have time to create the crust from scratch, use a quality pre-made mix. Add a few tablespoons of sour cream to make the crust flaky so no one will notice that you didn’t create the pie from scratch.

Before you start cooking or baking make sure you have all the ingredients gathered together. This will save you time and prevent cooking mishaps. You’ll have a better product in the end.

When you broil a steak, heat your broiler to the appropriate temperature before putting the steak in. The result will be a seared steak on the outside, with a very juicy inside. The broiling process should also be quick, but will vary depending on how well done you want your steak to be. Over cooking can lead to a dried out end result.

Cinnamon should be added to foods for extra antioxidants. Cinnamon is a tasty spice that can be added to applesauce, diced apples, yams, or even oatmeal. It adds great flavor to just about any fruit and is great for using when baking. It is also very affordable and can be purchased at any grocery store.

When cooking with herbs and spices, add them sparingly to your foods. The goal is to compliment the dish you are making, not to overpower its natural flavor. It is impossible to remove spices once you have added them, so start off with a small amount and then add more to taste.

Replace your spices twice a year. Quite often, spices pass their sell-by-date before you use them up, losing their flavor. If you purchase spices that you know are not used often in your home, give some to a family member or friend.

It can be intimidating to learn to cook but it doesn’t have to be. This article can add to your base of knowledge about cooking. The more you know about cooking, the less intimidating it is. When you are not so intimidated, you will relax and can begin to experience the true joy of cooking.