Cooking does not necessarily need to be something that is best left for the experts. There are many simple yet delicious recipes, that even the most unskilled novice can handle. This article will give you some tips for making the most out of your meals. The following tips will have you feeling like a pro in no time.

After removing corn from the cob, scrap the cob with the back of your knife. Doing this will extract the “milk” from it. Drizzle the “milk” over the corn to add extra flavor.

Make sure not to use oil in the water you are using to make pasta. This will only keep sauce from sticking to pasta when mixed together. In order to give the water a little flavor and prevent the pasta from sticking the pot, you can add in a little bit of salt.

When you are planning to use skewers for your cooking, always soak wooden skewers for at least thirty minutes in water prior to use. This keeps them from burning up while the food is cooking on them. Double up on the skewers per kebab to ensure that nothing falls off of them.

When making homemade salad dressings it is a good idea to use extra-virgin olive oil. It has a fruity flavor that really adds to a salad. Extra-virgin olive oil can be somewhat expensive so it is important to buy it when it is on sale or with a coupon to make it more affordable.

If you are stuck trying to figure out what to cook for dinner during the week, consider building your meals around themes. “Mexican Monday” could mean burritos or a nice taco salad. How about “Tuscan Tuesday” featuring spaghetti and meatballs or maybe meatball subs? And “Fish Friday” offers lots of options for shrimp, salmon or even tuna. Bring the whole family into the fun by letting the kids pick a theme and help plan the meal that day.

Unripened fruits should be placed into a plastic bag with holes in it. Ethylene gas is produced as a by-product of the ripening process. When they are placed in a perforated bag, the air can circulate, which ensures the ethylene gas is absorbed, so the fruit retains its great taste.

Rather than using a traditional store bought dressing when making a salad, try making your own vinaigrette. A vinaigrette that is homemade will contain less ingredients than store bought ones and have no preservatives. This makes the vinaigrette more natural and better tasting. Simply shake the ingredients in a sealed container and enjoy.

Stop guessing on the taste of your meatballs and loafs. Take your mixture of meat and seasonings and fry up a small hamburger so you can get a taste of how your meatloaf or meatballs will turn out. This way you can add more seasonings or tone them down by adding more meat.

As stated at the beginning of the article, you do not need to be a pro to cook a great dish. There are many recipes that look hard and overwhelming, but are in fact, quite simple. Hopefully, this article has instilled some confidence in you for the next time you are in the kitchen.