If you are a “foodie,” you are always searching for a better way to prepare and enjoy food. In this article, you will find several pointers to help you get the most out of your cooking adventures. Read on to learn some new and exciting ways to spice up your cooking.

Make sure you store all of your spices in cool and dark places. Make sure they are not over the stove. Humidity, light and heat, will cause them to lose their flavor. That will not make for a good tasting meal. Get a spice rack and store it in your pantry.

If you want crispier and crunchier French fries, then soak the potatoes in a bowl of cold water for a period of at least half an hour before use. Soaking potatoes accomplishes two important things for your French fries; it takes out sugar and starch during the soaking process.

Poultry seasoning is very versatile and can be used in a variety of ways not just with poultry. Put in on pumpkin seeds or in scrambled eggs to add a new flavor. All your guests will be left wondering where the delightful flavor came from.

You don’t need to go out and buy an expensive gravy for your dish. Instead, save the juices that your meat creates at the bottom of your pan, and use that as the base for a nice gravy. It’s a lot cheaper and can taste great. There are many different recipes available that use this juice to make gravy.

One of the greatest things that you can do is to cook with family members or friends. When you cook with someone else, you will be able to pick up on tricks that they implement and will be able to better yourself as a cook. Talk to them to see how their thought process works, to elevate your expertise.

Always continue to taste test all of your food as you cook them. Cooking a sauce, and you’re not sure if it needs more salt? Just taste it and you’ll know right away. Getting into a habit of testing all of your foods will keep you from accidentally over-spicing or under-spicing it.

There is an easy way to peel garlic. There are many tips and techniques for peeling garlic, but there is a simple way that doesn’t involve any fancy gadgets. Take a rubber jar lid gripper and lay it on the counter. Place a clove of garlic on it and fold it over. Using a little pressure, simply roll the garlic clove around a few times inside the rubber gripper, and the skin will instantly be removed.

Don’t forget to clean your grill before you use it by scrubbing the grilling surface with a wire brush while it heats up. This way the removed food and grease burn off. Built up food on the grill doesn’t add flavor to the meat, but make the fresh food stick to the metal much easier.

There is no need to let your cooking experiences become boring or dull. There are always new things to try that can bring fun and excitement back into your cooking. Try the tips outlined in this article today and start having more fun in the kitchen and more “yum” on your plate.