There are many sources of information on cooking. Some information is geared towards experienced chefs and not for the average person. It can be confusing to wade through all of the available information. Fortunately, this article will give you some great tips. They will work for anyone, even a novice.

Use a tried and tested recipe when entertaining. When you have guests over for a meal, always prepare something tasty that you have made before. This is not the time to test a new recipe as it could turn out to be a disaster! Also, remember to find out if your guests have any dietary requirements or allergies, or if they simply don’t like a certain kind of food. This will ensure that your evening is a success.

Do you find yourself throwing away molded fruits a lot? Do you wonder if you can still use the fruit by simply cutting out the part that seems overripe? No, it’s not okay to remove the moldy parts. No healthy method of saving any fruit that is partly rotted exists. The bacteria that causes mold goes deeper than you think, so it’s always best to throw away food with even the smallest of mold spots.

If you plan to let your chicken sit in the oven for a while after it is baked, then subtract a few minutes from its baking time. Since chicken continues to bake even after it is taken away from a heat source, it can dry out quickly in an oven that is still hot.

To save on fat when cooking, use applesauce instead of butter. A cup of applesauce is equal to a cup of butter. This will reduce fat and calorie contents of your dessert recipe. It will also make your recipe moist and delicious. Most people won’t even be able to tell the difference.

Cooking is all about preparation. To take the edge of cooking, whether it is a small appetizer, simple dish, full nine course meal, or elegant dessert, prepare for your cooking a day or two ahead. Plan what you are going to make and for how many people you are going to make it for. Gather your ingredients ahead of time to ensure that you won’t have to rush.

Always have a lot of napkins handy when you are cooking in the kitchen. You never know when a spill will occur, so always prepare for the worst. Purchase thick napkins that can hold a lot of liquid if you want to get the most absorption when cleaning up a mess.

Be careful with frozen spinach. After thawing, squeeze the water out before cooking or the extra water will come out during cooking possibly destroying your recipe. You can squeeze it by hand or use any other suitable device to do it. Lay the spinach on paper towel to drain the excessive moisture.

In the real world, cooking involves practical real world ideas. You will have the best experience when you have simple information that you can easily translate into your kitchen. Complexity will slow you down. When you put into practice the tips that you have learned here, you will notice that your meals will become much tastier.