Best Cooking Tips

Over-cooked brussels sprouts Serve them as a puree and no one will know. Drain the sprouts and puree in a food processor until just smooth, or rub them through a sieve. Stir in a little butter or egg yolk and sprinkle with nutmeg before serving. You can do the same thing with other vegetables such as carrots or parsnips. Limp lettuce Crisp up a lettuce that has gone limp Read more [...]

• Make full use of a conventional oven to economise on fuel. If you’re baking a cake, prepare a casserole to cook on another shelf at the same time. Or when you’re doing a roast, wrap the vegetables to go with it in foil and bake them alongside the meat for the last 30-45 minutes. • Freeze leftover vegetables and gravy to add to soups later on. • Don’t cook vegetables Read more [...]

Proper space to work Make extra space by laying large baking trays across pulled out kitchen drawers. Or place a big chopping board over the sink. Baking tray Turn a roasting pan upside-down and use the bottom for baking biscuits or other pastry goods. Steamer Use a metal colander placed inside a large pot with about 25mm (1 in) of water in the bottom. Cover with a Read more [...]

• Get everyone into the habit of washing their hands in hot, soapy water before touching food and after using the lavatory, stroking pets or handling raw meat. • Keep knives and food preparation surfaces clean and dry at all times. • Don’t use the same utensils or chopping boards for cooked and raw foods without washing them in between. • Don’t handle cooked Read more [...]

Measuring spoons To be sure of getting exact quantities, buy a set of British Standard measuring spoons and use level measures. Ordinary spoons vary in size and aren’t reliable. For quick metric conversion, a standard tablespoon is roughly equivalent to about 15ml (1/2 fl oz) and a teaspoon to about 5ml. American recipes American measures are different, so convert to Read more [...]

Can’t get the lid off? For a good grip place a wide rubber band around the lid, and then twist. Salt runs too fast? Unscrew the shaker top, wash it and leave to dry. Then use clear nail polish to block up some of the holes. When the polish is dry, replace the lid. If the salt still runs out too fast, block up a few more holes. Short of an egg? If you need an extra Read more [...]

Hundreds of tips for making mealtimes even more enjoyable. Whether you want to find quick recipes for busy days or plan a feast for friends, bake a perfect cake or rescue a disaster, cater for children or master your microwave, you'll find many kitchen hints and the best cooking tips here to help!!   Read more [...]