If you're feeling stuck in a cooking rut after sticking with the same easy recipes day after day, it may be time to mix things up for dinner. You can say goodbye to bland bites from here on out with these 16 tips to make every meal taste just a little bit better.
Before you wince at the idea of adding any more time and effort at the end of an already hectic day, don't worry. These are quick tips to keep on the back burner. They're easy to incorporate into your cooking rhythm and will make dinners (and leftovers) more exciting.
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1. Use fresh produce
Do your best to leave canned green beans and other vegetables and fruits on the shelf. Fresh produce is usually cheaper in the long run, and there is no comparison between the flavors.
Do your best to leave canned green beans and other vegetables and fruits on the shelf. Fresh produce is usually cheaper in the long run, and there is no comparison between the flavors.
2. Don't add food to a cold pan
Be sure to heat the pan on the burner for a couple of minutes before tossing diced veggies or meat in. This ensures that you sauté the ingredients rather than steaming them. This technique also speeds up cooking time by a landslide.
Be sure to heat the pan on the burner for a couple of minutes before tossing diced veggies or meat in. This ensures that you sauté the ingredients rather than steaming them. This technique also speeds up cooking time by a landslide.
3. Use fresh herbs instead of dried
Dried herbs are helpful to have stocked in the spice cabinet, but nothing compares to fresh sage or rosemary simmered in a soup or mixed in a compound butter on roasted chicken. To learn how to prolong herbs in the kitchen, watch the trick below.
Dried herbs are helpful to have stocked in the spice cabinet, but nothing compares to fresh sage or rosemary simmered in a soup or mixed in a compound butter on roasted chicken. To learn how to prolong herbs in the kitchen, watch the trick below.
4. Roast vegetables before adding to a soup or stew
When you roast vegetables before adding them to a stew, you're able to pass along that crispy, smoky flavor. The same goes for making a sauce; roasted vegetables really bring a fire-roasted essence into your meal.
When you roast vegetables before adding them to a stew, you're able to pass along that crispy, smoky flavor. The same goes for making a sauce; roasted vegetables really bring a fire-roasted essence into your meal.
5. Fry spices before adding them to a dish
Frying spices in a bit of oil, also known as blooming, releases the flavors far more quickly than sprinkling seasoning blindly. It results in a more bold and potent flavor.
Frying spices in a bit of oil, also known as blooming, releases the flavors far more quickly than sprinkling seasoning blindly. It results in a more bold and potent flavor.
6. If you oversalt a dish, add a sweetener
Everyone oversalts dishes now and again, but don't scrap the whole dinner next time. Save the meal by adding a bit of sweetness to counter the salt. Mix in sugar or honey the next time you wince after a briny bite.
Everyone oversalts dishes now and again, but don't scrap the whole dinner next time. Save the meal by adding a bit of sweetness to counter the salt. Mix in sugar or honey the next time you wince after a briny bite.
7. Add salty ingredients rather than salt
If you need to add a bit of salt to your dish but could also use more texture or flavor, opt for a salty ingredient rather than a pinch of salt. Some salty additions are olives, soy sauce or salt-forward cheeses such as feta or blue.
If you need to add a bit of salt to your dish but could also use more texture or flavor, opt for a salty ingredient rather than a pinch of salt. Some salty additions are olives, soy sauce or salt-forward cheeses such as feta or blue.
8. Add a splash of wine
More often than not, a splash of wine adds a lot of flavor to a meal. The alcohol helps to release aromas in the fare while adding texture, sweetness and acidity to rich dishes.
More often than not, a splash of wine adds a lot of flavor to a meal. The alcohol helps to release aromas in the fare while adding texture, sweetness and acidity to rich dishes.
9. Always have citrus in your kitchen
If you try a bite of whatever it is you're cooking and it tastes like it's missing a little something, that flavor is most likely citrus. A squeeze of lime juice, some lemon zest or sliced orange can transform a meal from bland to complex in about three seconds.
If you try a bite of whatever it is you're cooking and it tastes like it's missing a little something, that flavor is most likely citrus. A squeeze of lime juice, some lemon zest or sliced orange can transform a meal from bland to complex in about three seconds.
10. Don't buy pre-minced garlic
Although peeling and dicing garlic can feel like a drag when all you want to do is finish cooking so you can relax, using fresh garlic benefits a recipe far too much to ignore. Slicing or mincing garlic right before adding the allium to the pan releases the freshest flavors and enhances the dish tremendously.
Although peeling and dicing garlic can feel like a drag when all you want to do is finish cooking so you can relax, using fresh garlic benefits a recipe far too much to ignore. Slicing or mincing garlic right before adding the allium to the pan releases the freshest flavors and enhances the dish tremendously.
11. Don't forget about cinnamon
When you think of cinnamon, you most likely think of hot apple pie or a batch of gingerbread cookies. But cinnamon is so much more than a dessert's copilot. It can be an appealing addition to savory dishes as well. Add a pinch to your next pot of chili and you'll never look back.
When you think of cinnamon, you most likely think of hot apple pie or a batch of gingerbread cookies. But cinnamon is so much more than a dessert's copilot. It can be an appealing addition to savory dishes as well. Add a pinch to your next pot of chili and you'll never look back.
12. Remember that food keeps cooking after you turn the heat off
Many people often forget this and end up overcooking their dishes. A scorching cast-iron pan doesn't turn off like a switch. The food will continue cooking when removed from the heat source for at least a couple of minutes, so plan accordingly.
Many people often forget this and end up overcooking their dishes. A scorching cast-iron pan doesn't turn off like a switch. The food will continue cooking when removed from the heat source for at least a couple of minutes, so plan accordingly.
13. Cook rice in flavored liquid
If you're sick of flavorless rice as a side dish, play with some new flavors. Cook rice in chicken stock or coconut milk for a much richer result. You can also try toasting spices along with the dry rice before adding a liquid to add texture and savor.
If you're sick of flavorless rice as a side dish, play with some new flavors. Cook rice in chicken stock or coconut milk for a much richer result. You can also try toasting spices along with the dry rice before adding a liquid to add texture and savor.
14. Cook at a high heat
Cooking at a high heat adds a bold, smokey component to food. This is especially beneficial when cooking a steak because the high temperature helps brown the meat and heighten the taste. If you make sure the pan is sizzling before adding a protein, you won't be able to put your fork down at dinner.
Cooking at a high heat adds a bold, smokey component to food. This is especially beneficial when cooking a steak because the high temperature helps brown the meat and heighten the taste. If you make sure the pan is sizzling before adding a protein, you won't be able to put your fork down at dinner.
15. Add fruit to savory dishes
Sweetness and saltiness is a match made in heaven. There will be no regrets to adding watermelon or strawberries to a salad. The fresh sweetness pairs perfectly with bitter arugula or salty feta. Another delicious combination is poached pears alongside a pork roast.
Sweetness and saltiness is a match made in heaven. There will be no regrets to adding watermelon or strawberries to a salad. The fresh sweetness pairs perfectly with bitter arugula or salty feta. Another delicious combination is poached pears alongside a pork roast.
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16. Cook in season
This is one of the simplest tips to alter meals. For the freshest flavors, reach for hearty root vegetables such as winter squash or brussel sprouts during colder months. When the temperature starts rising, fill your grocery cart with juicy tomatoes and rhubarb.
This is one of the simplest tips to alter meals. For the freshest flavors, reach for hearty root vegetables such as winter squash or brussel sprouts during colder months. When the temperature starts rising, fill your grocery cart with juicy tomatoes and rhubarb.