By Sarah Hunt, AZFB Communications Intern
Have you ever cooked a meal with one of your parents or grandparents and they showed you a cool trick or shortcut you didn’t know before? Well thanks to Southwest Family Citrus, we have a whole series of them for you! Make sure to check back next week for more tips.
- When preparing a casserole, make an additional batch to freeze. It makes a great emergency meal when unexpected guests arrive. Juts take the casserole from the freezer and bake it in the oven.
- To keep hot oil from splattering, sprinkle a little salt or flour in the pan before frying.
- Never overcook foods that are to be frozen. Foods will finish cooking when reheated. Don’t refreeze cooked thawed foods.
- A few drops of lemon juice added to simmering rice will keep the grains separated.
- Green pepper may change the flavor of frozen casseroles. Clove, garlic, and pepper flavors get stronger when they are frozen, while, sage, onion, and salt get milder.
- Don’t freeze cooked egg whites; they become tough.
- For an easy no-mess side dish, grill vegetables along with your meat.
- When freezing foods, label each container with its contents and the date it was put into the freezer. Store at 0 degrees. Always use frozen cooked foods within one to two months.
- Store dried pasta, rice (except brown rice), and whole grains in tightly covered containers in a cool, dry place. Always refrigerate brown rice, and refrigerate or freeze grains if they will not be used within five months.
- To dress up buttered, cooked vegetables, sprinkle them with toasted sesame seeds, toasted chopped nuts, canned french-fried onions, or slightly crushed seasoned croutons.
- Soufflé dishes are designed with straight sides to help your soufflé climb to magnificent heights. Ramekins are good for serving individual casseroles.
- A little vinegar or lemon juice added to potatoes before draining will make them extra white when mashed.
- To quickly bake potatoes, place them in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Pierce their skins with a fork and bake in a preheated oven.
- To avoid toughened beans or corn, add salt midway through cooking.
Find more cooking tips on Fill Your Plate’s blog!