Baltimore News Journal

Cooking is an art that must be learned over time. If you’re new to cooking, you may struggle to make the leap between a meal that is “good” to a meal that is “great.” However, it’s not an impossible hurdle to make! It will take some time and practice on your end, but with these six secrets, you will be able to really take your cooking to the next level to impress yourself and everyone else! 

Use Fresh Ingredients

The first secret that you can utilize to take your cooking to the next level is to only use fresh ingredients. We understand that sometimes it’s just easier to cook with canned or frozen ingredients because you likely have them on hand since they last longer – but we promise that fresh is totally worth it. Not only should you use fresh ingredients, but you can take it a step farther and only use organic ingredients as well. The quality of the meal comes from the quality of its ingredients, so skip the canned, frozen, or bagged veggies and spices next time for fresh alternatives.

Don’t Be Afraid of Seasoning

Speaking of fresh spices – don’t be afraid to use them liberally! Spices can be a little bit intimidating if you’re new to cooking. You might be afraid of over-using them or using the wrong ones but the great thing about seasoning is that it’s pretty hard to mess up. So have some fun and experiment a little with your seasonings. Fill up your spice cabinet with different ones to try out! Your taste buds will definitely thank you. 

Skip the Water (Stock)

Perhaps the best cooking secret is replacing any water in your recipe with stock or broth. Doing this will add a ton of extra depth and flavor to your recipe that would have not been there if you had used water. To really add extra flavor and health benefits at the same time, you can try using bone broth as a substitute. Bone broth is made from the bones of animals and can provide you with so many vitamins and minerals to benefit your entire body from your skin to your digestive system! 

Learn to Balance (sweet & spicy, acid & salt)

This cooking secret is a little less straightforward and will take some trial and error on your part. But learning how to balance out different flavors is a key to taking your cooking to the next level. If you have a sweet element or ingredient in your dish, you should balance it out with a little heat and spice. If you have salty elements in your dish, you should balance it out with some acid to give the dish a whole range of different yet complementary flavors. 

Invest in Tools

Even the best chefs depend on cooking tools – you should too! If you want to take your cooking to the next level, your tools need to be at that level as well. Here are some essential cooking tools that every aspiring chef needs:

• Meat thermometer
• Kitchen scale
• Food processor
• Microplane grater
• Kitchen timer

Taste as You Go

Finally, the last secret to take your cooking to the next level is to taste your creation as you go! That way, you will be able to add seasonings and ingredients accordingly before everyone else gets a chance to taste it. 

Even if you don’t know much about cooking, it’s totally possible for you to really improve your skills with a little bit of time and effort. The more you cook, the more you learn, and the better you will get! So go ahead and take these secrets to the kitchen and get cooking!