Common Tips For Cooking

Common Tips For Cooking

By Sadia Noor

soft fluffy omelet

Cook pulses like chana etc. even if you have forgotten to soak them overnight.
Just put the chana in a flask full of boiling water for an hour. They are ready for cooking.

Okra will not stick to the vessel 

Adding a spoonful of curd to the Okra while cooking while ensure that they do not stick to the vessel or turn black.

To remove excess oil in any fried vegetables

Sprinkle a little gramflour over the vegetables. Gramflour absorbs the excess oil and makes the vegetable tastier.

Prevent onions from burning, frying

Add a little milk to onions while frying, this will help retain a rich colour and prevent them from burning.

Curry turned out a bit oily and pungent ?

Take two bread slices and powder them coarsely. Add this to the curry and mix well. Bread absorbs the excess oil and spice.

Hurry to cook 'dal' ?
Add a little oil and turmeric powder to the dal before placing it in the cooker. It will get done in 10 minutes flat.

Boil potatoes faster
Peel and cut potatoes and boil them in water to which a little vinegar is added . They will be done in no time and will retain the texture as well.

Retain the green of vegetables
Green vegetables lose colour if subjected to continuous heat. So, don't overcook them.

Boiling Pasta & Noodles
Boil pasta/noodles in plenty of water and remove just before it is fully cooked. They continue to be cooked even after it is removed from flame and drained.

Serving Boiled Noodles later
If noodles/pasta has to be used after some time, then refresh the boiled noodles in cold water and drain. This way they will not stick to each other.

Instant Lemonade
Pour lemon juice with sugar and a little salt into ice trays, to make cubes which can be used for instant lemonade.

Making potato cutlets?
When boiling potatoes for cutlets add the salt to the water itself as potatoes absorb salt better this way.

PREVENT MEAT & VEGETABLE FROM OVER COOKING. (Farah Saleem, Lahore Pakistan)
Add cold water if meat and vegetables are over cooked.

COOK RICE WITHOUT STICKING. (Farah Saleem, Lahore Pakistan)
To cook rice without sticking add a spoon full of vinegar in it.

Prevent Boil over (Reda Masood)
Add a lump of butter or a few tea spoons of cooking oil to the water. Good for Rice, noodles or Spaghetti.

Kitchen tip contributed
by Asma Zahid (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
To descale your kettle cheaply, fill it with water and boil it then
add two or three tablespoons of vinegar. Leave it for a couple of hours and it will be like new.

Save the inner packets from cereal boxes; they make ideal bags for storing cakes and biscuits.

You can keep your potatoes longer if you pop a piece of ginger into it when you open the bag.

If you are trying to move a heavy object in the kitchen such as a
cooker or a washing machine, pour a little washing liquid on the (tiled) floor; the machine will slip along easily.

You can revive dry cakes by brushing them with milk and warming
them in the oven for a couple of minutes.

Stop bananas turning brown by wrapping them in a tea towel and
storing them in a cupboard.

Freeze newly cut herbs in water in ice-cube trays for year-round
freshness.

To get rid of the onion smell on your hands, wash them in milk.

Give rich fruit cake a lovely flavor when you are making it by
adding a cup of black coffee.

If you can’t get the lid off a jar, wear a pair of rubber gloves;
you’ll find it will come off easily.

For lighter fluffier omelets, add 1 tbsp. of water for each egg,
instead of milk. The difference is truly amazing.

For a healthy bowl of porridge with a difference, just sprinkle on
a few sultanas plus chopped pecan nuts or walnuts.

Make up a first-aid box and keep it in your kitchen, you never know when it will come in handy. You can also utilize one of your children’s old lunch boxes.

Placing mirrors in a room will give you extra light.

To sharpen a pair of kitchen scissors, cut up a sheet of sandpaper into fine strips.

Save the water after boiling eggs and cool it, then use it as a
tonic for your houseplants.

To prevent potatoes and apples from turning brown after slicing,
put them in room temp. water and pour half teaspoonful of salt.

Heat a non-stick pan and add a little more butter than usual. Now beat the egg and stir briskly (even while frying) with a fork. This way more air goes in your omelet, making it light and fluffy. Fry till done and serve hot.