If you’re not a total pro in the kitchen, you may find yourself sometimes feeling like something is missing in your meals. This could lead you to preferring getting a cheeky takeout instead of cooking up a storm and getting disappointed. If this sounds like you, make sure to keep reading as we’ll cover some basic, but more importantly, simple tricks you can try out the next time you preparing a meal.

Perfecting Your Batter

We all love to enjoy a deep-fried delicacy, there’s something incredibly satisfying about taking a bite and hearing that crunch. However, actually achieving this result can be a bit more challenging than you may originally expect. This is due to the fact that there are many components that go into these types of dishes. We’ll start this off with the batter, which is made up of very simple ingredients, some sort of ground cereal grain or starch and a liquid. When it comes to the former, from flour to cornstarch, you need to ensure that you sift it to minimize any lumps and also to add more air to it, ensuring a smoother and even result. Next up is the liquid, which sounds simple enough, as you can stick to the basics and simply pour in some cold water, or better yet, carbonated water. However, there is one interesting option you may not have explored quite. We all know her, we all love her, it’s beer. Yes, the best way to improve your batter can be found in this humble carbonated beverage. The carbonation in the beer will ensure a lighter batter, similar to how sparkling water would work. The main difference is that beer can add a complex layer of flavor to your fried dish, even if you opt to follow recent beer trends such as using a non-alcoholic beer. Moreover, thanks to how popular the drink is, the competition has driven companies to try and stand out further by creating varying flavors that would also work great for different types of batters. For instance, a pale ale would be better suited for more delicate flavors such as tempura veggies. While a dark stout could be used for heartier options like corn dogs. Even when it comes to sweet dishes, there are plenty of beers that would work such as cinnamon beer for apple fritters or funnel cakes. Make sure the batter you created is not too thick or runny, we’d suggest mixing in the liquids gradually and seeing where you’re at. Once you’ve achieved the consistency you want, season it with salt and you can zhuzh this up further by adding any spices that will complement the meal. Then, simply let it rest before coating your ingredients, as this will also help with the texture.

Experimenting with What You Know

Even someone who doesn’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen will have at least a few recipes down to a science. When you’re already comfortable with the foundation of a meal, it can make it that much easier to venture outside of the normal boundaries of the recipe. Let’s use the example of the staple for every lazy late-night meal – buttered noodles. While you can call it a night by simply topping it up with some parmesan cheese, there’s so much more that you can add to add further complexity and elevate it. For instance, use simple techniques such as toasting peppercorns to unlock its full potential, and crush it. Then, add it back to the pan along with some pasta water, place the pasta, and sprinkle the parmesan slowly to emulsify it, creating a luscious and smooth sauce, a sort of twist on cacio e pepe. Or let’s pick something even simpler, the beloved grilled cheese sandwich. This is the perfect time to master how to caramelize onions, as adding them can add a certain sweetness that will cut through the sharpness of certain cheeses like mature cheddar. To caramelize onions, simply slice them up and add them to a pan along with butter, salt, and your preferred oil. Go low and slow here, keeping the lid on and letting it cook for at least an hour. Stir it every once in a while to ensure that nothing sticks to the pan, and season it further with thyme, Worcestershire sauce, or anything else you may feel could add to your sandwich, or actually any other dish you want to elevate such as mashed potatoes. Of course, there are plenty more examples and things you can try out, the main part is combining something you know with something you don’t. Be it learning a new technique, infusing the flavors of a different cuisine, or adding things such as herbs and/or spices.

Conclusion

Cooking is a necessary skill everyone should learn, however, it’s important to remember that it’s an artform above. There’s flexibility when it comes to cooking that other must-know skills simply don’t have. So, keep in mind the aforementioned tips the next you’re in the kitchen, and let yourself be surprised by just how good it turns out.