Cooking Techniques

The use of liquid smoke allows you to add smoked flavor to almost any meat, side dish, stew, salads and even sauces and dips. It is especially useful for adding to sausages, fresh hams and...

The convenience of a gas grill over charcoal is readily apparent. With gas, there is no need to struggle with lighting coals---simply turn the grill on and you're ready to cook almost instantly....

Want to know the secret to good 'ole southern style fried chicken? It's buttermilk! All you need to do is soak your chicken pieces in buttermilk prior to frying and you'll have that delicious...

Here's a list of little-known tips and techniques learned from professional chefs and cooks. You would be surprised to know how much you can learn just by working in a high-end restaurant.

you will learn how to have chili flavor in every popcorn kernel. The flavor is like no other. All the other popcorns only have the flavor on top from a spice shaker after they've popped, not...

With their intriguing, honeycombed texture and nutty, earthy flavor, morel mushrooms make for a tasty gourmet delicacy. Whether foraging for morels in the forest or selecting them from a specialty...

Grill drip pans are used in grills worldwide for various purposes. Attaching a drip pan to your grill can increase cleanliness, health and even flavor; they are cheap to buy and easy to install.

Orange is a compelling color found in fruits and vegetables. It is high in antioxidants when eaten, and a prized color that conveys warmth and cheerfulness. Although the color orange occurs...

Chicken is a meat that is eaten world over and since it is white meat it is considered to be much healthier than a lot of red meat available in the market. You can do a lot with chicken in terms...

Smoking of meats and fish requires low and indirect heat, wood smoke, and long cooking times. Seasonings, or curing, and sauces add to, and lock in, the robust flavor of the smoke. Because natural...

Lychee tea leaves add flavor to your favorite dishes. The tea is made from black tea leaves and peel or oil from the lychee, a tropical fruit popular in Asia. Lychee tea leaves impart a sweet,...

This the third article on How to Increase Flavor When Cooking. The first two noted the 5 basic flavors, and "mouthfeel" or how food feels in the mouth. This article covers the other...

French cooking is all about taste and presentation. Through many unique preparation techniques, the French start from scratch and build a meal that not only tastes good but has style and...

Smoking meats is the technique of adding flavor to your grilling with the use of wood chips. There are different types of chips for various meats. Ensuring that your meat has the richest flavor...

Cooking over an open fire is a time-honored tradition that can provide a special experience for you and your dinner guests. The choice of wood is an important first step, as the wood imparts...

Macadamia nuts can be toasted in their shells to make the shell brittle and easier to crack, or they can be toasted without their shells for a nice, rich flavor. Learn how to bring out the nut...

When people think of BBQ they think of spare ribs. Ribs are the classic BBQ item, offering the best of outside cooking. The problems is actually BBQ ribs and most people shy away from doing it. It...

Hickory nuts are the seeds of the hickory tree, a member of the walnut family. Hickory trees are grown primarily in the central and northeastern parts of the United States. The nuts are ideal for...

Beef jerky has been one of America's favorite treats for many years. It is generally considered to be great as a snack or for eating on the go. However, you may not be aware of how versatile beef...

Cottonseed oil is, as its name suggests, a byproduct of cotton production. But being a byproduct doesn't mean its completely without use around the home. Used in America for more than 100 years,...

Grilling outdoors is one of America's favorite pastimes. There aren't many things better than relaxing in the sun with some cold beverages and cooking hamburgers or hot dogs on the grill. But in...

Originating from the countryside of Switzerland, Gruyere cheese is well-known for its nutty flavor and wonderful melting capabilities. Though it's found in many cheese specialty shops and...

In summer months, when the weather is nice, grilling allows you to enjoy your patio while preparing delicious meals for family and friends. Gas grills are quick and convenient. For grillers who...

Grape seed oil has a light nutty flavor that provides a suitable backdrop for salad dressings, flavored dipping oil and cooking. It is superior to other oil for most sauteing and frying, and...

Honey, for all of it's health and energy benefits, is still underutilized as an alternative to sugar. Some people might say that they do not use honey because they don't like the taste of it, or...

Are you thinking of cooking healthier food, but don't want to lose flavor? Consider using wine to flavor your food, and see how delicious healthy eating can be. You could use white wine, which...

When you open a bottle of red wine and can't finish it, don't send its contents down the drain. There are a lot of ways to use this leftover wine. You can cook with it, but note that doing so...

Italian dressing is a versatile mixture of oil, vinegar and spices. It can be used in cooking in many ways. It adds moisture and flavor to meats, potatoes, pasta, vegetables and sauces. Try these...

Sesame oil is produced from sesame seeds. It has historically and traditionally been a cooking oil used in many Asian and Indian cultures. Various varieties exist, and the oil has grown vastly in...

Raw sesame seeds are a pale white to off-white color. They do not have much flavor until you roast the sesame seeds. Roasting, some times referred to as toasting, causes the sesame seeds to...

Ghee is butter that has been clarified to remove all of the milk solids. The result is a clear, rich butter that does not burn easily and adds flavor to many kinds of dishes. Though ghee is...

The preparation of a pig before it goes in a roaster, on a barbecue spit or on the grill is very important to the overall flavor of the pork. Be creative and stuff it with some vegetables or...

Rotisserie turkeys are easy to prepare, and when they are finished they are moist, juicy and filled with flavor. Turkeys prepared in this manner bring a whole new appreciation for the flavor of...

A dry rub on meat uses spices blended to form a delicate thin crust when grilling. The rub does not add moisture or a thick crust like a wet rub. Dry rubs are extremely easy to prepare and use....

You've heard ad infinitum how good vegetables are for you. It is true that vegetables are packed with antioxidants, which protect you from cancer and heart disease. They are also the...

Juniper berries are best known for their addition to gin and other liquors, but they are also a cooking ingredient that is not used as often as it can be. It is more common in European cuisine to...

Meat smokers trap smoke to trap flavor and juices in cooking meat. Smoke from burning wood, often a flavored or special type of wood, infuses its aroma into the meat, fish or vegetables by...

Brinkman smokers are rather popular and you can purchase one at almost any department or home improvement store. The basic operation of the smoker is simple and the flavor comes from the wood...

Balsamic vinegar is known for its rich dark, color and tangy flavor. Straight from the bottle it makes a wonderful salad dressing when combined with olive oil. However, if you take a little time...

Many types of wood are used to smoke meat. However, the type of wood affects the flavor of the particular meat that is being smoked. Fruit trees are the most popular to smoke meat. Other types of...

Cooking food on an electric grill imparts extra flavor because the drippings vaporize on the hot lava rocks. You can add a genuine smoke flavor by incorporating smoldering hardwood or fruitwood...

The idea behind smoking any food--meat or otherwise--is to cook using a combination of heat and smoke. This not only cooks the food, but it imparts a specific flavor to the cooked food as well. ...

Nothing tastes more delicious on desserts or as a part of them, as fresh whipped cream. This easy to make and can be made quickly. Here are some simple tips to making the best and fastest whipped...

A healthy way to consume vegetables is by grilling them to be able to enjoy flavor variations and different textures at the same time. Grilled vegetables taste great by themselves or alongside a...

If you love to grill and are looking for a simple yet delicious way to cook whole chicken, then this is the perfect recipe. Some call it Can Chicken, others Beer Can Chicken, I call it Drunken...

Why sear or brown meat? Is it to seal in the juices? Fact: no! The reason to sear or brown the meat is to caramelize the sugars. What does that do? It brings out the flavor of the meat. Flavor is...

Rice is an easy to make and economical meal choice but it often gets a bad reputation for being bland. Follow a few simple guidelines to create a more flavorful version of this healthy staple!

The earliest record of consumption of yeast is 1550 BC by the Egyptians. Today, nutritional yeast is a healthy dietary supplement, especially for vegetarians. If you are a vegetarian looking to...

Learn how to season the roux with expert tips and advice on cooking in this free video clip on dutch oven recipes.