Household Hacks: 10 Ways to Make Food Taste Better

Now that all the UC Davis students  are out of finals and graduation mode, we’d like to reintroduce you to a part your Davis apartment that you may have been neglecting, your kitchen.  It’s not just for ramen anymore! The good folks over at Lifehacker have Ten Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better.  The article is an excerpt from The America’s Test Kitchen New Family Cookbook. Here are a few of our favorite tips::

1. Don’t Prepare Garlic and Onions in Advance

Ten Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better

Chopping garlic and onions releases sharp odors and strong flavors that become overpowering with time, so it’s best to cut them at the last minute. Soaking sliced or chopped onions in a solution of baking soda and water (1 tablespoon per cup of water) tames their pungency for raw applications; just be sure to rinse them thoroughly before using.

Ten Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better4. Strike Only When the Pan Is Hot

The temperature of the cooking surface will drop the minute food is added, so don’t rush the preheating step at the start of most sautés. Wait for the oil to shimmer when cooking vegetables. When cooking proteins, wait until you see the first wisps of smoke rise from the oil.

Ten Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better6. Season with Sugar, Too

Browned food tastes better, and the best way to accelerate this process is with a pinch of sugar sprinkled on lean proteins (chicken and seafood) or vegetables.

Ten Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better9. Add a Little Umami or Savoriness

Soy sauce and anchovies contain high levels of glutamates, which give dishes a savory, meaty boost. Add a teaspoon or two of soy sauce to chili, or cook a few minced anchovies along with the vegetables in a soup or stew.

Check out the whole article here:  Ten Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better.