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121 Cooking Secrets to Impress Friends and Family

47. Get crispier fried chicken. For crispier fried chicken, add a teaspoon of baking

powder to your coating mix then coat and fry as you normally would. Remember to

make sure that the oil is very hot before adding the chicken to avoid an

overpowering greasy taste.

48. Don’t salt meat before cooking.

One of the biggest faux pas when it comes

to cooking meat is to salt it prior to

cooking. What the salt actually does is

draws the juices out and impedes the

browning of the meat. Instead, add salt

once the meat is already half cooked.

Then taste it when it’s done and if more

salt is needed you can add it then. The

result is juicy, tasty meat that doesn’t

contain more salt then it needs!

49. Test the freshness of eggs. To test the freshness of an egg, place it in a cup of water.

If it sinks, it's fresh. If it floats, it's getting old. As an egg ages the fluid inside slowly

evaporates as oxygen and gases seep inside. This makes the egg lighter and causes it

to float.

50. Cooking poultry. Despite what you may have heard, poultry does not need to be

washed before cooking. Wipe it with a damp cloth if needed. If it has been frozen,

wipe it with absorbent paper to remove any excess moisture. Always be sure that

poultry is cooked through. To test for readiness, pierce the flesh at the thickest part

with a fork. If the juices run clear then it is cooked.

51. Cooking fish. To minimize moisture loss when grilling, baking or sautéing fish, it’s

important to use a relatively high heat and cook the fish for a short time. When you

cook fish longer than necessary, the juices and flavors are lost, leaving the fish dry

and chewy. Plus, overcooked fish is prone to falling apart.

52. Roast meats perfectly. For tender, juicier roasted meats, substitute wine, tea or beer

for water in your favorite recipes. These liquids help to tenderize the meat more

than plain water does and they add a rich flavor to whatever you are cooking. Go

ahead and try it, you’ll be surprised what a difference it makes.

53. Make perfect meatloaf. If you don’t want your meatloaf soaking in drippings of fat

and water while it cooks, invest in one of the new meatloaf pans with a built-in rack.