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121 Cooking Secrets to Impress Friends and Family

whether the oil is hot enough for frying, throw in a drop of water or even a small

piece of what you’re cooking. If it bubbles rapidly then you know it’s ready.

14. Get the right temperature for deep frying. Does your oil always seem to be the

wrong temperature? A simple way to find out if your oil is hot enough is to use a

bread cube. If the bread browns in a minute, the oil is between 350 and 365

degrees, 40 seconds – 365 and 382 degrees, 20 seconds – 382 and 390 degrees. Or, if

you have one, you can use a thermometer. Just be sure that it is a metal

thermometer designed for deep fryers.

15. A substitution for eggs. Need an egg for a recipe but you’re all out? You can

substitute two tablespoons of real mayonnaise for a large egg in any recipe. Be sure

not to use whipped salad dressing though unless you want the extra salt that it

contains.

16. Interesting uses for apples. You may

have heard before that it’s best to keep apples

stored separately from other fruits and

vegetables because they give off gases that

speed up ripening. Well those same gases are

actually useful for some things. An apple

wedge in the bag will soften clumped brown

sugar over night. It will also keep your

potatoes from sprouting.

17. Remove the fat from soups. Remove

the fat from homemade soups by tossing in four ice cubes. The fat will congeal

around the ice, which can then be removed. This will cool the soup, so you may need

to reheat after completing the process.

18. Serve a perfect punch. When serving punch it is usually left on a buffet table for

everyone to help themselves to. So it’s important to keep it cold. However, instead

of ice, which will dilute the punch, freeze some of the punch itself beforehand and

use that.

19. Stop pre-made sandwiches from going soggy. To prevent lunchtime sandwiches

from becoming soggy, spread both pieces of bread to the edges with butter, mustard

or mayonnaise. Then wrap the sandwich in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Or is

possible, assemble the sandwich just before eating. Just pack the bread and filling

separately.

20. Always marinate foods in a glass or ceramic dish. Most marinades contain an acidic

ingredient such as lemon juice, vinegar or wine that can react with metal and cause

off-flavors in your food. To save on cleanup, try marinating your fish or meat in a