8 simple tips to help you turn "okay" cooking into "absolutely delicious"

1. Fifth place

In the 19th century, French chef Auguste Escoffier invented a fifth taste, alongside the familiar flavors of salty, sweet, sour and bitter. In 1908, Japanese professor Kikunae Ikeda condensed it into umami, or meaty sweetness.

This flavor is created from glutamate, which makes the dish more delicious and sweet, like the Japanese use dashi, the Vietnamese have bone broth for vermicelli and pho dishes. There is a simpler way, when cooking, you just need to add a few drops of soy sauce to make the dishes have a delicious umami flavor.

2. Avocadorich coffee

If the coffee is too strong and bitter, many people often add a little water, even though they know that it will lose its flavor. As a coffee lover, you should know that just adding a small piece of butter, leaving it for about a minute and then stirring will make the coffee taste much more pleasant.

3. Banana peels make meat tender

Fruit juices like orange and pineapple help tenderize meat. But there is an even simpler way to do this: add a few pieces of banana peel to the stew. It won’t affect the flavor, but it will help tenderize the meat.

4. Add cornstarch when making omelets

Any type of omelet will be fluffier with a little cornstarch. Plus, it makes the whole cooking process much shorter. Chefs say it takes no more than 15 seconds to make. Just add a tablespoon of cornstarch for every 3 eggs.

To soften the eggs, you can add more water, which will help the eggs puff up and become softer. Serve hot when using this method.

5. Black tea helps the cake turn more golden

A little strong black tea will give the dough a light brown colour and a golden crust, as well as adding a tea flavour to the cake. Make sure to use a high quality tea or you will ruin or alter the texture of the dough.

6. Vanilla goes well with vegetables too

Many people know that vanilla is a great addition to sweet dishes. But what they don’t know is that it also works well in salads and vegetables. Try adding a few drops of vanilla to your salad and you’ll be surprised at how much it adds to the flavor.

7. Vinegar makes rice white and shiny

How to make rice non-stick? Simply add a spoonful of vinegar when you are cooking rice on the stove. It will not only prevent the rice from sticking, but also make it white and shiny. Don't worry about the smell when cooking, the vinegar smell will disappear when the rice is cooked.

8. Cook when the oil is hot enough

You may wonder how some people fry fish to a nice golden brown without it falling apart. The pan is important, but there are other techniques. When frying, you need to pay attention to when the oil is hot - bubbles appear around the chopsticks - before you put the food in.