8 simple tips to help you turn your cooking from “okay” to “delicious”

1. Fifth place

In the 19th century, French chef Auguste Escoffier invented a fifth taste, in addition to the familiar flavors of salty, sweet, sour and bitter. In 1908, Japanese professor Kikunae Ikeda summarized it as 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. Avocadon creamy coffee

If the coffee is too strong and bitter, many people do not know to 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 stirring, the coffee flavor will become 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 banana peels to the stew. It doesn’t affect the flavor of the dish, but it will still help tenderize the meat.

4. Add cornstarch when making omelettes

Any type of fried egg will be fluffier with a little cornstarch. Plus, it makes the whole cooking process much shorter. The chef says 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. Eat hot when using this method.

5. Black tea helps the cake turn more golden

A splash of strong black tea will give the dough a light brown color and a golden crust, as well as enhance the tea flavor of the cake. Make sure to use high quality tea or you will ruin or change 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 flavorful it can be.

7. Vinegar makes rice white and shiny

How to make rice non-sticky? Simply add a spoonful of vinegar when you are cooking rice on the stove. It not only prevents the rice from sticking, but also whitens and brightens it. Don’t worry about the smell when cooking, the vinegar smell will disappear once the rice is done.

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.