Cooking Tips for Beginners

1. Crack your eggs on a flat surface to avoid getting bits of the shell in your food.

2. Invest in a microplane to make prepping garlic and ginger so much easier. You can also use a microplane to grate hard cheeses, chocolate, and whole spices (like cinnamon or nutmeg).

3. Don’t use butter or olive oil for high-temp cooking ― instead, use an oil with a high smoke point (like peanut or vegetable oil).

4. Remember that acid (such as lemon juice or vinegar) brightens flavors and brings bland food to life. You can also use vinegars and wine to add acid (just remember that a little goes a long way).

5. Use a teaspoon to easily peel ginger without having to struggle with a knife or peeler. Simply run it against the surface to remove the skin without taking off too much flesh.

6. Season every step of the cooking process to prevent over-salting at the end.

7. But if you do add too much salt, throw a quartered potato in to tone down the flavour and absorb some of the excess.

8. Cook bacon in the oven instead of a frying pan for perfectly crisp strips that are a breeze to clean up.

9. Prevent cut vegetables from oxidizing and turning brown by storing them in cold water. This technique also works for other fruits and veggies like apples or avocados ― anything that turns brown after it’s been cut.

10. Invest in an instant-read thermometer so you don’t have to guess if your meats are cooked in the middle.

11. Don’t be tempted to over-mix your cake batters ― a quick stir is all you need to combine your wet and dry ingredients.

12. Use the figure-eight stirring technique to prevent the bottom of your pan from scorching. This is especially helpful for thick liquids such as gravy or tomato sauce that are prone to burning.