Baking Hints

 Best Baking Tips and Tricks

 

EGGS FOR ALL
To check whether an egg is fresh or hard-boiled, simply spin it. If it wobbles, it’s raw. If it spins easily, it’s hard-boiled.

WINE WISDOM
Wine is best poured from a height as it airs the wine and adds aroma.

JUST GINGER
If you often use fresh ginger in dishes such as stir-fries, store the ginger in the freezer. It won’t go off, and you can grate it directly into the food while frozen.
The same applies to garlic cloves.

DATES FOR DIETERS
If you are dieting, snack on natural dates. They contain only half of the sugar of the sun dried variety you get in boxes.

FRUIT CRUMBLES
When making a fruit crumble add a little grated lemon or orange peel for a tangy taste.

FRUIT PIES
Before placing fruit in the pie crust, toss in flour. It’ll stop the pastry at the bottom of the pie from getting soggy.

CRUSTY BREAD
When placing bread in the oven, brush the top with salty water to give it a lovely crunchy topping.

BANANA FACTS
Green bananas go yellow quicker if there are ripe bananas with them.

NO MORE TEARS
To help prevent tears when you peel onions, place a slice of bread in your mouth.

MOUTH-WATERING ONIONS
To brown onions more quickly add a little sugar to caramelise them.

WHIPPED CREAM
A pinch of salt added to the cream before whipping helps it stiffen much more quickly.

PERFECT MEALIES
Never salt the water you cook mealies in. It will only toughen them.

GREEN AVOCADOS
Ripen avoados by burying them a bowl of flour.

STICKY JAR
To open a jar easily the first time, slide the tip of a teaspoon just under the rim of the lid and gently push down on the handle of the spoon. The lid will pop up and be easy to unscrew.

NONSTICK MUFFINS
To prevent muffins sticking to the tray, place the tray on a wet towel and the muffins will slide out easily.

MARVELLOUS MASH
For sensational mashed potatoes, add a couple of tablespoons of cream cheese instead of butter. Another alternative is to substitute sour cream for milk.

CRACKED EGGS
Don’t throw away cracked eggs(if they’re fresh) Instead, wrap them in aluminium foil and boil as usual.

EGG-SPERT EGGS
Egg whites will stiffen wonderfully if you add a pinch of salt or cream of tatar before whisking.

CHICKEN CHECK
To see if a chicken is completely cooked move the legs from side to side. If they “give” easily then it is.

PEELING PICKLING ONIONS
Small onions are much easier to peel if you drop them in boiling water first.