Bored of the same old evening meals at home? It’s the reason why many of us opt for a takeout or a trip to a local restaurant for a tasty meal that doesn’t involve cooking. While this might be great to do every once in a while, doing it too often can hammer the bank balance. Suddenly the once bountiful pay packet has whittled down to surviving on instant noodles for the remainder of the month. It is possible to get restaurant-worthy food at home if willing to invest more time into home cooking. Need inspiring? Here are six ways to make food taste restaurant-worthy at home.
The cost of dining out is expensive
How much does the average person spend nowadays when dining out? According to recent statistics, the average US household will spend around $3,000 a year on eating out. That’s a considerable amount of money, especially when it comes from the annual household earnings.
Six ways to make at-home food taste restaurant-worthy
In order to make at-home food taste like a five-star Michelin dish, there are a few tips that can help get it there. While not everyone is professionally skilled in the kitchen, there are ways around it that can make even the most basic at-home chef, perform culinary miracles. Here are six ways to help get food to a restaurant-worthy level.
Use high heat when cooking
High heat is a great method when it comes to cooking and certainly helps influence the general taste and flavor of the food. This is typically used when it comes to browning meats. By browning the meat at a high temperature when pan-frying, it helps to lock in the flavor and provide a much more layered taste. Roasting vegetables in the oven is a great way of cooking them, especially when done in a hot oven. It can add to the sweetness of the vegetables, making them more flavorful as a result.
Invest in herbs and spices
If the kitchen at home doesn’t have a drawer or cabinet full of herbs and spices, it’s time to change that. Herbs and spices are two elements of a dish that can really elevate and transform the food cooked in the home. While not all dishes require both, there are some that could certainly benefit from them being involved in the cooking process. When it comes to adding these herbs or/and spices, be generous. This is particularly the case for herbs as many will often just put a pinch in. A pinch doesn’t go that far, but a teaspoon or two will! If for instance, you are trying to make the best new york style pizza then you will need Italian herbs such as basil and oregano. A lot of spices can be mixed together and purchased as such, this saves you having loads of jars dotted around your kitchen.
Up the recipe game with new dishes
It might be that the food at home is not quite restaurant-worthy because they’re not dishes typically found on the menu at the local favorite dining spot. That’s why it’s important to mix up the weekly dinner menu every so often. Up the recipe game by exploring new dishes like this recipe for sous vide chicken thighs. It’s an elevated version of simply doing something like a roasted chicken thigh with a sprinkling of herbs.
Spend more on fresh and locally-sourced food
When it comes to the ingredients, it’s always good to invest in quality food that’s fresh and has been locally sourced. There’s such a difference between ingredients like meat and fresh veggies that have been pre-packaged up, frozen and then picked up at the grocery store to be used a few days later. Fresh meat from the local butchers is going to be a lot more flavorful because it’s likely to have traveled less. The same goes for buying fresh vegetables from a nearby farm. It’s even better if the vegetables can be grown in one’s own backyard!
Buy new kitchen utensils and equipment
Think about the state of the kitchen utensils and any equipment that’s used within the home. It’s important that anything that’s old and worn, is replaced. The quality of the pans and pots that are used for cooking, can influence the quality of the dishes served up. As these are utensils and kitchenware that are used daily, it might as well be quality that a household invests in.
Keep an eye on the time
With any meal, keep an eye on the time. Why? Well, often enough, the flavor can be impacted by overcooking or undercooking the food. Try to keep to time where possible. Cooking restaurant-worthy meals at home is certainly doable. Use the above tips to get the same culinary experience and pay a lot less for it in the process.
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