Mastering the art of home cooking: All kitchen tips and techniques

There are hundreds of kitchen tools you can choose from, but only a selected few will become your daily staple food.

Setting up your kitchen with the right tools will make cooking at home more fun and less stressful! With some important items to prepare, cook and store your homemade meals, you’ll be ready to work on the recipe and feel like a complete professional in your own kitchen.

As a nutritionist, here is my list of essential tools that make cooking easier, faster and more enjoyable.

Preparation tools

• Chef’s knife: The 8-inch chef’s knife is a great all-purpose option. If you’re looking for a few knives, a small pairing knife is a staple in another kitchen.
• Cutting board:Get a sturdy non-slip plastic board for safe and efficient meal preparation. Choose a big one for versatility.
• Cup and spoon measurements: These are essential for accurate component measurements both in cooking and baking.
• Mixing Bowl: Find sets in different sizes for mixing, marinating, and providing ingredients.
• Vegetable skin: This is a tool to easily peel off fruits, vegetables and potatoes.

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Tools for cooking

• 12 inch non-stick or cast iron frying pan: Perfect for cooking eggs or frying ingredients for dinner.
• Stock pot:6 quart pot for boiling pasta, soup, stew,
• Tongs: Turn meat over, throw salads, and safely handle hot items.
• Spatula: Perfect for mixing sauces and soups without damaging cookware.
• big Top plate: Perfect for roasting vegetables, sheet bread meals, grilled chicken, and more. Furthermore, it also serves as a dessert cookie sheet!

Tools for saving

• Food storage container: Various airtight containers for meal preparation and leftovers. Glass or plastic containers work here and choose from a variety of sizes.
• Plastic wrap and aluminum foil: Convenient for covering dishes and wrapping food for storage.
• Serve spoons and ladles: Large serving spoons help you store food and clean faster. If you are planning on preparing meals, you may want to find an option to supply a certain amount to your plate, such as a 1 cup of ladle.
• Zip top bag: Helps marinate meat, chopped or stuffed in the fridge or freezer, and store prepared ingredients.
• Mason Jar: Perfect for storing homemade sauces, dressings, or pantry staples.

About the experts

Caroline Thomason, RD LDN, CDCES A nutritionist and diabetes educator, she combines her love of nutrition with the power to make it easier to understand better health. For 12 years in the industry, she has appeared in over 40 publications, CPG consultant and advisor, speaker, broadcast spokesman and recipe developer.

Stephanie Nelson, MS, RD, I’m a nutritionist, and an in-house nutrition expert and nutrition scientist at Myfitnesspal. Passionate about promoting a healthy lifestyle, Stephanie graduated from San Diego State University with a focus on research and illness prevention.

Basic cooking techniques that everyone should know

If you’ve ever been lost in the kitchen, you’re not alone. Many people grow without learning basic cooking skills. However, cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. Learning only a few simple techniques can make a huge difference.

Learning basic skills such as chopping, sauteing and baking will give you the confidence to prepare your meals without stress. A little practice makes cooking at home easier, more fun and a great way to support your wellbeing.

Here are some important kitchen techniques you can practice to boost your confidence and set yourself up for a delicious, nutritious diet.

Chopping

Whether you intervene with onions, slice fruit, or raise chicken breasts, knowing how to chop them is a basic skill you will use again and again. Excellent knife skills make cooking faster and safer.

Our tips? Place your fingertips down (also known as “”.Claw grip”) And let the knife do the job. Start your practice slowly and frequently. Chopping off lots of vegetables is a great way to build muscle memory!

Saute

This technique is perfect for adding flavor to your flash. Heat a little oil in a pan, throw the ingredients and keep moving. Think of it as quickly brown and burning in vegetables and protein to bread to bring out the best flavor. Stir frying is perfect when you need a little caramelization on your plate. Whether you’re cooking onions or cooking brown proteins like steak or chicken, sauteing saute is perfect for flavor and quick cooking.

boiling

Boiling is a go-to technique for cooking pasta, beans, potatoes, grains, or blanching vegetables. You can also boil proteins such as stubborn eggs or chicken breasts if you want to shred it or add seasonings later.

Baking

Baking can be science, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. A simple sheet pan dinner is baked, simply throw everything on a large baking sheet and bake until it’s done.

The meal planner is here! Create a custom meal plan around you Calories and macro goals today.

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Cooking on a budget: Affordable meal ideas

With a little planning and smart shopping, you can create a simple, balanced, nutritious meal with your wallet.

Below are some simple tips and delicious meal ideas to get you started.

1. Baked Jitty Casserole: A comfortable classic that won’t break the bank! This casserole combines whole wheat pasta, marinara sauce, and a blend of ricotta and mozzarella cheese for a hearty protein packed dish. Add some spinach spinach for extra nutrients and bake until it foams.
2. Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup: This classic tortilla soup is a budget-friendly, one-pot wonder. Packed with a flavorful blend of chicken, vegetables and spices, it has a nutritious meal. Top with fresh herbs for a flavour for Greek yogurt, Mexican cheese or sprinkles of fresh herbs.
3. ChickPea Tuna Salad Sandwich: This version features a delicious twist on classic tuna salad, adding mashed chickpeas to the bulk with additional fiber. Mix Greek yogurt, lemon juice and a light dressing of your favorite seasonings in whole grain bread with crisp lettuce and sliced ​​tomatoes.
4. Sweet and Spicy Chicken Meatballs: These flavorful meatballs are made with lean ground chicken, breadcrumbs and sweet and spicy glazes. They are easy to make and can be perfectly paired with brown rice or simple side salads.
5. Fried Cashew Beef and Broccoli: A quick and affordable stir-fried dish made with a tender strip of meat, crispy broccoli, and a flavourful sauce with hints of sweetness from the hoisin and crunch from the cashew. Enjoy a well-balanced, high protein dinner ready within 30 minutes.

Want more tips on how to cook delicious meals without breaking the bank? It can be made for under $5 per serving with a nutritionist reviewed recipe.

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Cook healthy and balanced diets at home

There’s no need to cook healthy foods at home. It doesn’t have to be boring and complicated. In fact, it can be a creative adventure. With some smart swaps and simple tips, you can thrill your delicious, nutritious meals.

Here are some of my favorite tips:

• Focus on whole food ingredients: Create a balanced diet using minimal processed foods such as whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats and vegetables.
• Replace white with whole grains: Use brown rice instead of white. Try whole grain pasta, not traditional. Replace the white flour bread with 100% whole grain bread.
• I’ll brighten up: If possible, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and milk for low-calorie recipes, without sacrificing flavor.
• Add flavors without extra calories: Use herbs, spices and citrus to add flavor to your dishes rather than resorting to heavy sauces or additional oils.
• Try a batch dish: Preparing for meals Cook grains to create a balanced diet throughout the week, including healthy ingredients, grilled vegetables, grilled chicken, and pre-cooked grains.
• Add fruits and vegetables: Add spinach to smoothies, zucchini to pasta dishes, or extra vegetables in soups or stews. We provide cut fruits on the sides of your diet for increased fiber and nutrition.

How to find recipes in the MyFitnessPal app

Use recipe discovery in myfitnessspal app Plan your homemade meals quickly and easily for a week. From breakfast options to dinners worthy of meal preparation, the MyFitnessPal recipe collection covers a range of recipe areas.

This is a step-by-step guide to help you explore meal recipe ideas.

1. It will open myfitnessspal app: Launch the app on your phone and tap the “More” menu. From there, select “Recipe Discover.”
2. Browse recipes: Explore categories such as breakfast, lunch, dinner and more to narrow down your options. You can also view recipes based on pantry staples, great post-workout dishes, and more.
3. Check recipe options: Scroll through the list of curated recipes and click on a meal to view the complete recipe with ingredients, step-by-step instructions and nutritional information.
4. Save and log recipes: Once you find your favorite recipe, tap Save to add it to your favorites. You can also log your meals directly into your food diary for seamless nutritional tracking.

Pro tips: Add your own most frequently cooked recipes to the app! “Myfitnesspal really opens up opportunities to make the most of your home cooking for your health journey, as it helps you to be empowered with knowledge,” says Nelson.

She suggests importing recipes you make and analyzing nutrition, so you can learn whether recipes will help you achieve key goals for success, such as protein and fiber.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

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