1. Try making stir fry or pasta when you're first learning to cook.
Stir fry will teach you timing (e.g., carrots cook faster than potatoes), and pasta is perfect for entertaining!
2. Use fresh herbs! It makes a huge difference in flavor.
Parsley (without the stems that can be bitter) and basil are a great first step. Add them a few minutes before your dish is almost done for optimal flavor.
3. Cook with onions that suit your dish.
4. And avoid tears when you chop onions by rubbing any type of vinegar on your cutting board beforehand.
The vinegar combats the sulfur that makes you cry.
5. Don't burn your garlic; it'll ruin your whole dish!
Garlic lovers should try cutting larger pieces of garlic and cooking it on low heat. Just be patient — it is definitely worth the wait!
6. Add a 1/4 cup of water or olive oil if you accidentally add too much salt to a dish.
7. And add a few pinches of sugar if it's too acidic.
Sugar will cut the acid — just don't add too much! A pinch or two usually does the trick.
8. Cook scrambled eggs on low heat to make them fluffy and delicious.
9. Think about what salt you use — some types of salt can make your dish bitter.
Iodized salt can add a bitter taste, so go for kosher salt or sea salt! The proper salt enhances tasty ingredients. For example, a high-quality cut of steak only needs salt and pepper!
10. And freshly milled black pepper versus pre-crushed makes a big difference!
Bonus points, you get to pretend to be all fancy and stuff and go around the table and say "fresh PEPPA?!" in a weird accent.
11. Cook with a wine that you'd drink by itself.
If you add $2 wine to a sauce, it is going to taste like $2. Surprise!