How to Cook a Turkey - Three Popular Cooking Methods

Do you go into the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning dreading dry turkey? Have you ever wished you could discover how to cook a turkey perfectly? Then you're reading the right article. The first thing nervous cooks need to understand is that there are 101 ways to cook a turkey - from traditional to cutting-edge culinary techniques.
You do not have to be a master cook to make a good-tasting bird, but knowing what options are available helps greatly. Ready to learn more about how to cook a turkey?
Three Methods for Cooking a Moist Turkey
1. Roasting
The most traditional method for how to cook a turkey is roasting. The average recipe calls for an oven temperature of 325 degrees. To prepare a turkey for roasting you want to rinse it thoroughly, season it inside and out with flavors your family enjoys, then put it in a roasting pan with water in the bottom. The water keeps the drippings from burning (you'll want those for gravy).
Loosely cover the turkey with aluminum foil. For every four pounds of unstuffed turkey you'll need about one hour cooking time. If you have a kitchen thermometer, place it in the thickest part of the turkey breast. The meat needs to be 165 degrees to be safe for consumption. Additionally, experts recommend that you keep the stuffing outside the bird (mix and put in an oven proof container, placed in the oven about 1 hour before the turkey is done). This is also a good moment to remove the aluminum foil so you get a nice crunchy skin.
Finally, the key to a good roast turkey is resting time. When you pull the turkey out of the oven let it sit untouched for about 20-30 minutes before carving. This keeps the turkey moist.
2. Oven-Bag Roasted Turkey
In deciding how to cook a turkey, turkey oven bags are a great alternative to traditional roasting. Supermarkets carry plastic cooking bags safe for oven use. The temperature for your oven is now 350 degrees F. Note that your baking pan must contain the bird and the cooking bag completely - the bag expands during cooking and if it touches any part of the oven it will melt.
As with a roast turkey you should season your bird before placing it in the bag. Consider adding some onions, a peeled orange and other flavorful aromatics to the cavity of the turkey to give it even more flavor from inside out. Cook according to the directions on the cooking bag packaging.
The alternative to the oven bag is a good quality plastic wrap. You can pre-marinate the turkey, brine it, put butter and seasonings under the skin and/or season it then wrap the bird in plastic wrap. Follow with aluminum foil completely covering the bird.
Now you can cook the turkey one of two ways. Turn the oven up to about 375 if you want a steamed turkey or you can turn the temperature down to 250 degrees and slow cook the turkey (about 2 hours per four pounds of whole bird). In either case, you can remove the wrappings on your turkey 30 minutes before serving if you want crispy skin. If using the slow-cook method turn up the heat to 375 for that last amount of cooking time.
3. Oven Braising
Oven braising is similar to using an oven bag or wrap in that you're steaming the turkey. Your oven should be preheated to about 340 degrees. Place the turkey in a covered roaster (stuff the bird with vegetables or aromatics as with method 2). The time required for cooking is similar to traditional roasting.
There are certainly many other options as to how to cook a turkey. These options include deep frying, grilling / rotisserie style turkey, marinated or brined, and smoked turkey. Each one creates a slightly different flavor profile and moisture level so a lot depends on personal tastes. Experiment throughout the year then use your favorite method come Thanksgiving (or Christmas, or... whenever!).

How to Cook Quinoa Perfectly

If you are trying to eat healthy, you may want to give quinoa a try. It is a delicious food, that experts everywhere have deemed a "super food". It has also been called a "super grain" even though it is not actually a grain. Rather, it is a tiny seed that is related to plants like beets, swiss chard and spinach. Both the seed and leafs of quinoa can be eaten, although only the seed is widely available.

Cooking quinoa is very simple and can be accomplished by anyone who can cook rice. In fact, cooking quinoa is much easier than cooking rice because quinoa does not stick the way that rice does.

There are several methods that you can learn if you want to know how to cook quinoa perfectly. One thing that you need to remember is that it must be thoroughly rinsed prior to cooking. Once you have rinsed your quinoa, here three methods of cooking you can try.

Cooking on the Stovetop

While most recipes for cooking quinoa call for a one to two ratio between the seed and liquid, I think a far better ratio is one to one and a half. Bring the quinoa and liquid to a simmer and then reduce to low. Cook covered for 25 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Allow to remain covered for an additional five minutes. Fluff and serve.

Cooking for Salad

I like to use a slightly different method when cooking quinoa to use for a quinoa salad. It is a bit more involved, but it delivers a seed that is just perfect for salad because it is a bit firmer. It also holds up well in the refrigerator for a few days.

Use one part quinoa and two parts liquid. Bring the liquid to a boil and add the quinoa. Boil, uncovered, for ten minutes. Remove from heat and drain your quinoa in a fine metal colander. Rinse under cool water. Bring fresh water to boil in a pot and place the quinoa on top of it in the strainer. Make sure that the strainer is not submerged in the water. Place a clean kitchen towel over the quinoa and cover with a lid. Steam the quinoa for 10 minutes. Be careful of the steam when you remove the lid and dish cloth.

Cooking Quinoa in the Oven

Most people don't realize that you can cook quinoa in the oven to be used as a crunchy topping for yogurt and fruit. To do this, you will want to preheat the oven to 375. Combine 1 cup of quinoa with 1 tablespoon of agave nectar and 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. You will want to stir the quinoa every five minutes.

Quinoa Flavoring - How to Cook Quinoa Perfectly For You

When learning to cook Quinoa, how to cook Quinoa perfectly for you depends almost entirely on your tastes and normal diet. Keep in mind one of the key things that sets Quinoa apart is it's flexibility and adaptability. Seems like a no brainer doesn't it? Yet so many first timers will grab a few recipes, follow them exactly, and never try Quinoa again. Quinoa can yield so many different flavors depending on the seasonings and foods it is prepared with, it's hard to say if you will like my favorite or that I will like yours. Rather than looking for that perfect recipe from others, step back and consider Quinoa itself, and how to work it in to your normal diet habits and tastes. Think about how Quinoa tastes and what it brings to the dish, and what the dish will bring to the Quinoa. Use the recipes as a guide instead of a script. Quinoa will do it's job and respond to your changes.
Preparing Quinoa for Cooking - Bringing Out the Right Taste
Many Quinoa products are usually pre-washed before packaging, but since the natural saponin coating can act as a laxative and really messes up the taste, I would recommend running Quinoa under cold water using a strainer or cloth till all the soapiness is gone and the water runs clear. The saponin is a natural coating that helps Quinoa survive because the birds won't eat the seeds. Trust the birds, you won't like it either. In fact many Quinoa recipes get ruined from poor or not enough preparation.
Also, many people will soak Quinoa for 2 to 4 hours prior to cooking. Even this short amount of time will allow the seed to begin to germinate. Germination activates its natural enzymes and multiplies Quinoa's vitamin content. This will also soften the grains, making them suitable to be added to salads and other cold foods. For this article though, remember it also changes the taste slightly, so try a few experiments with and without soaking to learn the difference.
Flavoring Quinoa - How to Cook to Taste
As mentioned earlier, how to cook Quinoa perfectly for you involves matching your cooking to your taste. And, like most things you've learned to cook, you will develop your own do's and don'ts with Quinoa. Try cooking Quinoa with just water at first, much like you would with rice. Two parts water to one part Quinoa, and add Quinoa to boiling water and simmer for 14 to 20 minutes. When you are done, try the taste by itself, with nothing added, both hot and cold. This slightly nutty flavor is the heart of what you will be working with.
You'll find that to the sensitive palate, Quinoa tastes subtly different when hot vs cold. The same can be said with cooked Quinoa that has been soaked or not soaked as earlier mentioned. As you can see, you now have four different flavors to contribute to your dishes, all without adding anything.
Quinoa tends to assume the flavors of the liquids that are added to it, much like rice in a stir fry. Quinoa responds well by substituting vegetable stock or chicken stock or broth for part or all of the liquid. One can also season the water or liquid, and Quinoa will absorb the flavor as well.
My personal favorites involve using Quinoa to compliment or contrast with other things in my dish. You will find Quinoa compliments bitter tastes like kale and bitter greens. Yet Quinoa contrasts and so compliments sweet tastes like honey or berries. Quinoa cooked with chicken stock can compliment a meal of chicken, or add a surprise to a salad. Quinoa cooked with a bit of garlic for instance will make red pepper pieces and onion prepared separately stand out in a dish. Cook them with the Quinoa and it will absorb their tastes.
With meats or meatless, hot or cold, soaked or unsoaked, seasoned or unseasoned, learning how to cook Quinoa perfectly for you can take some experimenting. Look for the Quinoa how to articles and videos, and Quinoa recipes. Use them as ideas and guides and not as scripts. Because with Quinoa, how to cook Quinoa perfectly is as individual as each of us

How To Cook Quinoa Grain And Get The Best Out Of Quinoa Recipes

There are many different ways to cook quinoa; it all really depends on which quinoa recipes you are going to follow and what other ingredients you will use. If you want to know how to cook quinoa properly then please follow our example below.
The most common and basic way is to simply boil it in water. The mix ratio is 1 part quinoa grain to 2 parts water.
You will first need to wash the grain thoroughly to get rid of all the bits and excess coating on the seeds, this also allows for a cleaner grain for cooking. Not all grain requires this cleansing process as some come already pre-washed. If you have done the process correctly you will see a layer of foam or froth appear on top of the water whilst cooking.
Once this process has been completed you can then begin the cooking. You first put the grain in a fair size pan and bring to the boil, turn down the heat and then simmer for approximately 10-15 minutes. Now depending on your preference, if you wish the grain to be a little firm and crunchy, then only simmer for 10 minutes. If you prefer it softer and a little fluffy then use the whole 15 minutes to simmer. Obviously, the more times you cook quinoa the more you will get to know how you like it and can adjust the cooking or simmer time accordingly.
Many people find that just boiling it in water can be a little plain, so if you wish to have a little more flavour here are a few great ideas:
Try adding vegetable or meat stock to the water, this will then soak into the grain giving it extra flavour, you can even add some olive oil to give it substance. Also try different herbs, even spices that you like as they will provide a little kick to the rice too. Don't be afraid to experiment with different additives such as herbs and things, the more adventurous you are the better the dish is sometimes.
Quinoa is quite versatile when it comes to adding other ingredients and these flavours are great if you are just using the quinoa as an accompaniment to your main meal; as they don't overpower the flavour of the rice.
It may also be useful to know how to cook quinoa using your microwave. There is no time advantage by doing it this way as it takes pretty much the same amount of time, and not only that; cooking quinoa in the microwave requires you to continually watch it so it doesn't over cook, whereas you can leave the rice simmering on the hob. Try it on max power for about 13-14 minutes (depending on the microwave you are using and how powerful it is), but vary depending on your preference as with the boiling method.
So far we have shown you how to cook quinoa as a single food source, but you do not have to go through the same process if you are making a risotto or soup, even casseroles, as the rice can be cooked together with the other ingredients and will bulk up during cooking. So the preparation is a little quicker.
By cooking quinoa as a main dish with other ingredients you must remember to add more water to the pot, as quinoa absorbs a lot of the liquid used in this process. This will also help to thicken the recipe which means you can reduce other thickening agents such as corn flour that you may be using. You will be far more satisfied after your meal and feel fuller for longer due to quinoa being a complex carbohydrate. Like rice in general, it swells in your tummy making you feel full, which means from a weight loss point of view you won't be as hungry as often.
There are many varying quinoa recipes around, but some of my favourites are making the quinoa grain into cakes, scones and cookies. You cook it in the same way described above by boiling it in water and simply follow the cake recipe. You can even try using it as a breakfast recipe by cooking it as a type of porridge, try adding a little fruit to add flavour.
I hope you have found our methods useful and a good guide on how to cook quinoa correctly; also that it's given you a little inspiration in how you can use quinoa in all sorts of other dishes.

How to Cook the Best Ham

Ham is one of those meats that are traditionally reserved for holiday gatherings. Why? Maybe because so few people know how to cook the best ham dish. If you would like to enjoy this delicious meat anytime of the year (or week), be sure to follow these simple cooking instructions for a fast and easy dinner that everyone will enjoy:

• Buy only ham that is a bright grayish pink in color and has a firm texture
• To prepare your ham for cooking, begin by trimming any excess fat from the rind - note: some cooks begin cooking their ham first to allow the fat juices to blend into the ham before trimming the fat away; this option is up to you, although it does make for a tastier dish.
• Score your ham by making diagonal cuts along the top and sides (be carful not to pierce the meat). This will help your marinade glaze soak through during the cooking process.
• If using cloves, add them now.
• Bake your ham in a 325 degree oven for about 15 minutes per pound (for precooked hams; longer for uncooked ones), or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 degrees. Be sure to place it in the baking pan fat side up
• Always use a baking pan to allow the drippings to gather at the bottom of the pan for easier basting.
• Turn ham about halfway through the cooking process
• About 45 minutes before you expect your ham to be finished, remove from the oven and glaze.
• Once your ham has reached the proper temperature, remove from oven.
• Let stand for 15 minutes before carving to allow its internal juices to settle. Otherwise it could bleed much of its juicy flavor upon cutting.

How to Cook Barbecue Chicken

Around the world a backyard barbecue has become the focal point of many a dinner party. While the women stay in the kitchen organising salads, often the main retreat outdoors, glass of beer or wine in hand, to discuss how to cook barbecue to perfection on the outdoor grill. Yet while it seems many men know how to cook barbecue steak and sausages, very few men know exactly how to cook barbecue chicken in a manner that pleases all their guests.

When many people think of how to cook barbecue chicken, they immediately ponder what the 11 secret herbs and spices may entail! The fact is that there does not need to be any secret as to how to cook barbecue chicken to perfection because you need only to consider two steps: the preparation and the cooking.

When learning how to cook barbecue chicken, the first thing to remember is that the marinade or the sauce that is used while cooking is extremely important. Whatever the basis of the sauce, be it the tomato, barbecue or Chilly base, USA fits to leave chicken steaks marinating in it overnight. This provides plenty of opportunity for the meat to absorb the beautiful taste of sauce, and this taste will not been dissipated during the cooking process.

Another time-honoured secret of how to cook barbecue chicken is to slice the chicken into steaks, then cover the stakes in your preference of spices, we exotic tastes such shares paprika, Chilly, garlic and ginger providing an exciting and tenderising surface to the chicken steak.

However, the most important aspect when considering how to cook barbecue chicken is the cooking method itself. One of my favourite methods is to slice the chicken breast into steaks, then lightly and gently cooking the steaks on the outdoor grill surface. Some prefer the barbeque rotisserie and if you know how to cook barbecue and rotisserie style then you can generally be assured of a succulent and extremely healthy barbecue chicken meal.

The most important thing to remember when cooking chicken on an outdoor grill is to not over cook the meat. Overcooking will cause the meat to dry out and become brittle, rather than succulent and juicy. Care should be taken to sear either side of steak, while still keeping the centre portion of the steak tender. The same principle applies when using the barbecue rotisserie chicken, cooking the outside to crispness while keeping the inside juicy and tender. If you are not sure how to cook barbecue chicken properly, I recommend doing so on a low flame, being careful to sear the services but leave the centre tender.

Remember, learning how to cook barbeque chicken is not about simply throwing the chicken on at the same time as your steak, because you need to carefully monitor the cooking process to avoid over cooking the meat. So if you are interested in learning how to cook barbecue chicken to perfection, remember that part of the secret lies in the marinade and sauce preparation, while the other part of the secret involves you carefully cooking the chicken on a low heat. Combining these two elements should see you learning how to cook barbeque chicken to perfection!

How to Cook Long Grain Rice

Rice is a food staple that has been around for ages. Even in today's times, rice is consumed in extremely large quantities around the globe, (not just in Asia)! Lots of people like to eat rice, but find it difficult to cook the perfect plate of rice. In this article I will explore some tips and techniques that will tell you how to cook long grain rice.

First of all, since most of the long grain rice you buy today is clean, rinsing is not a must. Rinsing the rice before cooking though, will wash away the starch, thus making the rice less sticky. Soaking the rice is an option, but again, this is not a must. If you do soak the rice, make sure you drain it well. Otherwise, you'll use more water than you intended.

You should cook it in a pot that's big enough to be able to keep the steam in. There should be enough space between the rice and the lid for the trapped steam. In addition, the lid should be tight fitting. It's good to know that brown rice needs more time to cook that white rice. Also, older rice absorbs more water than new rice.

There are two ways on how to cook long grain rice. You can put in the rice, put more than enough water and when it's finished cooking, just pour out the excess water. The way that I prefer cooking it though, is through absorption. Cook the long grain rice with a measured amount of water. When the rice is finished cooking, all the water will have been absorbed. Trapped steam from inside the pot, will finish the cooking.

Generally, the rule is approximately 2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice. You may want to experiment a little with the exact amount of water. It basically depends on the type of rice and the way you like it! More water gives you softer, stickier rice. Less water gives you more separate, harder rice. Don't be afraid to experiment when you are learning how to cook long grain rice.

You can add a little salt go give it a little flavor. Let the rice simmer for approximately 12-15 minutes on a tiny flame. When it has finished cooking let it rest for 5-20 minutes. Don't forget this step. It is one of the most important steps to get well-cooked, fluffy rice. Now that you know how to cook long grain rice, try it out in the kitchen. Good Luck and Good Appetite!

How To Cook Pork

There are a lot of ways that you can learn when you want to know how to cook pork. Depending on what pork recipe you like you will have to find a recipe for it. The recipe will tell you how to cook pork for that particular dish. You just need to make sure that the temperature of the pork is 160 degrees F. for it to be considered done. Here are some tips that you want to follow when you are cooking pork.
One: When you are cooking thicker cuts of meat or roast you want to make sure that you cook it for 30 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F. The time you cook it will depend on how many pounds it is so you will have to do some simple math to figure out the correct cooking time.
Two: No matter what you are cooking or how long it takes to cook it you want to make sure that the internal temperature is 160 degrees F. When you are cooking thinner cuts of pork this will happen faster than it would for thicker cuts of meat. It will also happen faster if you are cooking it at a higher temperature. For the thicker cuts of meat you will want to cook it slower and at a lower temperature. When the pork you are cooking reached 155 degrees, if you let the pork rest before you cut it, it will raise the temperature to 160 degrees and be done and ready to eat.
Three: You want to buy a meat thermometer. This will save you from trying to guess if it is done. When you are cooking pork you want to know for sure. When using a meat thermometer you will only be making a very small hole in the pork. This is a good thing because you want to keep as much juice in the meat as you can because that is what makes it succulent.
By following these three tips no matter what pork you are cooking you will be able to have delicious meat and know that you are not going to get sick because it is not done. You have to make sure that you check it before you stop cooking it because you want it to be done but not overdone. Learning how to cook pork is not hard to do it just takes some time and common sense. So when you like to eat pork you will want to take the time needed to learn how to cook it right.

How To Cook An Egg

How to Cook an Egg was requested by one of my e-newsletter subscribers. Having been in the restaurant business for over 20 years, I was not surprised by the request. I have actually met chefs who could not properly cook an egg, let alone cook an over easy egg.

This request started me thinking about my egg cooking experiences.

High school home economics class was my only real experience before I was married and I guess that didn't sink in.

The only thing I remember about eggs in that class was making Egg ala Goldenrod (which I still love) and beating an egg and then measuring it in tablespoons for the purpose of making a recipe that required half an egg. I never, ever came across another recipe requiring half an egg.

And I never learned how to cook an egg.

So basically as a new (young) bride I had to start from scratch. I married a very finicky egg eater and after being scolded for imperfect over easy eggs, I began throwing eggs away if they weren't "just right."

I must have ended up throwing away dozens of eggs while perfecting my egg cooking skills. I thought I must be a slow learner. I just had to learn how to cook an egg! Had he known, my thrifty, finicky husband would have lectured me about wasting food. But as the words of the song "Margaritaville" say, I thought it was "his own darn fault." I never did reveal my secret.

Practice does make perfect, as it is said, and eventually I learned how to cook an egg.

After the death of my first husband (no, not my cooking), I married another wonderful man. I was pleased that I could cook perfect over easy eggs for him. Being the thoughtful man he is, he didn't mention for some time that he really preferred his eggs over hard.

Oh, the cruelties of life! I don't mind saying that it was very hard for me to break those yolks!