Healthy Techniques To Add More Flavor To Your Meals

You don’t need to be a five-star chef to create the perfect flavor for your meals. Plus, there’s no special magic to cooking that only chefs are allowed to know. But there are some great tips, hacks, and tricks you can use to give your meals the touch of flavor they deserve. Whether you know your way around your kitchen or not, the following tips can help you enhance your meals' flavor healthily. 

4. Slow cook

There’s a reason everyone should have a slow cooker in the kitchen. This wonderful kitchen gadget saves you time when cooking and is also a great way to bring out the flavor in your food, especially meat-based dishes. The long and low-temperature cooking you get with a slow cooker helps to bring out the flavor in your cooking. For example, you can try this slow cook chicken and gravy crockpot recipe to create a more flavor-filled chicken dish. 

Per its mode of operation, a slow cooker can tenderize meat cuts. But you can use it to bring out the flavor in various foods, including soups, stews, pot meals, and casseroles, so keep this in mind. 

3. Use alcohol

Don’t get it wrong; cooking with a touch of alcohol does not mean pouring your favorite alcoholic drink into all your meals for flavor. Like salt, alcohol brings out the flavor in dishes. Whether you choose to use beer, liquor, or wine, the alcohol content can improve your perception of flavor in two main ways - molecular bonding or evaporation. 

But you’ll need different types for different meals or recipes. Whiskey and bourbon, for example, are great if you’re looking to add some deep sweetness or citrus taste to a recipe. A shot of vodka can work up your tomato sauce, and a touch of brandy or sherry can enhance your soups. 

2. Add fresh herbs

Herbs can play a major role in enhancing the flavor of your meals, so don’t limit them to only a garnishing role. Herbs such as oregano, tarragon, dill, thyme, sage, rosemary, cilantro, basil, mint, and parsley, to mention a few are excellent sources of flavor when used fresh.

But to get the best results with herbs, you need to know when best to use them. Because herbs usually lose their flavor the longer they are cooked, it’s always best to add them at the end of your cooking. 

1. Use real butter

If you’re looking for another reason not to use vegetable oil, this is it. Real butter offers more flavor than alternatives like olive oil, canola, and margarine. Unlike herbs, butter releases even more flavors under heat, but you need to measure how much you use to avoid creating an unhealthy meal. But if you prefer oils, you can choose the ones with distinctive flavors. A perfect example is coconut oil. You can find other good-quality oil with different flavors to compliment different dishes, so keep this in mind. 

Enhancing your meals’ flavor is possible with the right techniques. Hopefully, you’ll consider these tips to achieve the desired results.