Cooking tip

First thing is first. So you want a culinary masterpiece? Be careful and to follow these instructions to become great.

Prepare Your Food Lists

Do you have any ingredients in supply? Do you have enough for your recipe? Are the ingredients still fresh or have they spoiled? List what you're missing and how much you need. If you're just cooking for one or two
don't get the family packages of perishables unless you can freeze the extra and use it up before it gets freezer burn. Most dry spices keep quite a while
but can lose potency if stored in warm
damp areas.

Check the grocery ads

See what's on sale. There's no sense in paying more than you have to. Consider how many people you're cooking for and how much refrigerator and freezer space you have. Nothing is a bargain if you can't store it long enough to cook and eat it. A large roast
for example
can be chopped into meal-sized pieces and frozen
or you can cook the whole thing
eat what you want
and save the rest for sandwiches
stews
casseroles
and snacks--if you have the refrigerator or freezer space to store it.

Using coupons: Coupons can save you money or cost you.
If the coupon is for something you would have bought anyway
it's worth using. If it's just a different brand
the coupon makes it cheaper than your regular brand
and you can't taste the distinction
use it. If the only reason you're buying the product is to use the coupon
forget it! If it's something new that you'd like to try
and you don't have to buy a large quantity
look at the price and decide if it's worth the money to you. Go ahead and treat yourself occasionally. Little treats make it easier to stick to a healthy routine the rest of the time.

How much should you buy?

Most supermarkets have the prices marked on the shelves
and show a unit price on the ticket. Sometimes the larger package costs less per pound
or ounce
or whatever unit is used. Sometimes the smaller package is in fact the better buy. Small calculators are so inexpensive nowadays that getting one to take shopping with you can save you money
especially when one brand
for example
lists the price per pound and another shows the per ounce price.

With foods that have to be frozen or chilled
or fresh fruits and vegetables that spoil quickly (known as "perishables") only buy as much as you can use before they perish. The fresher it is
the better the flavor and nutrition
so
even though you can keep a lot of stuff in the freezer for long periods
it's better not to keep it for more than a few weeks. (Keep track of what's in the freezer--date everything as it goes in--so that nothing gets buried in the back or bottom for years at a time.)

It's real easy to overbuy when things are on sale. Then you risk either having to eat so much of it that you can't stand the thought of it for a long time afterward
or being forced to throw out some of it when it spoils.

Are national brands worth the price? Are house or generic brands just as good as the national brands?

All of the major chain supermarkets have house brands or plainly packaged generic products. Some chains have both. Check out your local chains
try the house products
and decide for yourself when (or if) you want to spend a little more for the national brand. If you really prefer a national brand
especially in non-perishables
watch the ads
and when it goes on sale
stock up. Many of the house brands are made by the same companies that make the national brands. The only difference is that the supermarket chain buys in quantity
and the manufacturer has no advertising expense.

Staple supplies that every kitchen needs.
All-purpose flour
cornstarch (for thickening gravy)
assorted noodles and pasta
rice
oils (vegetable
olive
peanut)
vinegar (white wine
red wine
apple cider
plain distilled)
canned soups (beef broth
chicken broth
tomato
cream of mushroom)
assorted spices and flavorings (dried minced onion
oregano for Italian dishes
salt
pepper
any others you like.)Buy small quantities on new items and taste test before stocking up.

Other good things to keep on hand.
Canned meats and vegetables
mayonnaise
mustard
ketchup
favorite salad dressings
horseradish sauce
ready-to-eat cereal
quick cooking oatmeal
Cream of Wheat
Cream of Rice
grits
gravy mixes
drink mixes
any other favorite foods.

With these basic pointers you should be well on your way to having a well stocked kitchen and great cooking experience.