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It’s always good to find new ways of adding flavor to your cooking. You don’t have to be a chef to figure out how to add little bits of flavor here and there. In fact, it can be much easier than you think. Below, I’ve listed some of my favorite hacks to upgrade all of your dishes. Whether you’re cooking in the kitchen or putting on a BBQ for guests, these tips will help everything taste that little bit nicer!

Season sauces with table salt

Initially, this sounds like an obvious thing! However, there are two types of salt; table salt and rock salt. The rock salt is less finely ground and usually comes in one of those twisty salt shakers. When you add this to sauces or stews, it basically does nothing. You won’t add any extra flavor, so it’s a waste. By contrast, table salt is perfect for seasoning. It’s absorbed into the food, bringing out all the little flavors. Save the rock salt for seasoning salads or things that aren’t being cooked! 

Switch to meat on the bone

Most people prefer to cook meat off the bone. This means you’re cooking chicken breast all the time, mainly because you don’t want to deal with the bone. However, when meat is on the bone, it has more flavor. It gets this from the bone itself, and it also tends to hold onto more juices. Next time you cook some chicken, think about trying oven baked chicken thighs instead of pan-fried chicken breasts. You’ll be amazed at the difference in flavors! You’re essentially cooking the same thing, but the different methods and cut of chicken will transform it into a flavor party. 

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Use vegetables that are in season

An effortless tip that will make your meals tastier and add some extra diversity to your cooking. Pick whatever vegetables are in season, and you will instantly have more flavor in your food. When something is out of season, it never tastes as nice. They’re not as fresh, the flavors aren’t as powerful as they can be, and it’s a bit of a letdown. By contrast, the in-season veg is so fresh, so flavorsome, and so colorful. My advice is to pick the in-season veg, then make a meal around it!

Don’t rush it

We’re all guilty of wanting super quick meals that take a few minutes to make. However, when you rush through the cooking process, things don’t taste anywhere near as good as they could. Instead, take it easy – allow more time for flavors to develop. A good example of this is when you’re cooking a curry, and you add the spices. Let them cook off for at least five minutes to release all their flavors before adding in the liquid ingredients. Use this principle with all types of dishes – turn the heat down slightly to cook for a bit longer. The meal can still be cooked within 30 minutes, but you get way more flavor than if you rushed it in 15. 

See, these hacks are so simple and require almost no culinary skills at all! Make a few little alterations to your cooking style, and you’ll create far more flavorsome foods.