I've watched enough episodes of Hell's Kitchen and Just A Dash to know that certain elements just make food taste better. The difficult part is figuring out what that special ingredient is.
So to help aid you in your process, here are the secret ingredients Reddit users are sharing that helps make their cooking better than others. Be prepared to take notes and wow the guests at your next dinner party!
"Lots and lots of garlic. But if you want the full story, then start by sautéing onions in olive oil, till they start to get translucent, then add garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3-5 more minutes, and you have the beginning[sic] of a thousand delicious meals." - Reddit u/Pr0ducer
Most people use a one size fits all approach when it comes to cooking oils, much to the degradation of the dish. The next time you aim to make a tasty Pad Thai, sub out the olive oil for sesame seed oil instead.
For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to cook something using rosemary. Thanks to this ingenious tip, it appears that I will now finally have my chance!
Reaching for the dry dehydrated herbs is fine if you're in a pinch, but for when you have time at your disposal — there's nothing like the real thing. You could even start your own herb garden for ease of access!
Honestly, you had me at "coffee." I've never really been much of a baker but not for lack of trying. Maybe this is the missing ingredient I need to make my cakes edible!
Just like in the commercial, "I put that [expletive] on everything," and you should too! Frank's is mild enough so as to not overwhelm but still packs enough heat to deliver a spicy kick to your dish.
"Anytime a recipe calls for ground beef, you can add oatmeal to the ground beef while it's cooking and no one will know. Oatmeal soaks up the juice, turns brown, and gets chewy-ish like cooked ground beef also does." - Reddit u/PM_ME_UR_OBSIDIAN
There's nothing I enjoy more than a hot pot of chili on a cold and damp day. I've never thought about adding a pinch of cinnamon to the mix but now that I know, I'm anxious to try it out.
"Asparagus and cauliflower both show incredible improvements with a little lemon juice on top (along with a bit of salt). We roast cauliflower with curry powder and then top with fresh lemon juice and salt, and it's amazing." - Reddit u/jondesu
A kitchen syringe can go a long way as far as helping to deliver complex and delicious flavors is concerned. Instead of basting with a brush, injecting will ensure that your glaze coats from the inside out.
"In many cases, you don't want to taste the vinegar/citrus juice either. It's there as an accent. Next time you make chilli, taste it first, then add a teaspoon to a tablespoon of cider vinegar and taste it again - it will be better and brighter." - Reddit u/CorneliusNepos
When you go to a restaurant and order a wheel of brie, they don't slam a bottle of Heinz down on the table for dipping — it comes with jam! The same principle applies to grilled cheese.
"Always brine your poultry. Salt+water+cut up meat, it soaks up water and salt, pre-seasoning your meat and makes the meat extra tender when cooked." - Reddit u/GamerDame
You can use this as the base for sauces, glaze, or whatever else your heart desires. You can even make homemade Mac Sauce by mixing Thousand Island with a little mayo and cut-up pickles.
This is my own personal addition to the list. Regardless of what you're making, be it spaghetti sauce or BBQ chicken, there isn't a dish on this earth that doesn't taste better with a little Lea & Perrins.
h/t: Reddit
