Selecting the best ingredients

You don’t need a chef to tell you that the best quality ingredients are essential to your cooking. That’s why it’s important to know the basics of choosing the freshest produce such as vegetables, fruits, meats and so on when you’re shopping. Here are our 7 tips to remember when you’re picking out foods to bring home :

1. Vegetables

To judge vegetable freshness, remember these 3 easy ways:

• Sight : Choose the brightest and liveliest colors out of the bunch. The color should be even with no dark spots or mold. The skins are not wrinkly and the leaves show no signs of wilting. 
• Sniff : In general, fresh produce will smell fresh. Some vegetables have a slightly pungent smell when fresh, like in the cabbage family. 
• Touch : The texture and firmness of the vegetables indicate the freshness. Some vegetables may feel firm, not rubbery such as zucchini and cucumbers. Others will have a slight springiness when fres, such as tomatoes or mushrooms. There are those that feel solid too such as potatoes and onions. 

2. Fruits

The surface of fruits and melons should be largely smooth and even, firm but not hard. Check for dents which may be a sign of damage. Also pay attention to the weight, heaviness can indicate how juicy a fruit or melon is, especially with oranges, lemons, watermelon and cantaloupe. 

Fresh fruits also give out a light aroma, but nothing too overpowering or too strong which may mean over-ripeness. A light and sweet smell is a good indicator of fresh and ripe fruit. 

3. Meat & Poultry

While purchasing meat, search for high tenderness, juiciness and flavor. There should be no tear in skin and fully fleshed/ meaty. The surface is not too dry or too wet with no blood splashes. Avoid rancid smelling meat or anything that’s already mushy or does not bounce back when pressed. 

More tips on choosing meat and poultry by the colors below :

Beef : Looks bright cherry color to indicate freshness, but may also look darker purplish-red when wrapped, which is still okay since the color will return when exposed to air. 

Pork : Pinkish-red color indicates freshness, so avoid any pale- looking meat. 

Poultry : Avoid purple, green or any discoloration. Choose the meat that is pink in color. 

Lamb : Choose soft pink to red color meat. The fat should be white.