How to Thicken Chili – Tried and Tested

30 May 2021

A cold winter night with a delicious dish of chili is all you need to enjoy your moment. But wait, Are you left with too much liquid in your chili? Ah! No need to worry at all. There are numerous ways on “how to thicken chili”.

Honestly, you don’t want a thin chili because there is nothing better than a cheerful bowl of thick chili as your winter dish. Many times, just to thicken the chili, people cook it more than it is necessary. Later, other ingredients in it fall apart and turn to mush.

Don’t panic. There are effective and easy ways to thicken chili at your home, and all of these methods are tried and tested. Just be sure to use at least some of these methods to thicken chili before your precious moment turns into sour.

How To Thicken Chili – Tried and Tested

Thicken Chili

You may be wondering that cooking your dish for a little longer will make your chili thick. But do you know that you are mushing other ingredients in it? So, you must know other effective ways about how to thicken chili. Below listed are the perfect ways to thicken chili for the perfect night.

1. Flour – Standard Thickening Method:

Flour

Wheat flour is composed of proteins, sugars, lipids, starch, and enzymes. It is used for making different types of foods. Flour is widely used for thickening chili in most of the kitchens. It really works great. Now its time to try for yourself as well.

Ingredients:

30ml or two tablespoons of flour and 60ml or ¼ cup of cold water.

How to Use?

Take a separate bowl. Mix flour and water thoroughly in it.
Make sure that the resulting mixture has no lumps and is smooth.
Then add the flour mixture in your thin chili while cooking it in medium-high heat.
Stir constantly. Let the mixture boil and thicken well. It will hardly take few minutes.
Make sure to continue stirring an additional few seconds to see if you are able to detect flour in your chili flavor.

So, here is your hearty chili dish! Now, it is much thicker and tastier than before. You can even serve this to your guests.

2. Arrowroot- Best Thickening Agent:

Arrowroot contains Vitamin B, Iron, Potassium, low-protein, starch, etc. It is widely used as a thickening agent in all household kitchens. It is a starch that is extracted from the arrowroot plant. When you will use arrowroot in your dish, then it will give an amazing surface gloss to your liquid chili.

Ingredients:

5ml or 1 tablespoon of Arrowroot and 5ml or 1 tablespoon of cold water.

How to Use?

Take a separate bowl. Mix thoroughly water and arrowroot to turn it into a smooth paste.
Make sure that you add only a small amount of arrowroot as it is potent and flavorless.
Then add slurry into your thin chili cooking it in medium heat.
Stir constantly below the boiling point.
Then after 1 to 2 minutes, your thin chili will thicken instantly.

Arrowroot adds gloss like appearance to your chili dish making your dish thicker and delicious. I have used this method and got the result, so now it’s your time!

3. Cornstarch- Anti-sticking Agent:

Cornstarch is also known as Maize starch which is extracted from the maize grain. It is a food ingredient that is used in thickening soups and sauces. Cornstarch gives a moderate glossy appearance and when mixed with liquid, it rearranges itself.

Ingredients:

15ml or 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 15ml or 1 tablespoon of cold water.

How to Use?

Take a separate bowl. Mix thoroughly cornstarch and water before mixing it to chili.
After adding cornstarch paste to chili, heat it in a medium to high flame.
Stir it well until the bubbles start appearing.
Wait for few minutes to see the results.
If you still feel that your chili should be thicker then you can add more cornstarch and water on it.
Then let it cook for an additional few minutes.

You can use cornstarch to thicken your chili because it will not alter the taste of your dish of chili as cornstarch is flavorless.

Other Simple Ways to Thicken Your Thin Chili:

4. Mix it in Tomato Paste

Now, no need to worry about how to thicken chili. If you want your chili only a little thick then you can use this method. Tomato is one of the main elements in chili. So adding it to your mixture won’t alter its taste and makes your chili thicker.

Ingredients:

170 grams of tomato paste.

How to Use?

I am suggesting that you should use fresh handmade tomato paste.
Since tomato paste is recognized as bitter in taste, so you can add a pinch of sugar in it.
Sugar will add a mild sweetness to your dish by removing tomato’s bitterness.
During the final thirty minutes of cooking add 170 grams of tomato paste into your thin chili.
Slowly add tomato paste to your thin chili. You can also add it after every ten minutes if you wish (⅓ of the tomato paste).
Stir constantly to combine it well.

You can use tomato paste to thicken your thin chili dish. But keep all the instructions in mind so as not to make any mistakes while preparing it.

5. Use More Beans to Thicken Your Thin Chili:

A bean is a seed of numerous genera of the flowering plant. They have the ability to curl up on any medium. Beans can be use to thicken your thin chili. Do you know that India is the largest producer of dry beans in the world? Yes, it is.

Ingredients:

125ml or a half-cup beans.

How to Use?

If your chili contains beans then strain half cup of beans. Then refry and blend it.
Then again mix this mixture to your chili and cook for a few minutes.
Stir occasionally to warm it well.
You can use canned or home-cooked beans as per your wish.
If you still feel that your chili is thin, you can add extra beans in it but make sure you blend it well.

Here you go! Your thick chili dish is ready now to serve your family. If you don’t like beans then no need to worry. You can add meats to make your chili thicker.

Wrapping it Up

“How to thicken chili” is one of the major problems for all the cook masters. Even I have used many methods to thicken my thin chili but all went in vain!

Therefore, all the above methods are tried and tested about how to thicken chili. So, you can use it to thicken your thin chili. I know nobody likes to serve thin chili to their family or guests. Even I don’t like it. Do you?

Image source: wikihow

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

All you Need to Know About the Different Types of Coffee

Coffee lovers would want to try different types of coffee to find their perfect match. A tasty cup of coffee in the morning would brighten your day. If you are working in the office you would want to have a cup of coffee at lunchtime. Whenever you visit a cafe or a coffee shop, you are likely to see an ad of a newly launched taste or flavor. You would love to give it a try, right? Below is a discussion of different types of coffee. Read on for more information Different Types of Coffee: You must be willing to know how many types of coffee are out there in the market, for example, Kimbo coffee. However, you would be interested to know that there are more than thirty different types of coffee. Let’s discuss a few of them. 1. Cappucino: This kind of coffee is quite common and whenever you would visit a cafe or coffee shop you are likely to see this particular type in the menu. You can enjoy it at breakfast or it would depend on your preference. It has three layers for you to enjoy the flavor. Enjoy cappuccino! 2. Espresso: Who is not familiar with this type of coffee! You can see it around quite often. Some people enjoy espresso a lot and making a good one is truly an art. Not everyone is great at making espresso. It falls under the category of black coffee. Thus, if you prefer no milk in the coffee this is what you are going to try for sure. Enjoy espresso! 3. Ristretto: It is a regular espresso but it is made with half the amount of water. It is a type that falls under black coffee. Thus, if you are among the ones who enjoy coffee without milk, you can try this particular one. Due to the difference in the amount of water, this particular coffee has a different taste than the regular espresso. Enjoy ristretto! 4. Americano: This type of coffee is said to be common with the soldiers of the second world war. Later on, it gained popularity. However, espresso is the main base of this particular type of coffee. Actually, in this type, a small espresso shot involves a large amount of water. Maybe this is the way American soldiers had been trying to keep their coffee for a longer period! Enjoy americano! 5. Long Black: You can consider long black as a type of coffee, which is similar to Americano, but instead of one, there are two espresso shots in it. The amount of water in this type would remain the same, though. This type of coffee could also be made with ristretto as well. Whatever you like the most. It is quite rare to find good-tasting premium coffee. However, with the right cafe, person, or equipment, you can find an amazing cup. Enjoy long black! 6. Instant Coffee: You must be quite familiar with this type of coffee as it is the simplest one to make. All you need is hot water and the coffee powder. Mix the two and you would get your instant coffee. It is interesting to note that this kind of coffee has a longer shelf life. Enjoy instant coffee! 7. Flat White: For those who like milk-based coffee would like to try the flat white. It has espresso but the amount of steam milk in this particular coffee type is lower. You can still feel the amazing espresso aroma but you can still enjoy the milky base. This would be great for milk coffee lovers. Enjoy flat white! 8. Latte: This kind of coffee would have a lot of milk in it. So, the milk lovers are definitely going to enjoy the taste, flavor, and aroma. It is different from the Capuccino and Flat White. It would be a good idea to try all the milk-based coffee types and decide for yourself which one you like the most. In fact, learn to make some good coffee as well. It would be great to make a cup of coffee for someone and yourself. Enjoy latte! Above are some of the types of coffee that you can commonly find. There is a huge variety available out there. However, here only a few are discussed especially the common ones. What you can do is try a few of these and see for yourself which one you like the most. You can also order the home use coffee equipment online too! Finding The Best Coffee Equipment: You can make great coffee if you have the right beans and equipment. Not everyone is a great coffee maker, which is why people rush to their favorite cafe in the morning. People love to have some coffee at breakfast as their day is incomplete without a good cup of coffee. Life is short, enjoy simple moments. One of which is savoring a great cup of coffee at your favorite place in the world. Try different flavors and make sure you find the one that suits your style statement and your taste. Learn to make some good coffee as well so that you can be a proud host! Get home use coffee equipment and beans in Kuwait from the Qavashop Kuwait. Visit the official website for more information. Final Words: In order to understand how many different types of coffee are out there in the market, you can simply visit a coffee shop or a cafe. In that cafe or coffee shop, you would be able to take a glance at the menu and you would know what is available. It is a great idea to learn about the most common types of coffee. But, it would depend on you what type or kind you enjoy the most. Not everyone serves great coffee, which is why it is important for you to find your signature style and invest in good equipment that can make great coffee for you. Find your best! Enjoy Coffee! Read Also: Monthly Best Coffee Subscription How To Make Coffee With Aeropress Machine 7 Fantastically Unusual Uses Of Old Coffee Beans

How To Cook And Eat Frozen Squid

Depending on where you live and what season you’re in, it’s possible to buy frozen squid in the frozen section of your local supermarket. Frozen squid is a type of squid that has been preserved by freezing. This way, it doesn’t keep remaining. It loses to Water vapor and therefore doesn’t stick to the plate. You can buy frozen squid from the refrigerated section of your local supermarket. You can also buy it frozen at a bulk market. When you purchase frozen squid, it usually has a trace on it. Are The Cooking Process Different For Frozen Squid And Fresh Ones? This means it is not fresh squid but frozen squid. This means that it has not been skinned and therefore doesn’t have cartilage. This means it is not as juicy and tender. You can also buy frozen squid without a trace on sale or at a bulk market. Wrong Cooking and Eating Frozen squid? Read on to know how to cook and eat frozen squid. Fresh squid is killed by cooking, which leads to the cartilage being killed. Frozen squid does not have any step in between the cooking and the preserving. The squid is still alive. So, it is not as juicy and tender. When you buy frozen squid, it usually has traces on it. Often the squid lovers search for frozen squid near me. And find the best-frozen squid food. But you can make these delicious food items in your home kitchen. This means it is not fresh squid but frozen Squid. This means it has not been skinned and therefore doesn't have cartilage. This means it is not as juicy and tender. You can also buy frozen squid without a trace on frozen squid for sale or from a bulk market. How To Cook The Frozen Squid At Your Home Kitchen? The most important thing to remember when cooking and eating frozen Squid is to follow the recipe as closely as possible. You don't want to over-cook or change something you know will be gone in the next day or two. There are two ways to cook and eat frozen squid: boiling or cold pressing. Boiling is the most common way to cook and eat frozen squid. On the other hand, cold pressing is cooking and then using a press to press the seafood against the pan. Please read the recipe, which will answer your question. Ingredients Requirements For Fried Frozen Squid 300 gm of frozen Squid Rings from the supermarket100 gm of bread crumbs3 Beaten EggsTwo teaspoons of salts and peppers Large bowel to fry and required oil100gm of plain all-purpose flour Preparations Directions: It’s essential to buy frozen squid when you’re in the chilled section of your local supermarket. You can buy it at a bulk market and have it in stock when you get to your store. When you purchase frozen squid, it usually has traces on it. This means it is not fresh squid but frozen Squid. This means it has not been skinned and therefore doesn’t have cartilage. This means it is not as juicy and tender. You can also buy frozen squid without a trace on sale or at a bulk market. Here is the whole frozen squid recipe. Please read it and make this delicious food item at your home. Step1: First, add the salts and peppers to the beaten eggs. Also, add the salts and peppers to the rings. Heat up the oil in the pan for at least 10 minutes. Step2: Coat the rings with all-purpose flour after preparing the frozen rings. Then dip the rings into the beaten eggs. Step4: Apply the coating on the rings with the beaten eggs, and add the second layer of coating with the bread crumbs. After two layerings, set aside the rings. And heat up the oils in the pan. Step5: Fry the coated frozen squid in the dipping oil. Then your preparation is ready to eat. Use the paper towel to absorb the excess oils from the rings. You can serve the plate with excellent sauces of red peppers or any spicy sauces. Conclusion: Frozen squid is the perfect food for those who love to eat. It is healthy, easy, and quick to cook, and you can eat them even if you are not a culinary enthusiast. However, just like any other food, frozen squid needs to be cooked to achieve the perfect texture and flavor. So, what to cook frozen squid for? We have got you covered! Keep following these cooking menu guidelines and enjoy the crispy frozen squid while sitting at your home. Read Also Tools to Turn Unruly Seafood Into DinnerHow to Get Your Baby Started on Solid FoodsHow To Cook Sausage That Tastes Like HeavenBuy the Best-Tasting & Freshest Seafood Online in 2021

How to Harvest Potatoes: A Complete Guide from Planting to Storage

If there is something that I have learned in life, it is about gardening. Well, almost everything if not all. And if there is one thing that took me some time to master, it was knowing how to harvest potatoes at home! Potatoes are one of the most versatile and popular vegetables in the world. They can be cooked in many different ways, such as boiled, baked, fried, mashed, or roasted. Moreover, they are also rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. But how do you grow and harvest your own potatoes at home? You see, potatoes are not like cilantro or other plants. These are tubers. In this article, I will show you everything you need to know about how to harvest potatoes, from planting to storage. So, if that is something that you are interested in knowing, then I have you covered! Keep on reading this blog till the end to learn more... How to Plant Potato Seeds or Tubers? The first step in how to harvest potatoes is to plant them. You can start with either potato seeds or tubers. Potato seeds are small, round, and black, and they are usually sold in packets. Potato tubers are the actual potatoes that you eat, and they have eyes or buds that can sprout new plants. You can buy certified seed potatoes from a nursery or garden center, or use organic potatoes from the grocery store. Here are some if the steps that you must take to plant them: Planting Potato Seeds To plant potato seeds, you need to sow them indoors in pots or trays filled with moist potting soil. Place them in a sunny spot and keep the soil moist but not soggy. The seeds will germinate in about two weeks and produce small green shoots. When the shoots are about 3 inches tall, you can transplant them outdoors in your garden or in containers. Planting Potato Tubers To plant potato tubers, you need to cut them into pieces, each with at least one eye. You can do this a few days before planting to let the cut surfaces heal and prevent rotting. Alternatively, you can plant whole small potatoes with several eyes. To prepare the soil, you need to loosen it and add some organic matter, such as compost or manure. You also need to make sure the soil is well-drained and slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0. You can use a soil test kit to check the pH level and adjust it with lime or sulfur if needed. Planting Potato Pieces To plant the potato pieces, you need to dig a trench about 4 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Place the pieces about 12 inches apart, with the eyes facing up. Cover them with 3 inches of soil and water well. As the plants grow, you need to hill up the soil around them to cover the lower stems and prevent the tubers from being exposed to sunlight, which can turn them green and bitter. You can also mulch the soil with straw, leaves, or grass clippings to retain moisture and suppress weeds. How to Care for Your Potato Plants? The second step in how to harvest potatoes is to care for your potato plants. You need to water them regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. You also need to fertilize them every two weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract. Also, you can add some wood ash or bone meal to provide extra potassium and phosphorus, which are essential for tuber formation. You also need to protect your potato plants from pests and diseases, which can reduce your yield and quality. Some of the common potato pests are: Colorado potato beetles, which are yellow and black striped insects that feed on the leaves and can defoliate the plants. You can handpick them and drop them in a bucket of soapy water, or use an organic insecticide, such as neem oil or pyrethrin. Potato leafhoppers, which are small, green, winged insects that suck the sap from the leaves and cause them to curl and yellow. You can spray them with a strong jet of water, or use an organic insecticide, such as garlic or hot pepper spray. Wireworms, which are thin, brown, worm-like larvae that bore into the tubers and cause holes and tunnels. You can trap them with pieces of carrot or potato buried in the soil, or use beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic worms that parasitize and kill the wireworms. Common Potato Diseases One of the most common reasons why a potato cannot grow or survive is the diseases. If you were wondering what some of these can be and how to deal with them, I have you covered! Some of the common potato diseases are: Late Blight: It is a fungal disease that causes brown spots on the leaves and stems, and black or brown lesions on the tubers. It can spread rapidly and destroy the entire crop. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, avoiding overhead watering, and removing any infected plants and tubers. You can also use a fungicide, such as copper or sulfur, as a preventive measure. Scab: This is a bacterial disease that causes rough, corky patches on the tubers. It does not affect the taste or edibility of the potatoes, but it reduces their appearance and storage quality. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, maintaining a slightly acidic soil pH, and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization. Potato Virus Y: Lastly, this is a viral disease that causes mosaic patterns, mottling, or yellowing on the leaves, and misshapen or knobby tubers. It can reduce the yield and quality of the potatoes, and it can be transmitted by aphids or infected seed potatoes. You can prevent it by planting certified virus-free seed potatoes, controlling aphids, and removing any infected plants and tubers. How to Determine When Your Potatoes Are Ready to Harvest? The third step in how to harvest potatoes is to determine when they are ready to harvest. This depends on the type and variety of potatoes you planted, and the size and maturity you want. There are two main types of potatoes: early and late. Early potatoes are ready to harvest in about 10 to 12 weeks (about 3 months) after planting, and they produce small to medium-sized tubers that are tender and thin-skinned. They are best for boiling, steaming, or roasting. Late potatoes are ready to harvest in about 15 to 20 weeks (about 4 and a half months) after planting, and they produce large, starchy tubers that are firm and thick-skinned. They are best for baking, mashing, or frying. Early Harvesting To harvest early potatoes, you can start digging them up when the plants begin to flower, or when the lower leaves start to yellow. You can use a garden fork or a spade to gently lift the plants and tubers from the soil, or you can use your hands to feel for the tubers under the soil. You can harvest as many or as few potatoes as you need, and leave the rest in the ground until you are ready to use them. You can also harvest some of the young, tender leaves and stems, which are edible and nutritious. Late Harvesting To harvest late potatoes, you need to wait until the plants have died back completely, or until the first frost. This allows the tubers to develop a thicker skin, which helps them store better. You can use a garden fork or a spade to dig up the entire row of plants and tubers, or you can use a potato digger, which is a special tool that lifts and separates the tubers from the soil. You need to be careful not to damage or bruise the tubers, as this can cause rotting or spoilage. How to Dig Up, Cure, and Store Your Potatoes? The final step in how to harvest potatoes is to dig up, cure, and store your potatoes. This is important to preserve the quality and shelf life of your potatoes, and to prevent them from sprouting, rotting, or shrinking. Here are the steps to follow: Digging Up After digging up your potatoes, you need to brush off any excess soil and remove any damaged, diseased, or green tubers. Do not wash your potatoes, as this can remove the protective skin and invite bacteria and fungi. You can wash them just before cooking or eating them. Curing You need to cure your potatoes for about two weeks in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place, such as a basement, garage, or shed. This allows the skin to harden and heal any minor cuts or bruises and enhances the flavor and texture of the potatoes. The ideal temperature for curing is between 50°F and 60°F, and the ideal humidity is between 80% and 90%. You can spread your potatoes in a single layer on a newspaper, cardboard, or wooden crate, and avoid exposing them to light, which can turn them green and bitter. Storing You need to store your potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a cellar, pantry, or closet. The ideal temperature for storage is between 40°F and 50°F, and the ideal humidity is between 65% and 70%. You can store your potatoes in paper bags, cardboard boxes, mesh bags, or wooden crates, and check them regularly for any signs of sprouting, rotting, or shriveling. You can also store your potatoes in a root cellar, which is an underground or partially underground structure that maintains a constant temperature and humidity. Additionally, you can also store your potatoes in a clamp, which is a mound of straw, hay, or leaves covered with soil, that insulates and protects the potatoes from frost and rodents. Wrapping It Up! If you want to know about how to harvest potatoes, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. However, if there are any other queries related to the same, please feel free to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your comments and suggestions in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you! Read Also: How to Harvest Lettuce: A Step-by-Step Guide for Fresh and Crispy Salads Everything You Need To Know About Harvesting Basil! Asparagus 101: When, How, And How Often To Harvest?

How to Thicken Chili – Tried and Tested