Top Tips for Getting Better in the Kitchen.
Cooking is not a skill that we are just born with. While many people learn it from their parents or guardians, it seems like even those parents and guardians don’t know how to cook these days! Blame it on fast food joints and affordable prepared food at the market. However, if you want to cook healthy meals for yourself or your family, you may be grappling with a variety of different problems. Cooking at home can be very rewarding, but before you can do it well, you’ll need to do some basic things. Making your own meals can also help to save money. For an individual on a budget or a family with a limited income, that really can make a difference. Buying prepared meals can easily cost 10-times as much, especially when you consider the fact that you can make some things in large quantities for very little money. Use this guide to help you improve your skills in the kitchen and start feeding yourself, your family and your friends with the food you make.
Start Slow Learning to cook isn’t one of those things that you can do overnight. In fact, it could easily take you months to perfect even one dish. So how do you go about feeding your family and serving others? The best bet is to start slow and work on recipes that are simple. Soups, pasta dishes and even condiments like homemade salsa are excellent beginner dishes. These will be edible and delicious even as you perfect your technique, so you don’t have to worry about making major mistakes that will ruin your food. Start cooking foods you like as well, not just things that are easy. Break down dishes into smaller steps and leave harder processes out if you need to.
What Do You Like? A big part of cooking is figuring out what style of food you like and really want to work on preparing. Do you have a Chinese background and want to master that style of cooking? Maybe you just love pizza and pasta and want to be able to serve people the best ravioli they’ve ever had outside of Italy! One of the best ways to figure out what you like – if you don’t already know – is to flip through some cookbooks. You’ll likely find that one particular style appeals to you, or maybe a menagerie of different styles is best, but with certain continuous components. Make note of different dishes you want to prepare and spend a few dollars on printed cookbooks. They’re a great guide for getting better in the kitchen and all of the recipes will be reliable.
Cook Regularly Cooking is something that takes a fair amount of practice to even do well on a basic level. If you want to get really good at it and make it feel like second nature, you’re going to need to spend some time in the kitchen. Make dinner for your family every night or when you have time. Practice making larger meals even for yourself and keep the leftovers in the refrigerator. They’ll be great the next day and you’ll be getting the hang of cooking for a bigger group – something that’s important as you develop your skills. You’ll also want to branch out into foods that you don’t normally cook. If you usually skip breakfast, try making eggs in the morning until you get that perfect sunny side up or scramble.
Practice Your Skills Unless you’re in culinary school and you’re training to become a chef, you’re probably not going to stand around all day chopping practice onions to get the perfect dice. That doesn’t mean you can’t work on the particular skills that need work. Focus on making dishes that push you outside your comfort zone. If you’re not good at chopping onions, try making a French onion soup! Doing the thing that’s uncomfortable is essential, and eventually, you won’t dread those tasks anymore.
Take Classes If you don’t feel like you’re progressing in the kitchen on your own, or you’re just the type of person that does better with an instructor, consider taking cooking and baking classes such as these ones offered by Cozymeal. You’ll find a variety of different classes in your area, and no matter what you want to cook, you’ll be able to find the right style. Whether you want to bake perfect wedding cakes or you want to make your own pasta by hand, a cooking class is one of the best ways to do it. Look for times that suit your schedule, but try to take at least once class per week. Taking less than one class per week will leave you rusty and won’t offer enough time for you to really practice.
I was lucky and my parents taught me. I have learned a lot about cooking by just doing it!
thanks for the great tips, I need all the help I can get
What great suggestions for the Beginner Cook. I have been cooking for so long I can do it in my sleep!! Lol!! But I can Still remember 51 yrs ago when I was first married and the Problems I had! Hahah! Love the nice White clean Kitchen in the Photo! Lots of Cabinets and counter space! Perfect for me! 🙂
These are great tips for getting your kids ready to start cooking too!
If I don’t like the food I’m cooking, I don’t always get it right. Does anyone else have that problem? I do agree with the advice about cooking, you need to practice until you get it right & when you don’t, it’s nice to know you have some Glad on hand 🙂
These are some great tips!
I started cooking when I was about 12. I have always love to cook and enjoy trying new recipes. But my grandchildren could use some help.
Great tips! When I first got out of high school, I couldn’t boil water! Now, I am a great cook..if I say so myself…my family enjoys my meals and often times I’m asked by others to make certain dishes…it takes time…it’s an art!
These are great tips. I have a few things that I can cook pretty good but I’m not very good at a lot of things so I try to avoid them. After reading this I’m going to try the start slow so that I can perfect other dishes.
I’m actually glad I came across this article! I have been trying to learn to cook more and better. The slow cooker has been my friend lol
I love to bake and I was very lucky to have a mother and grandmother to teach me these skills at a young age. It makes me sad that some of the younger people I know show no interest. All of my kids who are now adults know how to cook and I am teaching my grandchildren.
I love my kitchen, but I want to try some of these great tips! I would love to take a cooking class to learn some new recipes.
Love the tips – I’m not a huge kitchen person (my partner is) but I am learning to be! These are super helpful for the next time I get inspired to be in the kitchen!
These are great tips, I do think it is important to let new cooks know that nobody is born knowing how to and everyone must learn.
Thanks for this very helpful information! That Kitchen is to die for………..Love it!!!!
Very good tips especially about starting slow and finding what you like to cook.
I am very happy with my kitchen, however I would not mind having an island.
I’m not the best cook , help.
Great tips! I was pretty much an amateur cooker when my husband and I first got together. But with a couple of years of practice and plenty of trail and error, I love it and he loves everything I make! 🙂
I love to cook and bake! It makes me feel like a great wife and mom to take care of my husband and son the way I should! My God Mother taught me how to cook mostly. The rest I taught myself! Love to make my boys proud ?
Love the tip on a better kitchen. Thanks for these
I love to cook especially when cooking with someone else. Cooking is a way to bring the family together.
I wish I could cook more but my kitchen and countertops are miniscule 🙁
I love cooking! Unfortunately, these days I’m usually cooking for myself– I live with someone whose eating/dietary habits are VERY different than mine (e.g., I don’t eat any meat). And as some of the others have commented, I would just love to take a cooking class or workshop!
I love to cook. One tip I have is to always a sink of dishwater ready when you start. Drop items in the water as you go. If you a few seconds during the prep time, wash those few items. It sure makes it quicker when you’re all done.
I love to cook and these are all great tips, I pretty much do all the cooking and cleaning, hubby tries to get in there once and awhile lol
@tisonlyme143
I love to cook and make dinner just about every night. I think taking a class to learn how to bake would be fun….and I’m sure my family would enjoy it.
I love to cook Taking a class would help and be fun!! Im always on the lookout for new recipes!
You got that right! I’m a terrible cook. I am afraid to practice because I’d be wasting alot of food. Luckily, my husband is an excellent cook.
I wish I liked to cook more , but it’s my least favorite chore of all!
Great tips! I’m not the best cook, but I love baking :]
Great tips! I am a self taught cook and love to experiment with new ideas.
I’ve always wanted to take a cooking class. I think that it would be fun to learn how to make a few fancy desserts.
I love to cook and we love to experiment with different foods, so many flavors out there and ideas not to try!
Good advice. I love to cook and have done a pretty good job, but it sure does take a lot of practice to be able to do it smoothly. I am gradually getting more comfortable with it.
These are really great tips. I would love to take a cooking class.