Braving the kitchen can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Whether you have a few recipes under your belt but you’re looking to perfect the art or you’ve been known to burn a frozen pizza more than a few times, we’ve got some tips for anyone looking to teach themselves how to cook. Let’s get started!
Have the Proper Tools
If you only own plastic sporks, no judgment, but you’ll need some new kitchen tools before you really commit to this whole cooking thing. Now, you don’t have to go to a fancy kitchen store and nab the most expensive pieces you can find, you just need some basic tools, like:
- A sharp chef’s knife for all of the cutting, chopping, and dicing you will soon be doing.
- Mixing bowls in various sizes to make prep much easier.
- Cutting boards to avoid cross contamination.
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons because cooking is a science and you’ll need to make sure you’re using the right amounts so you don’t compromise the flavor and/or texture.
Start Basic
If you’re pretty new to cooking then the first thing you try to cook probably (definitely) shouldn’t be something too involved, but instead start with a pasta dish or tacos. These dishes are tasty, simple to make, and these recipes are also easy to build on. If you start with something too challenging, it’s easy to get frustrated and want to give up.
Create a Cooking Notebook
Creating a cooking notebook is a major move because it allows you to track your progress in the kitchen, keep track of recipes you liked or didn’t like, it makes grocery shopping easier, and it takes the day-to-day guesswork out of what you want to fix for dinner. It’s kind of like creating a cookbook for you by you and years later when you’re practically a professional chef you can humble yourself with that “easy 30-minute meal” that took you two hours.
Expand That Spice Collection
To ensure your dishes are drool-worthy you’ll need an array of spices. Now as long as you’re following recipes, your spice collection will take care of itself. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, basil, and parsley are the essentials you’ll want to have on hand to start with.
Splurge on Pans
Pans area necessity when it comes to cooking, so go ahead and buy the set you’ve had your eye on. Pans with a ceramic coating are the best ones because they are non-stick and don’t scratch as easily so they stay looking fresh.
Follow the Recipe
When you’re just starting out, follow your recipes to a T; ingredients, measurements, instructions, the whole thing. The more experience you get under your chef’s hat, the more adventurous you can get with these things.
Be Patient With Yourself
You’re learning and you’re going to be bad at first and that’s okay. It’s part of the process! But your next dish won’t be as bad, then the next dish will be even better than that and before you know it, you’ll be eating gourmet every night. Allow yourself to be a beginner.