“Cooking is one failure after another, and that’s how you finally learn.”
– Julia Childs
World famous chef, Julia Childs, hints at the patience required to master the art of cooking. For some, it comes naturally, for the rest of us, success is a process. If you’ve repeatedly attempted to prepare a delicious meal for your family, only to end up ordering take out, rest assured – there is hope. Here are five ways to become a better cook.
1. Professional Classes
Luckily, plenty of professionals are willing to share their expertise. Look online or at a community center near you to find a culinary class that ranges from basic to advanced. If you have a favorite discipline (like cake making, pastry work or bread making), feel free to start there. Enrolling in a culinary course will ensure that you learn how to do things properly, while granting you the liberty of asking questions in real-time. Upon graduation, you’ll leave with both confidence and know-how, starting you on your way to becoming the cook of your wildest dreams.
2. Media
Fortunately, there are many media forums that can help sharpen your kitchen skills. Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram are perfect for collecting recipes. Simply search relevant hashtags to instantly receive hundreds of posts to inspire your home chef pursuits. If you’d prefer explanatory videos, YouTube has countless channels to teach you the ins and out of cooking.
But let’s not forget about the most traditional cooking inspiration in media: television culinary demos have helped millions of people all over the world impress their families with tasty dishes. Whichever your preference, you’re bound to find whatever you need through culinary media.
3. Hands-On Practice
There’s no better method than practice. Undoubtedly, cooking can be daunting and overwhelming when you don’t have a ton of experience. But the only way to conquer that setback is to get in the kitchen and get to work. You may not knock it out of the park on your first, second or third try, but eventually, your efforts will pay off. Don’t give up!
4. Start Slow
Because we have so much experience eating complicated dishes, it can be tempting to start out by cooking similar dishes. However, taking things slow is a better approach. Start with the basics. Practice boiling water, making one dish at a time instead of multitasking, and getting familiar with staple ingredients. Although perfecting these elements may not be the most fun part of cooking, doing so will help you in the future.
5. Get a Tutor
We all know someone who dominates in the kitchen. At family events or holiday parties, you can bet that everyone will be raving about their food. Instead of simply dreaming you could cook like your favorite chef, be bold and ask them to be your cooking tutor! Go to their house and watch them cook. Take note of how they set up their kitchen, how they pace themselves, and what resources they use. Interview them about their growth and best practices and ask for hands on help.
No matter how many times you fail, remember cooking is a skill and all skills are strengthened through experience. Continue to invest time and dedication in the kitchen, and little by little, you will grow. Keep in mind, cooking is a lifelong pursuit and there will always be more to learn and new tricks to try. Use these five cooking tips to get started!
