How to Become a Better Cook: Tips and Tricks
Are you tired of eating someone else’s cooked meals? Is buying fast food draining your pocket? Do you have a passion for cooking? Do you want to turn cooking into a career? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then you might need to up your culinary skills. Don’t worry, it is not as impossible as you may think. When it comes to cooking, there is always a way to become better at it. You may need to be consistent and change one or two techniques you use. Practice! Practice! Practice! That is the leading way by which cooking will come naturally to you. In no time you will be the requested caterer at events and hangouts! This article takes a look at some little tips and tricks you can adopt to become the best at culinary processes. After going through this, you should be well equipped with information on how to be a better chef.
Invest in the Right Tools
Probably one of the essential steps is to make sure you are using the right utensils for your kitchen duties. When cooking, even the most straightforward task requires a tool. From chopping ingredients to baking, there is a utensil for everything. You should invest in a collection of tools that features chopping boards, mixing bowls, different types of knives, and both deep and shallow frying pans. Using the correct utensils give you a deeper understanding of what you are doing as well as makes the experience simple for you. Getting the right material will mean spending more money, and you might already be cringing at the idea. But before you totally dismiss it, think about it critically, in terms of the benefits you will derive from the investment. Do not forget that the best chefs use only the best, and you like the results of their work. It is time to give the same appreciation to the work of your hands by following their footsteps.
In getting the right tools, ingredients are also an essential factor. You want your meals to turn out beautiful, and so you should go grocery shopping for only high-quality ingredients. Aside from looking good, the food must taste heavenly, and using low-grade ingredients might not get you those results. Contrary to what you may think, you will notice a huge difference when you use the right ingredients. Always make sure you also have enough ingredients stocked up for your meals. You can make a list to know what and how much to get. You can also make weekly plans on what you are going to cook so that you can plan. Imagine combining significant elements with equally good utensils; that is a match made in heaven. Your loved ones and guests will be amazed at your progress.
Get Hold of a Recipe Book
When it comes to learning how to improve cooking skills, another thing to consider is getting a recipe book to practice. If you are a newbie, look out for material on how to learn to cook for beginners. Recipe books contain organized meals categorized by courses, from appetizers to dessert. They also have the ingredients you will need as well as the techniques and measurements required to prepare something. The cookbook will serve as a guide for you to follow. It might be time-consuming to read, but you will do a better job. Even the best chef of today once consulted cookbooks, so there is no harm in doing some research on any meal you want. These days online searches are the way to go as by the click of a button you have all the information you need. Video demonstrations are even more effective because of the practical approach. You are also better off if you have one that has been passed on through your family, especially if you enjoy your homemade meals. You can also ask friends to recommend good books for you. Always make sure that your sources are trustworthy by paying attention to reviews and comments.
Once you get a recipe book, you have to spend time cooking as many of the recipes as possible. If you want to be useful in a specific area, say dessert, then you should focus on practicing from that angle. If you’re going to master a variety of meals, then it is advisable to start with simple recipes and work your way up. The aim is to cook as much as you can to have a lot of the methods at your fingertips. You do not need to use one single cookbook because there might be different ways of achieving one meal. Run through as many until you find one formula that works best for you. In time, you might add your own touches to customize the dish and make it unique to you. Don’t worry about making mistakes: it’s part of the learning process, and you’ll know what and what not to do after a couple of fails.
Eat at Home
There is no way you can master the art of cooking of you do not eat from home. One way that you get enough practice is by disciplining yourself to eat food you have cooked. You can start with your favorite dishes: learn how to make them for yourself and move from there. Sometimes people only like to learn how to cook when they’re starting a strict diet and usually begin with recipes they don’t actually want. Even if you fall in this bracket, it is going to be harder on you to learn. As a beginner, it will be in your best interest to start with things you enjoy. This approach will increase your interest in being in the kitchen, and after a while, you can ease into other meals. The pleasure and satisfaction that comes with cooking the food you love successfully serve as motivation for you to continue to learn.
Home-made cooking is best enjoyed in the company of other people. Having an audience can boost your morale and challenge you to put in your best. That is true because if you know someone else is going you taste your food, you’re going to put in your best. After you have cooked your favorite meals, you might take on your loved ones’ favorite dish as well to try your hands on. Just like everything else, start with one or two people, and later, when you feel more confident, invite some more. Remember that children are sincere and so cook for a couple of youngsters if you need honest reviews. Most of the time, second opinions might point out errors you might miss and gives you another perspective to consider. So, don’t be afraid to invite friends and family over to have tasting parties.
Be Adventurous
You would agree that with so many different cultures, comes a variety of delicious dishes. A great chef is not intimidated by foreign delicacies and embraces the challenge of learning to prepare them. If you look at the broader picture, gaining experience from a wide range of recipes makes you a versatile chef. You have to be open-minded and eat as many delicacies as possible to get the flavors as guidance in your trail. Expand your horizon and try one or two delicacies outside your usual meals. One benefit you derive from eating wide is inspiration. Experiencing different cultures enables you to have creative ideas regarding your own cooking. If it means traveling to other continents to have a firsthand feel, then go ahead. Otherwise, you can consult friends from different parts of the world from you to help. Foreign cooking shows can also help you gain the information you need.
While cooking, find ways and means to entertain yourself, so you do not get tired. You can play some lively music and have a glass of wine to take you through the process. Be mindful that you may be working with fire and sharp objects and so be on the alert. The idea is to make the process pleasurable so that it does not feel like a chore. In a way, your meals might turn out better if you are in a good mood while preparing them.
To Summarize
With all the restaurants and fast food stalls springing up everywhere, it is easy to detach yourself from the kitchen. But sometimes due to personal preference, allergies, or other factors, it might become necessary to get into the cooking yourself. It should not be a back-breaking experience to whip something up to eat. That is why the cooking secrets and tips mentioned above are an excellent way to start. Apart from these, keeping your space organized can go a long way to helping you achieve your goal of becoming a better chef. Every great chef makes sure that the kitchen is in order from the utensils to the ingredients. It gives you easy access to all you need and allows you to move freely. Confidence also plays a significant role, and you should be bold even when you are learning. Note that you will become considerably better with more practice. Eating is a basic necessity so learning how to cook is never unnecessary. Whether you are learning to prepare food for your home or commercial purposes, don’t underestimate the influence of simple cooking tips.
Sources:
- How To Be a Good Cook – WikiHow
- 10 Quick Ways To Become A Better Cook – HuffPost
- 20 Essential Tips to Make You a Better Cook – Bon Appetit
