The worst thing we can do to beginner cooks is gatekeep information and act like cooking elitists! Whether Gordon Ramsay or your parents, every cook started from the bottom and made themselves into fantastic chefs through experience and a culmination of learned tips. Cooking is incredibly fun, and it’s high time for us to welcome beginners and guide them into becoming fantastic home cooks.
Let’s demystify cooking and lay the foundation for future cooks. Here are five cooking tips that every beginner should know to master the art of cooking!
Focus On What’s On The Stove
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s a mistake even veteran home cooks make far too often. Whether it be when you’re frying or letting a meal simmer on the stove, make sure to never leave the kitchen when you’re cooking.
As a beginner, you shouldn’t risk burning a meal to finish a small task like running to the mailbox. You’re free to do whatever you want after your meal is off the stove, so while something is still cooking— stay in the kitchen and keep your eyes on the prize.
Get An Excellent Chef’s Knife
A knife is a cook’s best friend. Your knife will be with you through thick and thin while you cut through various types of food with differing levels of hardness and texture. Thus, it’s crucial for you to have a tool that works best for the job and makes menial tasks easier and more efficient! Don’t settle for a $5 knife with a dull blade and poor quality.
The more you use your knife, the better you will be at cutting by incorporating different techniques.
Buy Fresh Ingredients & Invest In Spices
Once you’re done choosing a recipe for tonight’s dinner, it’s time for a quick run to the grocery store. Buying fresh ingredients allows you to get an authentic taste of the actual recipe. Your seasoning pantry is probably not that extensive for now, but salt and pepper won’t be enough if you want to broaden your horizons and make delicious food.
Next time you go shopping for fresh ingredients, stop by the spice aisle and try getting these:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes
- Paprika
- Nutmeg
- Italian seasoning
Avoid Overcrowding Your Pan
Meat releases moisture when you’re cooking, which means that overcrowding your pan will cause your food to steam rather than develop a deep brown texture! If you want to really bring out the flavor of what you’re cooking, make sure you give enough space between each cut of meat so that it cooks evenly and browns better.
If your pan is too small, cook your food in batches. You shouldn’t be in a rush, don’t sacrifice time for quality.
Cold Meat & A Hot Pan Aren’t A Great Pair
Rule one of cooking meat: always let it go to room temperature before putting it in the pan. Putting cold meat in a hot frying pan is a recipe for disaster. The cold meat is going to cool the pan, which puts more moisture into the pan. This leads to your meat becoming overcooked on the outside and undercooked on the inside.
If you’re frying your meat with oil, putting in your meat when it’s fresh out of the freezer will also cause the oil to violently splash around, which can lead to a very painful lesson.
We hope these five tips can help you on your cooking journey and help you improve the way you prepare your meals. The journey is long, but aenjoying it every step of the way is the key to ensuring that you evolve into an amazing home cook!