12 Ways How To Be A Better Cook Beginner’s Guide

Learning how to be a better cook and cooking delicious, satisfying meals at home is a skill many aspire to. However, knowing where to start when leveling up your culinary abilities can be intimidating for a beginner. From proper seasoning techniques to fundamental cooking methods, many components go into becoming a confident, capable home cook.

That’s why I’ve written this beginner’s guide detailing 12 core skills that will help equip you with the knowledge needed to succeed in the kitchen. Also, read to the end, where I share one piece of advice I wish I had followed when I first started cooking professionally.

We’ll cover essential topics such as starting with simple recipes and reading them before you begin, heat control, the dangers of overcrowding a pan and learning about cooking methods. With helpful pointers on knife skills, seasoning layers, and other cooking fundamentals, no beginner should go without.

The 12 Ways How To Be A Better Cook The Beginner’s Guide

We’re helping you to become a more confident, capable home cook. Follow the practical step-by-step advice to take your culinary abilities to the next level, regardless of your experience. By the end, you’ll understand what skills you’ll need to craft flavorful dishes that your family and friends will love.

1. Start With Simple Recipes

When beginning to learn how to cook starting with simple recipes is laying the foundation for a culinary journey. As qualified chef, I understand the importance of building confidence in the kitchen. Choose recipes that don’t overwhelm you with a long list of ingredients or intricate steps. Begin with the basics, such as cooked and raw salads, stir-fries, or one-pot dishes.

Simplicity is the key here. Simple recipes allow you to focus on fundamental cooking techniques, like chopping, sautéing, and boiling, without feeling rushed or stressed. For instance, a basic roasted pumpkin salad with a homemade dressing is an excellent starting point. It introduces you to roasting, balancing flavors, and carefully handling ingredients.

2. Read The Recipe Before Starting

Before you start any recipe, make sure you read it thoroughly. It’s like mapping the journey before setting out on a road trip. You wouldn’t want to realize you left something crucial behind when you’re halfway there. So, with a recipe, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the steps and ingredients.

Equally important is making sure you have all the necessary ingredients and equipment. There’s nothing worse than realizing mid-cook that an important component needs to be included. Meticulously review the ingredient list, checking your pantry and fridge to ensure everything is there. This saves time during the cooking process and prevents a frantic last-minute dash to the grocery store.

3. Mastering Knife Skills

Mastering knife skills has been nothing short of a game-changer for me. As a professional chef speed is key to powering through mountains of prep work. Learning to chop, dice, and slice precisely saves time and makes you a better all-round cook.

Practice has been my faithful companion in this endeavor. Regularly honing my knife skills has not only increased my speed but also my confidence in the kitchen. It’s like a culinary dance, where the knife becomes an extension of my creativity, allowing me to express myself through the ingredients.

4. Practice Proper Seasoning

In the world of cooking, flavors, and proper seasoning are the conductors that bring harmony and life to dishes. It’s not just about sprinkling salt and pepper; it’s an art that transforms ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences. Learning how to season food has been a journey of discovery for me. Herbs, spices, the powder of acid — vinegar, citrus, and wine. They all contribute to the final outcome.

The key to proper seasoning is tasting as you go. I’ve learned to trust my palate, adjusting salt, pepper, and spices gradually. It’s a sensory journey where I let the flavors unfold and evolve with each addition. It’s not just about following a recipe; it’s about understanding the personality of each herb, spice, and salt varieties. I allow my experience and senses to guide me in creating layers of flavor.

5. Using the Right Cookware

The right cookware is not just about having a pot or pan but selecting the perfect equipment. First and foremost, you need to understand the different types of cookware. I reach for my trusty stainless-steel saucepan when whipping up a delicate sauce or simmering a flavorful stock. Its design allows for precise temperature control, ensuring that my sauces come out silky.

My go-to is the versatile cast-iron skillet for heartier dishes requiring a slow, gentle braise or an intense sear that locks in juices. Its ability to hold and evenly distribute heat makes it essential for searing steaks. Then there’s the non-stick pan, a superhero for effortlessly flipping pancakes or sautéing delicate fish fillets.

6. Learning The Methods Of Cookery

Learning cooking methods has been like unlocking a treasure trove of culinary possibilities. It’s not just about following recipes but mastering the art of various cooking methods. Exploring these techniques has broadened my skills, making ordinary meals extraordinary culinary experiences.

Blanching, boiling, poaching, and steaming. Roasting, baking, braising, stewing, broiling, and grilling. Sautéing, stir-frying, and searing. These cooking methods involve more than just following instructions. They include understanding how heat, time, and method interact. Each approach offers rewards, making cooking dynamic and engaging.

7. Understanding How To Control The Heat

Mastering the control of heat is akin to wielding a powerful tool. That, when harnessed correctly, allows me to cook fantastic food. It’s not just about turning the stove or oven on; it’s about understanding temperature control and recognizing that different dishes have varying heat levels.

I want you to imagine for a minute. You’ve just spent some serious dollars on some well-marbled grass-fed ribeye steaks. You crank your cast-iron pan to a crazy temperature, you proceed to overcook them, and destroy those beautiful steaks. Heat control is your friend.

8. Don’t Overcrowd The Pan

Remember this golden rule when pan-frying, searing, and sautéing: don’t overcrowd the pan. It’s a simple yet crucial guideline that can make all the difference between a mediocre dish and a culinary masterpiece. Overcrowding a pan is like trying to fit too many knives into a knife case; it doesn’t work.

In the world of cooking, this manifests as insufficient browning, which impacts flavor and texture. Moreover, overcrowding doesn’t just sabotage browning; it opens the door to steaming. As ingredients release moisture, a crowded pan traps that moisture, transforming your cooking environment into a steam room.

9. Invest In A Meat Thermometer

Consider a roast chicken a culinary marvel with a spectrum of flavors locked within. The meat thermometer becomes indispensable. A few degrees can distinguish between a dry disappointment and a juicy triumph. It’s a journey to the heart of the roast, a quest to unveil the perfect temperature that transforms the humble roast chicken into a masterpiece.

The stakes are high, especially when dealing with the diva of the culinary world. The seared, juicy med-rare steak. A few moments too long on the heat, the steak transforms from a tender delicacy to a tough, tasteless piece of meat. The meat thermometer will be your compass, guiding you through the treacherous landscape of doneness.

10. Master Basic Mother Sauces

Sauces can make or break a dish. The flavors that sauces impart and complement dishes can transform them from mere sustenance to culinary masterpieces. Master the five basic mother sauces: espagnole, velouté, béchamel, tomato, and the famous hollandaise sauce.

These sauces aren’t just recipes but culinary foundations, the building blocks of a chef’s repertoire. Each sauce has its place in culinary history.

11. Learn To Present Plates Like A Pro

As a chef, plating and presentation are second nature. I understand that a well-presented dish is not just food on a plate. It’s a masterpiece that engages all the senses, where simple techniques transform meals into visually captivating experiences.

Sauces become my artistic strokes, adding flavor and visual intrigue. I drizzle, dot, or swipe sauces strategically with a deft hand, turning the plate into a canvas where each stroke enhances taste and aesthetics. Garnishes are the final flourishes of fresh herbs, edible flowers, or finely grated cheese They add pops of color, freshness, and texture, elevating the plate from a mere meal to a work of art.

12. Watch Cooking Shows And Read Recipe Blogs

Watching online tutorials and exploring cooking blogs (like the one you’re on now) will give you ideas and inspiration to develop specific skills. The tutorials for exploring advanced cooking techniques will become your mentors. The pause button will become your ally, allowing you to dissect every step and replicate it in the kitchen.

I find inspiration unfolds in unexpected moments. A casual pancake flip or a vibrant sauce drizzle can spark a creative flame in my culinary imagination. It’s the intangible magic that watching professionals at work brings. The encouragement to step out of my comfort zone and infuse my dishes with innovation.

Bonus — Don’t Be Afraid To Fail

Embracing failure is not an admission of incompetence; it’s a declaration of courage. In the crucible of the kitchen, I’ve come to recognize that the most innovative recipes are often born from unexpected detours. Failure is the spark that ignites creativity, pushing me to question, adapt, and evolve.

Mistakes are the breadcrumbs leading to mastery. When a recipe crumbles, I don’t discard it; I gather and reconstruct the fragments. It’s a refinement process of discovering the delicate balance between ingredients, temperatures, and techniques. Failure is not the end; it’s the draft before the masterpiece.

Cooking Is A Science And A Skill

Cooking is a science and a skill that requires a deep understanding of both the technical and creative aspects. Cooking is also a matter of precise measurements and ratios.

For example, baking is particularly sensitive to accurate measurements and temperatures. A slight deviation in the amount of an ingredient or cooking degrees can result in a completely different outcome. So, to help you, here is a handy little unit converter tool for cooking without guesswork.