How do I start on learning to cook?!
How do I start on learning to cook?
My mother reckons it's high-time I learn to cook, something I am not enthusiastically looking forward to. But I suppose I really should. Please any pointers?
Answers:
Oh - how fun! Don't worry, it's really not as grueling as it seems and it can be a lot of fun.
First I recommend you start easy... and make what you LOVE to eat. That will motivate you for sure. And it's a good idea to try to make something you know you are going to like and enjoy - it'll put some fun into the cooking process.
You can find lots of easy recipes on line.........
www.foodtv.com (I recommend using the guide they have on the recipes that say EASY first so you know you can tackle it).
Be patient with yourself...... you won't be perfect the first time out. No one is.
Above all - safety first. Have your mother show you the proper way to chop and handle a knife (make sure it is sharp, as dull knives only increase your risk of injury). Be careful when using graters and other funky utensils, tools and gadgets like food processor. Your attention to these things while learning to cook, will ensure you have a good cooking experience.
Always use pot holders and be careful when cooking with hot liquids/oils.
Also be careful about handling raw meats of any kind, you don't want food borne illness.
I would ask your mom or a friend who cooks well to try your first recipe out with you. That would be most ideal. You can learn a lot by watching.
Take time to watch the Food Network or other cooking shows.......sometimes watching someone go through the actual motions and understanding even the most simplest techniques, will help you embrace cooking better.
Have fun and good luck to you - you will do fine.
go shopping for ingredients, buy cookbooks, and get an account on allrecipes.com
Watch food network.
Start watching Emeril Live every weeknight and before you know it you'll be a pro. I started watching him about 2 years ago and at the time, I knew nothing about cooking. Now I am on my way to being a professional chef... you should check out his show... that will help...
This might sound dumb, but if you're heart isn't really that in to it, you won't be cooking to your potential. I bet once you get the hang of it and see how fun it can be, you might enjoy it. Glad you're gonna try!
Try a recipe site like kraftfoods.com where you can search for recipes based on ingredients and by ease.
i don't know where you live
but i'm close to several restaraunts/grocery/food stores
that have free demos
i get alot of ideas from the food network
check out recipie books
and then fudge with them
start with the basics then do what you please
(cooking is about passion)
u can learn it from many links.
start with simple recipes and recipes that you will actually eat and share with your family. Then gradually (not quickly), learn new recipes and just learn about food in general. It takes a long time to learn how to cook. It doesn't happen overnight.
try starting with grill cheese and tacos ,scrambled eggs, things like that are forgiven and you can mess up and it still taste good. Good luck, you'll get the hand of it.
My Mom taught me to cook. One thing she would say I always remembered was.."Put good food in, get good food out!" I use this to this day. Experiment, try new things. Just remember that rule.
just start with easy meals.like make salad makaroni,fry chicken
Start by learning from your mother.......unless she is a bad cook. Watch various cooking shows, go to the library & check out so cook books or buy some for that matter. Also, if you have a williams-sonoma, sur la table, or a community/ rec. center they offer classes...sometimes the are a one time deal or meet up once a weeks for a few weeks. Learning to cook now will pay off when you get older & you're on your own.
Cook with an experienced friend or family member (one who has some patience, a sense of humor and is willing to taste test things).
Watch someone else cook and ask questions.
Take lessons.
Read cookbooks, and not just the recipes. The boring looking stuff in the front usually has lots of useful information, like food safety, substitutions, cooking terminology, nutritional information, measurement conversions, etc.
Have an emergency phone number, for a friend or relative who cooks, for those last-minute what-do-I-do-now? or what-did-I-do-wrong? or how-can-i-fix-this? questions.
Cook and be willing to fail and be willing to succeed and be willing to do dishes. And be willing to taste just about anything.
Be ready to experiment. Some of my best meals have come from reading a recipe and thinking, "What if I change this?"
make breakfast.....like scrambled eggs.......then gradually add things to these eggs.......like ham slices (cold cuts), search on line for ideas....give it a try....and keep trying....think of foods you like....and try to make them.....but keep trying.....and make sure you taste everything you cook.....this will let you know if you are good or not.
Buy a beginner's cook book, and slowly follow each recipe, also allow yourself feel confident. Don't hurry, always feel enthusiastic