Learning to cook can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re surrounded by culinary experts and gourmet food culture. It’s easy to feel intimidated, thinking you’ll never reach a professional level. But the truth is, mastering the art of cooking is a journey, not a destination. It’s about building a foundation, experimenting, and enjoying the process of creating delicious meals for yourself and others. Just like anyone who starts from scratch, even food writers who dine out constantly can discover the joys of home cooking by learning fundamental techniques and embracing a hands-on approach in the kitchen.
For many, the kitchen might have been a mystery growing up. Perhaps takeout menus were more familiar than cookbooks, and family meals were less about elaborate recipes and more about quick, convenient options. This was the case for me, with a childhood filled with delivery and simple family favorites rather than complex culinary traditions. However, inspiration can strike at any time. For me, it was a cooking competition show that sparked the realization: cooking isn’t magic, it’s a set of repeatable methods and flavor principles. Seeing chefs on television rely on core techniques episode after episode, I understood that learning to cook was within reach. It was about understanding the building blocks.
Embarking on a self-taught cooking adventure can be incredibly rewarding. It’s about taking the initiative to learn and grow in the kitchen at your own pace. Over a summer, I decided to do just that: to consciously Learn To Cook. I focused on building a solid base by exploring new techniques and ingredients each week. While recipes can be helpful, especially when starting, the real breakthrough came from understanding the underlying principles. Now, I find myself confidently picking up unique ingredients from the farmer’s market and creating meals around them. The key was breaking down the learning process into manageable steps. Here are the core lessons that transformed my approach to cooking:
1. Master Essential Cooking Methods
Alt text: Image of Soy-Braised Short Ribs with Shiitakes, showcasing a dish made using braising, a fundamental cooking method.
The foundation of cooking lies in understanding basic methods. Roasting, sautéing, and stir-frying are your initial building blocks to creating countless dishes with minimal fuss. Roasting, for example, is incredibly straightforward. Simply toss vegetables or protein with oil and salt, and let the oven work its magic at around 350°F (adjusting slightly as needed). Stir-frying, on the other hand, is about high heat and constant movement in the pan. These simple techniques provide the confidence to handle various ingredients. My fall favorite, roasting butternut squash with grapes, became a versatile base for salads and even breakfast bowls. Learning these methods opens up a world of culinary possibilities from simple weeknight dinners to more elaborate weekend meals.
2. Explore Diverse Ingredients Weekly
. Photo: Eva Kolenko
Alt text: Close-up shot of Salt-and-Pepper Shrimp, highlighting the simplicity of using a single ingredient like shrimp in various cooking explorations.
Cooking should be an exciting exploration, a “choose-your-own-adventure” in the kitchen. To expand my culinary horizons, I dedicated each week to a new ingredient I was unfamiliar with. One week it was shrimp, another chicken thighs, then rice noodles, followed by spices like Chinese five spice and turmeric. The goal was to gain experience and avoid culinary ruts by working with a variety of proteins, vegetables, and spices. I started by researching how to best utilize these ingredients with the cooking methods I was learning. For instance, when turmeric led me to countless stew recipes, it prompted me to learn how to make a simple yet flavorful stew. This ingredient-focused approach is fantastic for beginners to learn to cook because it encourages experimentation and discovery.
3. Understand Flavor Combinations and Spice Profiles
. Photo: Alex Lau
Alt text: Image of Weeknight Red Curry, illustrating the concept of flavor combinations and spice profiles in a vibrant curry dish.
Once comfortable with methods and ingredients, the next step is mastering flavor. A turning point in my cooking journey was recognizing that the restaurant flavors I loved often stemmed from common flavor combinations. Garlic, ginger, and scallion form the base of Cantonese cuisine. Tomato, basil, and garlic are the heart of Italian red sauce. Indian dishes frequently rely on ginger, garlic, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, and curry powder. Japanese cuisine often uses dashi broth or a blend of sake, mirin, and soy sauce. Discovering that shakshuka is essentially a Middle Eastern spiced tomato sauce made me realize that by tweaking spices, you can transform a dish entirely. Removing cumin and adding basil to shakshuka can create an Italian-inspired sauce, while adding black beans, cotija, and cilantro turns it into a Mexican-style stew. Understanding these flavor families empowers you to create diverse dishes with a foundation of knowledge.
4. Embrace the Power of Acidity
. Photo: Peden & Munk
Alt text: Grilled Asparagus and Spring Onions with Lemon dressing, emphasizing the role of lemon and acidity in balancing flavors in dishes.
Acidity is a game-changer in cooking. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice can brighten and balance rich or fatty dishes, like fried foods. But lemon is just the beginning. Experiment with other citrus fruits, vinegars, and brines to add depth and complexity to your meals. This tip, often repeated by chefs, is crucial: taste as you cook. Tasting allows you to adjust flavors throughout the process, determining if a dish needs a touch of lemon or another acidic element to reach its full potential. Learning to balance flavors with acidity is a hallmark of good cooking.
5. Cheese is Your Friend (and Flavor Enhancer)
. Photo: Peden + Munk
Alt text: Fusilli alla Vodka with basil and parmesan, showcasing how cheese, like parmesan, can enhance simple dishes such as pasta.
It’s hard to imagine anyone disliking cheese, and for good reason. Cheese is a versatile ingredient that can elevate almost any dish. A generous grating of Parmesan or crumbled feta can transform a simple salad or roasted vegetables. Realizing that vegetables might need some richness or that pasta sauce could benefit from saltiness and depth, I made sure to always have cheese in my refrigerator. Cheese adds flavor, texture, and richness, making it an indispensable tool for anyone learning to cook. It can be a finishing touch or a key ingredient, always enhancing the overall taste.
6. Soy Sauce: The Umami Booster
. Photo: Peden + Munk
Alt text: Soboro Beef dish, highlighting the use of soy sauce as a key ingredient to add umami and depth of flavor to meat dishes.
Soy sauce is more than just a condiment; it’s a flavor powerhouse. Countless bland stir-fries, fried rice dishes, and even breakfast bowls have been saved by a splash of soy sauce instead of just salt. Running out of soy sauce is a kitchen emergency! It adds umami, saltiness, and depth that elevates simple ingredients. Try it on fridge staples for a quick breakfast or use it to season mixtures of mushrooms, tofu, bacon, and greens. Soy sauce is an essential ingredient for adding a savory kick to a wide range of dishes, especially in Asian-inspired cuisine.
7. Utilize Your Lifelines: Ask for Help
. Photo: Peden + Munk
Alt text: Spicy Tamarind Skirt Steak, suggesting a dish that might require cooking advice or lifelines for beginners learning complex recipes.
It’s perfectly fine to seek help when you’re learning to cook. Uncertain about buttermilk percentages? Need to know the searing time for a steak? Don’t hesitate to reach out to your personal lifelines. A quick call to a knowledgeable friend or family member can provide reassurance and guidance. Building relationships with your local butcher and fishmonger can also be invaluable. And of course, Google is always there to answer your immediate questions. Learning to cook isn’t about knowing everything instantly; it’s about being resourceful and knowing where to find answers when you need them.
Learning to cook is an ongoing journey of discovery. By focusing on methods, experimenting with ingredients, understanding flavors, and embracing resources, anyone can transform from a kitchen novice to a confident cook. Start with these fundamental tips, and you’ll be well on your way to creating delicious meals and enjoying the rewarding experience of home cooking.
