For some people, it’s the time that it takes. Being able to order food and wait for it to come while you do something else is a massive convenience that many of us can’t live without. For others, it’s the skill involved. Some people feel that they’re hopeless with cooking and wouldn’t let themselves near a stovetop. Many men who get divorced suddenly discover that skills their former spouses had that they took for granted are suddenly more difficult than they expected. Some new bachelors decide to simply order out or rely on meal kits. Others roll up their sleeves and learn to cook!
Who's The Best Cook In Your House?
- To start cooking as a beginner, watch cooking videos on social media platforms to learn basic techniques, stick to simple recipes with minimal equipment, read cooking blogs for inspiration, and be prepared to learn through trial and error.
- Many people avoid cooking due to perceived time constraints or lack of confidence in their abilities, particularly after life changes like divorce.
- Start with basic equipment, such as a good pan and sharp knife, rather than overwhelming yourself with numerous kitchen gadgets and specialized tools.
- Reading recipes and cooking blogs before attempting to cook can help build confidence and understanding of the cooking process.
- Making mistakes is a natural part of learning to cook, and you should feel free to adjust recipes to your preferences rather than following them exactly.
By now, almost everyone knows the various advantages of cooking for yourself. It saves you money, it allows you to control your food, it gives you a better understanding of food, and it can also impress your friends and family members. We could go on and on about the benefits of cooking, but there’s always something that stops us.
So in this post, we’re going to show you a few simple tips that will encourage you to get cooking.
Watch Some Videos And See How Easy It Really Is
There are probably thousands of entertaining cooking channels on YouTube, TikTok, and almost every other social media platform. Many of these videos are focused on teaching people how to cook and they do great-looking recipes in the simplest way possible. Whether it’s one-pot recipes that require minimal cooking skills or simple ways to make your favorite comfort food, you’ll see just how simple it is to make different kinds of foods.
Don’t Overcomplicate Things
You really don’t need a lot of things to get started with cooking. In most cases, a great pan and a sharp knife are all you need to make loads of great meals. Many beginner cooks fall into the trap of buying a device or machine for every little thing. Don’t overcomplicate things and just look for simple recipes that don’t require an entire collection of kitchen tools.
Start With Just Five Essential Tools
A sharp chef's knife, large non-stick pan, saucepan, cutting board, and measuring cup sets will handle most basic cooking tasks. Rather than buying every gadget advertised, master using these fundamental tools first. You can cook hundreds of different meals with just these basics.
Focus On One-Pan Meals Initially
One-pan meals minimize both cooking complexity and cleanup time. Start with simple stir-fries, skillet pasta dishes, and sheet pan dinners where all ingredients cook together. This approach lets you focus on learning temperature control and timing without juggling multiple pots and pans.
Build a Basic Pantry of Versatile Ingredients
Stock your kitchen with versatile ingredients that work in multiple dishes: olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, onions, and your favorite spices. Having these staples on hand makes it easier to cook spontaneously without needing to shop for specialty items every time you want to make something.
Master Five Go-To Recipes First
Instead of trying to learn dozens of recipes at once, perfect five basic dishes you enjoy eating. This might include scrambled eggs, a basic pasta dish, a stir-fry, grilled chicken, and a simple rice bowl. Once you're confident with these, gradually expand your repertoire.
Learn Basic Cooking Methods Before Fancy Techniques
Focus on mastering fundamental cooking methods like sautéing, boiling, and baking before attempting more complex techniques. Understanding how to control heat and recognize when food is properly cooked will serve you better than learning elaborate plating or advanced knife skills right away.
Consider Reading Some Recipes
A great way to motivate yourself to cook is to actually just read some recipes. Whether you look at blogs for simple shrimp recipes to make tonight or learn the intricacies of noodle making, there is plenty of content out there to read and learn from. One of the benefits of reading about cooking like this is that it’ll show you how simple certain recipes can be. It gives you encouragement because other people are doing it, and it gives you simple steps to follow when making certain dishes. It allows you to imagine what it’s like to cook something and if you’re confident that you can follow simple steps, you’ll have an easy time cooking and replicating the recipe.
Cook For Yourself And Learn From Trial And Error
Your first few times cooking might go horribly, but that’s part of the learning process. We need to fail and mess things up a few times before we get it right. If you look at cooking videos that show the process of learning a new recipe, you’ll see cooks mess things up loads of times. It’s rare for people to get a recipe right the first time and you’re afforded some creative liberties when cooking anyway. You can change things to your preferences and you don’t need to follow a recipe exactly as it shows.
