Some people are naturally great cooks, while others need a little help getting there. Cooking is a skill that develops with time and practice.

Don’t get frustrated if you struggle with preparing food—see it as your stepping stone to becoming better at it. You don’t necessarily have to go to culinary school or ask any professionals to teach you. The truth is, many people get to that point simply by watching others and taking an interest in culinary.

So what defines a good cook, anyways? That depends on who you ask. Chefs argue that a passion for the kitchen is what makes one a good cook, some say it’s about passion for food, and others think that being able to cook without recipes is an amazing skill.

The truth is that it’s the ability to use whatever ingredients are available to create a tasty and healthy meal. 

1. Watch Others While They Cook

You’ll be surprised to discover how much you can actually learn by watching others cook, especially if you’re a visual learner. There’s no disputing that seeing something get done teaches you how to do it. You’ll learn the various utensils and how to use them, the cooking time of various foods, cooking techniques, how ingredients are mixed, which foods require marinating and how to do it, and much more.

For instance, if your mom is a professional chef, why not ask her for help? By watching how she mixes ingredients and uses different techniques, you will be ready to start doing the same.

2. Ask Questions If You Need To

Questions go hand in hand with learning—they represent interest and curiosity. Research has shown that people pay closer attention when they’re interested in what they’re learning; they then process the information more efficiently.

So if you’re really interested in learning how to improve your cooking skills, you’ll need to ask questions when you come across something you don’t know or don’t understand.

That way you’ll remember it for the next time. Ask your grandmother, mom, friends, acquaintances or, if you’re eating out, ask the chef how to make that certain dish that you liked. If you want to ask someone who you’re no longer in touch with, Nuwber can help you find their contact details. 

3. Find Recipes

Reading recipes broadens your knowledge of food preparation. Not only do they list ingredients, but they also provide step-by-step instructions. If you’re a beginner, this would be the best way for you to learn. There are plenty of cooking websites for professionals and those who are just starting.

The most beneficial thing about looking for recipes online is being able to find everything, from old ones that your grandmother cooked to something that has just been invented. Do you want to make banana bread? No problem. Are you craving some chocolate chip cookies or golden syrup flapjacks?

The internet is full of recipes. If you are more of an old school, buy food magazines or ask your acquaintances how to prepare what you want.

4. Practice

Practice makes perfect, and that couldn’t be any more true when it comes to cooking. As long as you have an interest in learning how to cook, there’s nothing better than doing it over and over again.

At this point, it’s very important to follow the recipes. You will observe how different components work together and what can be substituted for certain ingredients.

You’ll also become more familiar with basic cooking techniques and utensils. Eventually, as you become more confident, you’ll be able to tweak recipes to suit your flavor palate.

Begin with the basics. Try roasting chicken, creating sauce from scratch, or sautéing vegetables—this will help you develop the solid foundation that you need to succeed. If you’re following a recipe, ensure that you read it thoroughly before you attempt it.

To make the cooking process more efficient, a good practice would be to have all of the ingredients gathered and prepped before the fire is turned on; the same applies to utensils. When cooking, there’s nothing that slows you down more than running to the fridge, searching for an ingredient, or waiting for food to marinate.

5. Don’t Be Afraid To Experiment

Obviously, when it comes to cooking, following the recipe exactly how it is is a must. But if you try to experiment a little, it wouldn’t hurt, right? For instance, if you don’t like peppercorns but the dish requires them, you can replace them with something else like papaya seeds or chili powder. Or if, let’s say, you don’t like garlic. The best garlic substitutes are green onion, shallot, cumin, and garlic powder. 

If you’re a bold person, try making your own dish! What if it ends up being good? Step out of your comfort zone and try something new every week. If you don’t try, you won’t find that exact recipe that would make you want to go to the kitchen and turn on the oven.

The Takeaway

As we have already mentioned, some people are great at cooking, while others need some practice to get there. If you fall into the latter category and are interested in improving your cooking skills, then there are, of course, many things you can do. Most importantly, you’ll need to be patient with yourself as you explore various avenues. 

If you’re a beginner, then you should first consider reading some recipes or watching cooking videos so that you can familiarize yourself with some of the ingredients, utensils, techniques, and terminology.

For those who are not visual learners, rather than watching videos, you could consider taking some cooking classes instead, as they may be more helpful. Either way, you will need to ask questions and research anything new that you come across.

With a clearer understanding of what you’re required to do, you can then begin practicing. However, in the early stages, you’ll need to begin with basic recipes and follow them so that you can learn the right way of doing things. Then, when you’re more experienced and confident, you could make adjustments to suit your preferences.