Dipping your toe into the cooking pond may seem a bit intimidating, but our tips for new chefs will make it much more approachable. We'll share how to set up a kitchen, some basic cooking vocabulary, stocking a pantry, and general food safety guidelines. Armed with these tools, you'll be ready to tackle almost any kitchen challenge.
There are a million culinary gadgets out there, but do not fret; you don't actually need a lot of stuff to properly outfit a kitchen. We suggest some must-haves, like:
These are nice to have after you possess the top section:
Reminder: You don't have to run out and buy all of these items today; slowly collect them over time, paying attention to quality so you can use the same piece for years. You may already even have some of them in your kitchen, so don't be intimidated. These tools can set you up for some amazing at home recipes.
All the pots and pans in the world won't help you cook if you can't comprehend the directions in a recipe. So, we'd love to share a handful of useful culinary jargon we've picked up over the years. Read on for our terrific ten terms you can't cook without!
Now that you have a grasp of some basic cooking terms, and the tools you need in your starter kitchen, it's time to tackle the pantry. It's best to start with some common ground herbs and spices to begin your kitchen journey. We like:
It's also good to invest in a couple high-quality fats, such as:
To round out your pantry it's helpful to get a few more staples you'll find in a lot of recipes:
A less exciting but no less important part about learning to cook is learning to cook safely. Home cooks should know the proper temperatures meat needs to reach to be safely consumed. Learn those here:
It's also wise to pay attention to consume by dates on perishable products, use two cutting boards to avoid cross-contamination, and wash hands before preparing food.
Now that you feel a bit more comfortable with cooking lingo, food safety, and have a stocked kitchen and pantry, how do you take the next step? Start with recipes classified as easy, and practice until you have a few go-to's in each meal category.
Add in a couple snacks, a new ingredient here and there, and keep experimenting. If it's something you enjoy, keep your eyes peeled for any local cooking classes to learn even more quickly, or to specialize in a certain type of cuisine. Just have fun with it, and your kitchen know-how will increase gradually and organically. Happy cooking!