What's the best way to learn how to cook?

Question

I'm a single 24 yr. old guy that only knows how to make grilled cheese and hamburger helper. I need more!! Help!

Answer 1

Practice, trial and error, the ability to follow instructions. If you can read, you can cook !!!

Also there are some great alternatives to Hamburger Helper. Try looking in your frozen section for some of the pasta/meat/vegetable combinations that just take a few minutes to heat up and are wonderful.

Expand on what you already know. If you can make hamburger helper, then you know how to brown hamburger. Buy some shredded lettuce (already cut up) in your produce section, a bag of shredded cheese, some Fritos and some salsa. Brown some hamburger, toss in a packet of taco spice (read the back). Badabing !!! You have just made taco salad !!!

Instead of just grilled cheese -- mix it up !! How about grilled ham and swiss cheese? Grilled pepperoni and mozzarella cheese? Even a grilled PB&J (my favorite .... creamy Jif and Smucker's blackberry jam).

How about a packet of hotdogs and some refrigerated crescent rolls. Following the directions on the can, warm up the oven. Separate the crescent rolls. Wrap around the hot dogs. Cook according to directions on the crescent rolls. Mmmm, pigs in a blanket. Or change it up ..... buy refrigerator corn bread in the tube (usually with the cans of biscuits) -- wrap them around the hot dogs. Homemade corn dogs ......

Before you know it, you will be marinating chicken breast tenders in Italian dressing, stir frying it, adding some vegetables (some cauliflower and carrots for me) to top off some rice (Rice of Roni Original blend for me)

There is a great FREE magazine that is published by Kraft foods with simple yet great recipes. Sign up at www.kraftfoods.com/share and will arrive in your snail mail.

Another favorite of mine is the "Quick Cooking" magazines. I pick mine up at WalMart or the grocery store.

Or try some of the on line sites --
www.allrecipes.com is a good one

Just find a recipe and try it ...... you will surprise yourself. The secret is to try different recipes ... some you will like, others not .....

Do you have something you want to try? I'll help you find an easy recipe ......

Answer 2

Do you know someone who is a good cook? If you do, ask them to help you prepare a meal or two. You need to learn the basics, but half of cooking is feeling confident about what you're doing. A good cook can help you develop that confidence.

Once you have "dabbled" with cooking in the presence of a helper, start experimenting with cookbooks on your own. The "Betty Crocker Cookbook" is a very good guide for average American fare, and it breaks things down into steps to simplify the process for less experienced cooks.

Answer 3

Practice, practice, practice. If you have a really patient friend who can cook, ask for their help. Otherwise, I would recommend a cooking class. But if you can follow directions really well, use a cookbook. Also, FoodNetwork is a great place to pick up some extra tips. The best shows to watch for a beginner is Racheal Ray's 30 Minute Meals and Giada's Everyday Italian. And if you want to kick things up a notch, you could always try Emeril's show.

Answer 4

set a goal for yourself, to try and make something new at least once a week.

start by buying a cook book. or asking some female friends to write down one simple recipe, step by step, (let them know to include even what you would consider the basic steps, since you are new in the kitchen). the more you try, the better you become. none of us know anything when we first start out.

Answer 5

Go to the bookstore and get a couple books with simple recipes. Cut out recipes out of magazines or the paper. Just experiement. Try recipes with things that you like. Eventually, a light will come on. It worked for me.

Answer 6

Take a class, buy a cook book, get a friend (I suggest your mother) to show you, or trial and error (which is fun but make sure you have lots of mac-n-cheese for those times it doesn't end up being a good mistake).
Good luck and good for you trying to expand your diet!

Answer 7

If you have good cooks in your family try helping them out next time there's a gathering. You learn so much that way.

Answer 8

cooking isn't hard. i've been doing it since i was five. you just have to follow directions out of a recipe. it's like a math equation...just easier. so pick up a cook book and get cracking!

Answer 9

Get in the kitchen and experiment, Practice knife techniques, watch cookery on TV, read cookery books, attend demonstrations... Just get involved, BUT DON'T GIVE UP... It will come!

Answer 10

Go to the book store and get a simple cook book for begginers,pratice pratice pratice,it will all turn out and you will have mastered it all. You can do it!!!!!!