How do I become a better cook ?

Question

I think I could do it!

Answer 1

Well the obvious would be go to a class or some kind of school but....you could ask your mom,grandma,or some family member to help...or a friend....hell, you could watch food network and pick up a few tips....also foodtv.com is always a good source of recipes and tips.... DAMN i sound like Betty freaking crocker!!! lol

Happy cooking!

Answer 2

There are some great answers here, but another important thing, for me anyway, was to find out more about the basics of food and cooking. That way I've been able so much more easily to understand why things may not work or taste good, and am better able to "cook without a book" …or sort of.

Some of the things I mean are:
...learning the diff. between sauteing, searing, baking/roasting, stewing, poaching, microwaving, etc, etc., and how different types of foods react with each
...learning to use a chef's knife well... which will make all the chopping and peeling, etc. go so-o-o much faster and easier
......corollary... owning some good and appropriate cookware will do the same (iron skillets aren't expensive and work quite well , e.g--I'd suggest 12" unless you're cooking only for yourself all the time), plus an 8" saute pan for omelets and small things, a few reasonably good non-aluminum pots with lids, a ceramic or glass casserole dish, a metal baking pan, and an enameled cast iron "French oven" pot when you can afford it... those will make most any cooking easier and better
… learning some basic spices/herbs, and which groups are often used for certain meats or ethnic cuisines

Since there are so many things one can cook (and learn), it's probably good to start with one or two things that interest you most (e.g., meats or chicken or seafood, Italian or Asian or other ethnic, grilling, stews, marinating, veggies or vegetarian, crockpot cooking, salads, bread making, etc.), and stick primarily to one or two for awhile.

Then buy a book or two and mark some recipes to try, or collect some recipes form the net, then give them a go.
Keeping records of what worked or didn't, or recipes you liked or how you may have altered one thing or another, will help.

Also joining some of the (many!) online cooking groups, reading their answers to other people’s questions or asking questions yourself, can make the process go a lot faster too (and add motivation and community).
There are groups like that for just about every topic within cooking, and there are also general cooking groups. Some of them can be found at message boards or mailing lists like yahoogroups or delphiforums or hgtv or foodnetwork, or at cooking sites (cookinglight.com, for example, is sort of a particular type, pretty much about “light” meals, though defintely not always ).
There are also local cooking groups (sometimes called cooking clubs or supper clubs… I know Cooking Light has them all over the country), or you could create your own cooking group where you all get together once a week, or month, with each person cooking something new… then eating and discussing everything.

Anyone can learn to cook “better” than they do now, no matter who they are or how much they already know... even if that's nothing at all!

Diane B.

Answer 3

Watch a few episodes of Rachael Ray and her 30 minute meals (on food network). I used to be scared of cooking (afraid of burning everything) but after watching her, I do 99 % of the cooking in our house. She makes cooking fun and easy! And whacking the hell out of garlic is great after a long day of work!!

Answer 4

It's all about trying recipes, and practice. Read read read. Not just recipes, but the kind of books or magazines that explain the whys and hows of what you're making. And never get down on yourself when something screws up. You just have to think about what you'll do differently next time. I've had my share of mess-ups over the years, but if you learn from it, it only makes you better!

Answer 5

Buy a good book or get recipes from the net, try to use your imagination and create your own recipes. Play with : colors, smells, flavors. Good luck and send me the recipe of your best dish. Happy 2007

Answer 6

Follow the recipe and taste as you go.Your taste buds will help you learn to cook.And the longer you do something the better you get at it.....Try easy recipe books they are great......Good Cooking.

Answer 7

Read Lots of cook books. It is easy you can do it. Many receipes go hand in hand. Good Luck

Answer 8

Watch cooking shows and don't be afraid to cook!

Answer 9

experiment
practice
be creative
read cook books and visit web sites for ideas and techniques

Answer 10

Look at lots of recipes on the Internet and just experiment - thats what I do!