How do you learn to cook when you don't know how at all?

Question

I've tried cookbooks, listening to others and their techniques, and watching cooks.

Answer 1

Practice practice practice. Start with easy dishes and work your way up.

Watch lots of Foodnetwork!

Answer 2

Practice. If you really know nothing, learn breakfast first. If you can make bacon without burning it and an egg over easy without breaking the yolk, you are halfway to being decent. Start with things that are cheap, so you don't mind screwing up, throwing it away, and doing it over until you get it right.

Common mistakes made by people who never cook:
Not preheating--this is for frying pans too, not just the oven. Using too little oil/butter/whatever.
Having the heat too high.
Breaking oil (if you have oil in a pan, it shouldn't be giving off tons of smoke, if it does, throw out the oil and try again with lower heat).
Flipping too often (when you are good, you should flip most meats once. You can do it two or three times as a beginner, but don't keep flipping constantly--turn down the heat!)
Check meat for doneness by pushing on it with your finger. At first, you'll need to confirm by slicing the middle and looking at the color. Eventually, you'll be able to tell rare steak from well done by how soft it is.

Once you can cook without burning, then you can start working on spices and how they go together. Until then, cook with spice blends--Monterey steak seasoning, season all, etc.

Answer 3

There are books out there, like the standard old Betty Crocker, that give you all the basics - mashed potatoes, how to measure, definitions of cooking terms, etc.

But the best way is trial and error. Try a few simple things, and as you get the hang of it, move onto more complicated recipes. And, don't be afraid to say "oops" once in a while if something goes wrong - it happens! Many great recipes have been found by mistake!

Answer 4

Well, seeing that u r a woman you would have to at least learn how to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Have u ever heard the saying the key to a man's heart is his stomach well itz true. So that means that u would probably have to either have some one with patience to teach you, take up a cooking for beginners class or keep practicing one of those ways it will pay off. If not then you could always just hire someone to cook for u.And I don't mean that to make fun of you.But watch Food network it helps and they make lots of yummy food on there

Answer 5

Don't give up...I watched my Mom warm up frozen dinners and for a very long time I thought that was the way everyone ate. Then I went to a friends house where her Mom made stuff from scratch. What a revelation!
Start with things that you like. Let's say tuna salad. You learn how to boil and egg (usually 10 min), open a can of tuna...do you like celery, onion, sweet pickles in you salad then chop some and add. The item that holds it together is mayo. Add small amounts at a time until it is the right consistency for you.
Hope this helps a little.

Answer 6

Stay by the stove and don't cook anything on high, use med-high instead. What are you having trouble cooking? I would stick to very easy things for now. Just throw some season-all on the meat in the pan, let it cook for a bit on both sides, (cut it to be sure it's done if you want to, throw a few potatoes in the microwave for 10 minutes, and cut up a salad and there is one meal idea already. Bam!

Answer 7

Start small. You have to keep at it. One way I found that works is to find a family member or friend that can cook. Instead of them doing it and you watching, reverse the rolls. You do as they tell you. They are going to be a "supervisor" and you a trainee. I have burned or flat out ruined a number of meals. I had never made real mashed potatoes. My first attempt was so bad the dog wouldn't eat it, and he has never turned down food. But the second time it worked out.

Answer 8

only cook dishes you love. if you like the idea, but dislike an ingredient, think of what you could exchange it with and try. think it all the way through, get your workspace organized ( don't cook between dirty dishes and papers...). 1. make sure you have everything: food, spices, tools, plates. 2. lay out everything before, wash, weigh, chop etc all ingredients before starting. don't cook when stressed ( for a new love). never cook hungry (makes you skip steps and work on high heat, remove to early, serve to fast without letting rest the meat dishes). have a plan B in case of failure. you can do it ! enjoy

Answer 9

Practice .You have to try out new recipes and see how they taste and then add things that you think make them taste better.Watch how your mom cooks is a good idea.I get cook books from the library like country cooking magazine is a good one ,They have easy step cook boos at the library also, Good Luck.

Answer 10

Practice. Also, find out if your local community college has a cooking class (most do). Its fun, its made for beginners and is also a great way to meet people.

Answer 11

Try using simplier cookbooks or taking a class.