I can't cook...?

Question

I can't cook and even if I tried everyone is to scared to eat it. Last time I cooked something my daughter and my sister (no lie) were violently ill (they couldn't walk). How do I teach myself how to cook?because trial an error,well there is just too much error!!!

Answer 1

First, it sounds like you had a *safety* issue when you cooked last time, not necessarily that the food just didn't taste good. When people become ill after eating, it's usually because the food has gotten contaminated at some point with sufficient bacteria to create real digestive system problems. (Either that, or they all have the same food allergy or the same general digestive-health problem.)

To be careful about the SAFETY of food, you should do things like the following:

Look carefully at the food you buy:
....the "Buy By" date stamped or printed on meat/poultry/fish packaging should be within the time you plan to use it (the later the date, the fresher that food is and the longer it will last); and btw, often the older items will have been put on top or in front of the display, and the newer stuff will be underneath--best to buy those!)
.......also, in general, fish will go bad the quickest ...followed by poultry, then meats
.......(milk can go bad too --so check dates there too-- but not sure if that makes people really sick)
...don't buy (or use) cans of food which are dented, and definitely not any that look swollen
...it's unlikely that fresh produce would make you sick simply from being too old --though we all know that some foods have gotten contaminated before coming to the store --but you can't really do much about avoiding those except just following the news on TV/newspapers
.....but fresh produce can have sufficient pesticide residue though to add to your total life-load, so it's essential to scrub the outer skins, or peel them to get rid of it

Store your food well:
...meats/poultry/fish especially should go into the coldest part of the refrigerator (or be frozen before the Best By date)... some refrigerators may not be getting as cold as they should be, so it might be a good idea to get a frig. thermometer to check yours for 40 degrees F (freezer should be 0 degrees F) ... the temperature in a frig can also be decreased by leaving the door open too long, having a leaky rubber gasket around the door, or just in areas nearer the opening of the frig
...smell your meat/poultry/fish before eating... this won't guarantee that too much bacteria haven't multiplied in them, but you should definitely not eat anything that "smells bad"

Prepare your food well:
...raw animal proteins (especially poultry) may already be contaminated with salmonella, so don't allow anything that's touched it while it's raw to touch anything else till it's completely cooked (that includes work surfaces, utensils used for cooking or eating, your fingers/hands after touching it, etc) ... keep track of what's touched what, and either wash that thing with soap or throw it in the garbage or move it somewhere it can't contaminate anything else till it's washed
...also don't leave raw meat/poultry/fish out of the frig for too long before cooking (how long would depend on how many bacteria they had to begin with)... if thawing, it's best to do in the frig (usually overnight), or use a quick method like sitting it in a bowl with barely streaming water (in plastic, etc.), or using a low microwave

Cook your food thoroughly:
...there's a minium temperature set by the government for making sure animal proteins are cooked long and hot enough to kill the bacteria that may be inside (especially "ground" meats/poultry)
....... it might be a good idea for you to buy a cooking thermometer (probe type is probably easiest), and use it to check the temperature of whatever you're cooking while it's at its hottest... always put the thermometer into the thickest part of the food though since that area will heat more slowly than the outer areas
...don't put frozen meat/poultry into a crockpot (slow cooker)... doing that will often be okay, BUT so many people were doing that and then getting sick that slow cooker manufacturers now make their crockpots cook at a much higher temperatures for High and Low than they used to (which results in more dried-out food... yuk)

Here are some government pages on food safety...minimum temperatures, how long to store foods, handling, etc:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Keep_Food_Safe_Food_Safety_Basics/index.asp
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Basics_for_Handling_Food_Safely/index.asp

(Here's a list of safe temps in the meantime:)

FOR HOT FOODS
....165 °F
Poultry--chicken, turkey, duck, goose--whole, parts or ground (this has changed recently from a higher temp)
Soups, stews, stuffing, casseroles, mixed dishes
Stuffed meat, poultry, fish and pasta
Leftovers-- reheated
Food, covered, cooked in microwave oven
....155 °F
Hamburger, meatloaf and other ground meats; ground fish
....145 °F
Beef, corned beef, pork, ham --roasts
Beef, lamb, veal, pork --steaks or chops
Fish, shellfish
Fresh shell eggs --broken, cooked, and served immediately
...140 °F
Ham, other roasts --processed, fully cooked (to reheat)
Fruits and vegetables that are cooked



Now, the other part of your question was just learning to cook stuff that you and your friends/family will like and how to learn to cook in general.
Check out some of the answers in the threads below for lots of ideas about how to do that:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At2g3Sm31KPvMGRzRsVhlNzsy6IX?qid=20070306102835AA1Y29H

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar_zBM9RzUSdz8CU9LU2s4zsy6IX?qid=20070307160326AAFKb4K

And here are lots more answers to look at too (I got them by doing a search for "beginner cooking" here at yahooanswers):

http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=AojtpTSli4Xnc1ltQnmpOqN36xR.?p=beginner+cooking



HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 2

Sweetheart people can cook if they just take the time to learn. I'd say get a cookbook with simple to follow easy directions and start from there. My SD just turned 7 last week and I am teaching her to cook using the "Better homes and garden Junior cookbook" its simple recipes that even she can follow. Once she has the measuring and so forth down we will move onto more advanced things. Its best to follow a recipe (when learning to cook and making something for the first time then adjust it as you get better)use fruits/veggies/meats you know are as fresh as possible. Do not let your meat set out all day long if you must set it out to thaw put it back in the fridge when it is thawed.

Another suggestion is a crock pot. You can put frozen meat into it in the morning on low and have it ready for dinner cooked to perfection. I cook roasts, whole chickens, chicken wings and so forth in mine takes no skill (though I do know how to cook) its quick to prepare just add a can of stock season and your done you don't even have to watch it cook, turn it over or adjust the heat.

Good luck

Answer 3

We eat a lot of rice in my house, brown, white, barley. We use a rice cooker most of the time. But some times I will use the stove. The most important thing is the type rice you use. I don't use boxed or condensed rice. You can get really good brown rice in any oriental section of most stores. They have instructions on the packages. The thing with brown rice is that it takes more time to cook than white rice. Thus you need more water. For each cup of rice, use a cup & a quarter of water. You don't want to stir while it is cooking. Put a lid on and let the water boil down, then shut the heat off, stir, & put the lid on for another 10 mins.

Answer 4

I am a self taught chef. I have been cooking since I was 5, I am 32 now. My friends are constantly calling me for recipes or advice on a new dish. I learned from watching my grandparents and parents. I also watch the food network all the time. I have books and books of recipes. You really can't go wrong with a recipe. Once you get the hang of general cooking, you will learn to mix things up a bit to accommodate your tastes.

Answer 5

Why are you blaming yourself for the illness. Maybe the both share the same type of allergy to a certain food, these usually are genetic therefore very much possible.
If you email me telling the steps you have followed I guess I can help you with the problems you are having with certain dish. Oh another advice, before cooking anything, including raw vegetables, wash them in running water (DO NOT USE SOAP)

Answer 6

you can practice defferent foods that you like and know the recipe to and just try until you get it right thats what i did and many times i burned the food but with no help i finally got it right and now i'm a cooking expert or you can just go to google and search cooking or cook books thats also something i've tried good luck.

Answer 7

I agree, if you can read, you can cook. Just start with simple recipes - try a cookbook for beginners, or home magazine recipes.

As for being violently ill, please do some reading about food safety!! There are a lot of mistakes that are easy to make, but they're also easy to avoid if you know how to handle food safely. Try this, or google "food preparation safety":

http://www.foodlink.org.uk/factfile.asp?file=4

Answer 8

Start with simple things that don't require much thought, salad, soup sandwiches. Please be hygenic! Wash your hands and any food prep surfaces! If you do cook, be sure the food is cooked all the way through! For beginners, those prepackaged box meals are a way to start. Follow the recipe!

Answer 9

Get a basic cookbook like the Betty Crocker cookbook and start cooking the simpler recipes. Follow the directions and you will do just fine.

If you can read, you can cook. The finished product may not make Wolfgang Puck lose any sleep, but it should be palatable.

Answer 10

My mother always used to say "If you know how to read then you know how to cook." If you can read a recipe then you can cook. There are a lot of beginner cookbooks out there that detail how to perform simple cooking methods and that have easy recipes in them for beginners. That's how I started to cook and now I love it!

Answer 11

why don't you try buying a cook book, look at the type of food you would like to eat and your family like to eat then just follow the instructions and little by little you will get the idea and then you won't need the book anymore