5 Cooking Tips Every Beginner Should Know

Every cook started from the bottom and learned tips to make themselves into a fantastic chef. Cooking is a great activity that many people enjoy. However, as a beginner, you have room for a lot of knowledge and may not know where to start. Luckily, here are 5 cooking tips every beginner should know to lay the foundation.

Don’t Leave the Kitchen

It may seem obvious not to leave the kitchen while cooking, but it’s a mistake many make. Let’s say you have a meal simmering on the stove, and you know you can run to the mailbox or do a small task. You do have time to get it done—but it’s risky. The perfect outcome would be returning to the kitchen, and your meal is still cooking perfectly. But on the other hand, you can come back to a scorched pan and burning food. As a beginner, it’s essential to stay in the kitchen and keep a watchful eye on your meal.

Buy Fresh Ingredients

After choosing a recipe, it’s time for a grocery store trip. Buy fresh ingredients for an authentic taste. As a beginner, you probably don’t have a lot of seasonings. Of course, salt and pepper are staple items, but many recipes go beyond that duo. The next time you’re in the store, walk over to the spice aisle and pick up some new seasonings. If you’re wondering what to get, here are some common spices and seasonings:

  • Paprika
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Thyme
  • Nutmeg
  • Red pepper flakes

Get a Quality Chef Knife

Every cook needs a quality chef knife. You will be cutting various types of food with different textures. Therefore, it’s important to have a tool that’s equipped for most cutting purposes. The more you use your knife, you’ll pick up different cutting techniques and understand helpful pointers, including how to test the sharpness of a knife.

Don’t Overcrowd Your Pan

Food releases moisture as it cooks. If a pan gets crowded, the food will start to steam rather than brown, which changes the dish’s texture. Give your meal room in the pan to cook evenly and become the right texture. If your pan is too small, cook in batches. Although it will take more time, your food will taste exactly how you intended.

Don’t Put Cold Meat in a Hot Pan

You should never put cold meat in a hot frying pan because the cold meat will cool the pan. This results in your meat releasing juices and may become undercooked or overcooked. Instead, let your meat become room temperature before cooking. A good rule to follow is to take your meat out 20 minutes before you cook it.

I hope my 5 cooking tips every beginner should know are beneficial to you and other beginner cooks. I know you’ll make some fantastic meals and learn many more tips along the way. Learning how to cook is a journey, but you can do it.

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4 Comments

  1. Nice job on the article! I’m learning to cook, and these suggestions have really helped. I appreciate your advice.

    1. Why thank you, Beginner Food! Nice to know you found it helpful! xoxx ally

  2. Elizabeth Keen says:

    I was looking for the spices that you put into your pinto’s. And I have looked at all the videos and can’t find it anywhere can you help me out I love making Pintos and cornbread

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