Top 6 Tips for Getting Started with Cooking
I have always loved to cook, but it has not been an easy road to learn how to cook well. You have to be willing to experiment at the risk of ruining a meal (which does not always go over well with the wife) and you have to learn to be comfortable on the grill, especially if you (and your spouse) work and have a family. Here are a few things I believe will help you get started quickly.
1. Get an online subscription to Cook’s Illustrated
I have learned an awful lot about cooking from Cook’s Illustrated. They not only provide you with recipes, they also tell the story about how and why their recipe works. Reading about how they do things has made me a better cook, as I have learned tips and tricks from each recipe I’ve tried. Additionally, their recipes are as close to foolproof as you will find. One of the first recipes I ever tried was their Chicken Parmesan. Every time I fix it, I get rave reviews and it is so simple. It will not win any awards, but it is every bit as good, if not better, than the chicken parm you will get at Macaroni Grill. (Note: You may not be able to see the recipe if you do not have an account)
2. Invest in good equipment.
This is very important. Having good equipment makes your job that much easier and really you do not need too many items to start off. Cook’s Illustrated is also a great source for product reviews, but here are my top 10 affordable items you should have in your kitchen.
- Victorinox Chef’s Knife. I have had this knife for about 10 years and it still works great. I can’t imagine cooking without it.
- A couple of good nonstick skillets, like Emeril’s All Clad 12 inch Stainless Steel skillet
- Crockpot – I have a pretty inexpensive one and it works great.
- Butcher block cutting board
- Food Processor – Nicest model you can afford
- A sauce pan or two
- Meat Thermometer
- Cast Iron Skillet – 9 in
- Cookie Sheet(s) – do not underestimate the importance of buying a good one. This one is amazing!
3. Start with simple recipes first.
Simple is a relative term, but when I started out, I looked for recipes with a short ingredient list and something I could prepare in about 30 minutes. I also looked for things with dry spices instead of fresh. Learning to cook can be challenging and cooking with fresh spices, while certainly worth the while, can be daunting and too much prep work. I also started with one method of cooking. So, for example, I started by focusing on things I could cook in a skillet, specifically my cast iron skillet. I know they seem antiquated, but for some things, there is just nothing better than cooking it in your cast iron skillet.
4. Organize your recipes early and often.
I use Master Cook to organize my recipes. I started with a much older version and recently upgraded to this one. When I find a recipe online, I simply click a button on my browser and it imports the recipe right into my program. Also, take notes on what you did differently from the recipe, especially if you substituted, eliminated or added an ingredient. There have been many times I have modified something which turned out great, only to forget what I did later and not have any record to go back to. Don’t let your recipes get out of control either. Online recipe storage is great, but it’s easy (too easy!) to rack up a large number of recipes that you may think you will try, only to find they’ve been lost in the mess of recipes you have lying around or bookmarked. I make a habit only to add recipes I am trying that day or in the next couple of days. (And I still manage to hoard recipes, but my addiction is getting better!)
5. Try reading a variety of the same recipe
Everyone’s tastes are different and there are usually a ton of variations on recipes. Try looking up BBQ Sauce recipes sometime; they are endless and no two Texas style BBQ sauces are the same, but by reading them you can pick out some similarities and identify “must have” ingredients” versus “flavor” ingredients. My chili is a good example of this. I looked at about 25 different chili recipes before finally developing one I liked. Try my chili recipe here.
6. Learn to grill
I love my grills. (Yes… I said grills – plural. I have a gas grill and a charcoal smoker I can use as a charcoal grill.) You need to spend a little money and get the best grill you can afford. For me, that means Weber. I have a Weber Genesis gas grill and a Weber Smokey Mountain Smoker. For a long time, I tried to be a purist and just use charcoal, but with busy schedules, being able to fire up the gas grill and put some meat on it quickly has been a huge game changer. For chicken and steak, there are some simple marinades you can use and I have posted them on my site. You can also check out Barbecues 101 if you need some place to get started. Everything I have tried in this book has come out perfect. Grilling is such a great option and addition to your repertoire; it is fast, good, and healthier, so take the time and learn how to do it right. I will try and help you with this as much as I can.
Whatever you do, have fun with it! It takes a while and you have to be patient, but there are so many resources these days on cooking, you should have no problem learning to cook things you enjoy. Hopefully I can help!
Got some great tips of your own? Share them in the comments!