There is more advice than ever out there for the home cook that it can be overwhelming for anyone just looking to transition from frozen dinners to something they could serve a friend without shame. If you are NOT a cook, I am going to break down, step by step, what you will need to start.
First, you need a recipe. Not food. Not equipment. If you have an empty fridge and kitchen, start with a recipe. Actually, find 7 recipes, so you can have dinner for a week. When selecting a recipe, look at the ingredients list. Will you eat everything on that list? No? Then find a different recipe. Especially if you are only starting to learn to cook, you need to cook what you like and with ingredients that you know how they should taste. That way you're more likely to know if something is wrong. Only buy ingredients you have plans for. ONLY BUY INGREDIENTS YOU HAVE PLANS FOR. This goes for everyone. Indiscriminate buying leads to food waste and is a waste of money.
But before you go shopping, finish reading the recipes. Do you know how to do every step? Google unfamiliar terms and watch videos of specific techniques on YouTube. Until you get comfortable with your skill level, look for recipes with 6 or fewer steps.
Next, buy the equipment. Hopefully, the recipes you picked out make use of standard cookware. If a recipe calls for something specific, like crepe pan, maybe rethink that choice. Using recipes to guide your purchases may keep you from buying items that, while still "standard," you may never use. Like cooling rack, or steamer. Buy equipment the way you buy food: have a plan for how to use it first.
Hint: Some things you will need, like measuring cups and mixing bowls, will only be implied by the recipe. So think through how you will do each step.
Once you have recipes and equipment, buy food. Make your dishes. Follow the recipe exactly the first time, then tweak for your personal taste. Find more recipes to use left over ingredients you may have.
Repeat.
First, you need a recipe. Not food. Not equipment. If you have an empty fridge and kitchen, start with a recipe. Actually, find 7 recipes, so you can have dinner for a week. When selecting a recipe, look at the ingredients list. Will you eat everything on that list? No? Then find a different recipe. Especially if you are only starting to learn to cook, you need to cook what you like and with ingredients that you know how they should taste. That way you're more likely to know if something is wrong. Only buy ingredients you have plans for. ONLY BUY INGREDIENTS YOU HAVE PLANS FOR. This goes for everyone. Indiscriminate buying leads to food waste and is a waste of money.
But before you go shopping, finish reading the recipes. Do you know how to do every step? Google unfamiliar terms and watch videos of specific techniques on YouTube. Until you get comfortable with your skill level, look for recipes with 6 or fewer steps.
Next, buy the equipment. Hopefully, the recipes you picked out make use of standard cookware. If a recipe calls for something specific, like crepe pan, maybe rethink that choice. Using recipes to guide your purchases may keep you from buying items that, while still "standard," you may never use. Like cooling rack, or steamer. Buy equipment the way you buy food: have a plan for how to use it first.
Hint: Some things you will need, like measuring cups and mixing bowls, will only be implied by the recipe. So think through how you will do each step.
Once you have recipes and equipment, buy food. Make your dishes. Follow the recipe exactly the first time, then tweak for your personal taste. Find more recipes to use left over ingredients you may have.
Repeat.
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