The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has inspired a new generation of home cooks looking to craft their trade in their own kitchen. With more people staying in to eat, many cooks are looking to boost their ability to whip up delicious meals in the comfort of their own homes. Here are five ways that you can step up your cooking game in 2021.
Splurge on High-Quality Ingredients: The first step in crafting your cooking talents is to understand the importance of high-quality ingredients. You cannot expect to create mouth-watering meals without using the best ingredients as the base. As you learn your way around the kitchen, you will learn more about what ingredients make better candidates for a splurge. For example, premium olive oil is a much better taste experience than settling for an inferior oil.
Invest in Good Cookware and Utensils: In addition to splurging on the best ingredients you can afford, you also need to invest in quality cookware and utensils. Expertly-designed pots and pans like those from Made In Cookware, a premium cookware brand, will make it easier to cook and prepare delicious meals. Quality cookware also makes it easier to clean up when you are done. The right utensils and appliances will also prove to be invaluable as you learn your way around the kitchen. A digital thermometer for meats is also an essential investment for your kitchen.
Take a Cooking Course: Sometimes, you need to improve your prowess in the kitchen to learn a little from the experts. Taking a cooking class will give you the knowledge and confidence that you need to tackle various tasks. Depending on your current skill level and needs, you can choose to take a general cooking class, or you can dive into a specific niche. For example, perhaps you want to learn how to perfect the art of rolling sushi or making fresh pasta? The good news is that because of the health crisis, there are even more options available to you in an online format.
Learn When Less is More: Novice cooks often struggle with learning when less is more. Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew when you are first getting started in your foray into cooking. Before you try to master making fresh pasta, try learning how to make a foul-proof marinara sauce. It’s also essential to use premium ingredients. You don’t want to overwhelm the delicate taste with too many competing flavors.
Practice Makes Perfect: At the end of the day, it will take loads of practice for you to perfect your skills in the kitchen and in the routine of using tasting spoons and washing your hands 1000 times. Savvy chefs understand that you will only get better with a commitment to training. This is particularly true for dishes that are known to be a challenge to master. For example, you can’t expect to master a complicated souffle the first time out of the gate. For this reason, it is not a good idea to try out a new recipe when you have company coming over. Instead, practice on your immediate family first until you are confident in your ability to execute the dish with precision.
These five tips are a good start for you as you boost your cooking game a priority heading into the new year.
