8 Ways To Become A Better Cook

Are you a budding chef? An aspiring Jewish tour chef? Or, maybe you're someone who just wants to be able to cook for yourself and your family without having to go out. Regardless of what category you fall into, there are certain things that you can do in order to become a better cook.

Cooking is a skill that can be perfected over time. However, getting started cooking can be tough if you don't know what to do. You can't just buy a few ingredients and throw some things together, hoping for the best. The kitchen is full of tricks, techniques and tricks to make cooking easier. Here are some ways you can start learning today:

Learn Some Basic Knife Skills

The most important tools in any kitchen are the knives. A good chef's knife will be the workhorse that does most of the work for you in the kitchen. But it's only as good as its wielder, so learn how to use it properly.

Hold a knife like a piece of chalk, with your thumb and first two fingers forming a V over the top of the blade. Position your hand so that your wrist is straight and your forearm is at a right angle with the cutting board. Move your arm up and down instead of your wrist to make clean cuts. Using this technique on any type of vegetable will ensure even cooking and cut prep time in half.

Knife skills are an essential part of cooking. Knowing how to properly prepare veggies makes all the difference between having a good or bad dish. If you don’t know where to start, there are other resources online that can help you out with learning things like “how do I hold my knife?” or “how do I chop onions without crying?” There is no shame in learning these basic skills if you don’t already know them – after all, it doesn’t make you any less of a chef!

Read Cookbooks

Cookbooks are like bibles for people who love to cook. You should read them as much as you can. While most of the recipes will require ingredients you do not have in your pantry right now, it will give you a good idea of what you should add to your shopping list so that you can use those ingredients in future dishes.

You never know when something you read in one cookbook might come in handy while reading another cookbook. Furthermore, reading cookbooks will help you learn new techniques, which will make it easier for you to execute dishes properly and reduce waste.

Use Quality Ingredients

The difference between an average dish and an amazing one often comes down to quality ingredients. If you wouldn't buy vegetables or meat from a grocery store that looks like it could use some help, why would you expect them to taste good when they're cooked? There are plenty of local farmers' markets around where you can get fresh products.

Keep Learning

Take a cooking class or two; there are many resources available online (and off) to help you become a better cook. Everything you learn must apply since practice really does make perfect when it comes to cooking. If you want to improve your knife skills, chop an entire vegetable or onion every time you cook. If baking is more your thing, practice making cookies or cakes each week until they come out perfectly every time! You'll get better with each attempt, so don't give up!

The more you know about cooking, the better cook you’ll become. Whether you want to learn how to make a certain type of cuisine or want to discover new techniques and recipes, taking a cooking class is a great way to improve your culinary skills. This is especially true if you don’t feel like experimenting too much on your own.

Be Organized

A little bit of organization goes a long way when it comes to cooking. Cooks who know they have all the ingredients they need and have prepped the appropriate amount of food are much better cooks than those who are not prepared with ingredients.

Know Your Limitations

If you're not confident in your abilities, don't go for a complicated meal that will make cooking even more stressful for you. Instead, start small and work up to more complex recipes as your confidence grows. If you struggle with baking, don't bake- instead, try recipes that are more forgiving like soups and stews.

Know Your Ingredients

It's important to understand what ingredients you have and how to use them. Learn as much as you can about your products, their textures, flavors and uses. Do they need salt? Acid? A little sugar? Knowing this will help you understand how to make the ingredient taste better by itself, which will make it taste better when it's added to other dishes.

Taste Your Food

Your food must taste good before seasoning or adding sauces. You should always be tasting your food as you cook it — whether that's while the stock is simmering or the meat is roasting — so that you know what it tastes like in every stage of preparation and can adjust accordingly. This will also help you gauge whether your seasoning is correct.

For motivation and inspiration, you can learn cooking while relaxing aboard Kosher River Cruises. Book your travel and take advantage of the classes and learnings!