Here Are 5 Tips For A Great Cooking Experience
Can you remember your first cooking experience? I can remember mine. I was in primary school, probably 7 years old, when my mother asked me go to the kitchen and stir a pot of stew. When I got to the kitchen, I found that most of the stew had splashed on the floor-you know how it is when stew is highly heated and boiling. Just a little more than half the pot remained. In my extraordinary “wisdom”, I went for a cup of water and filled the pot of stew to the brim. To my mind, that was the only way the stew would be enough for everyone in the family. You can imagine the look on my mother’s face when she got into the kitchen I saw what I did!
I am the first child and the only girl of eight siblings. Yes. I have seven brothers. I was always in the kitchen. I remember how I grew my love for cooking and got fond of it, especially when I have all the time to cook. Over time, I realized that cooking is not a chore (as some people would believe). With simple tips and tricks, you can look forward to cooking your meal and enjoy doing so.
Here are 5 tips that make me enjoy cooking:
- Know Why You Cook
This may sound too obvious but it is not. Just like eating, cooking could be emotional. If you understand that cooking your meals is better than eating out (because of the health benefits), you will emotionally prepare your mind to cook. You would not see it as stressful, unnecessary or a burden.
2. Plan Ahead
As the saying goes: “Failing to plan is planning to fail”. In this case, I would say: “Failing to plan for cooking is planning to hate cooking”. Cooking is an activity and like every activity, planning ahead has many advantages. You save quality time. You cook food adequately
3. Have The Necessary Cooking Utensils
Imagine you want to boil spaghetti or rice and what you have in the kitchen is a sauce pan and not a pot. Or you serve a bowl of soup to your guest and you do not give them a spoon. Instead, you present a fork! OK. This is worst case scenario…but you get my gist.
4. Learn About Food, Nutrients And Cooking Techniques
You are not Dr Oz, Gordon Ramsey or Chef Fregz. You just want to cook and eat healthy food. Reading simple, basic information on food and human nutrition goes a long to help you understand which food you need, what they do in the body and why you should eat them.
It also makes sense to know a little about different cooking techniques and how different techniques are suitable for cooking different types of food. This will prevent you from over-cooking, under-cooking or “mis-cooking” your food. Choosing the right cooking technique retains food nutrients, flavors and texture.
5. Practice, Practice And Practice Cooking
The saying: “Practice makes perfect”, is true. But in cooking (and other creative skills), practice does not necessarily have to make perfect. There is room for mistakes, accidents and other unfortunate incidents associated with cooking. Having said this, cooking skills can be learned and you can get better, the more you cook. There is no alternative to great cooking than just cooking. Simple.
With the tips I have highlighted, I know I have inspired you to cook. Whatever negative thoughts you had about cooking, drop them. Cook your meals. Cook for family and friends.
You may now head to the kitchen and start cooking. See you in the kitchen!
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