8 Things Every New (or Nervous) Cook Should Know

The Late Night Gourmet

The Late Night Gourmet

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This was originally posted on one of my favorite cooking sites, Food 52:

https://food52.com/blog/22282-dorie-greenspan-advice-for-new-cooks

Here are the high-level tips, with my comments. Please share what you think, or if there are other tips that people should know.
  1. Read the Recipe. Twice. This is good advice whether you’re just getting started in the kitchen, or whether you’re an old hand. Comment: Something I definitely need to remember! I have a tendency to skim over the ingredients, and then wing it, even when it's my own recipe. I can usually get away with it, but sometimes I miss a crucial step because I combined ingredients in the wrong order.
  2. Don’t Skip the Mise en Place. Measure out all of the recipe’s ingredients and have them laid out on the counter in the order in which you’re going to use them, like in a cooking show. Comment: I almost never do this, but I'm always glad when I do. Normally, it's "measure, cut, place in pan, etc".
  3. Be Fearless. Or, At Least, Don’t Be Afraid. Being a beginner cook doesn’t mean that you should cook only the basics. Comment: Not a problem for me! Sometimes, attempting something really ambitious is the only way to find out if you can do it.
  4. Season, Season, Season. Taste as you go and season as you taste. Comment: I'm stunned by how many times I've seen talented chefs on cooking shows forget to salt. I always keep the seasonings I need to remember next to the pan so I don't forget.
  5. Take Pleasure in Every Step of the Process. Give yourself the time to enjoy every part of cooking—the prep, the sizzle and bake, the plating, the serving, and the sharing. Comment: I really do enjoy every bit of the process, even the cleanup (well, "enjoy" isn't probably the right word, but I happily do it).
  6. Have a Party—But Keep It Simple. Remember, no matter how good a cook you are, the most important thing about a dinner party is the conversation around the table. Keep it simple so that you can be part of that conversation. Comment: Once I decided that I was an Advanced Home Cook, I decided that I could host gatherings for family where everything was made from scratch. I did, and it was satisfying in terms of the food, but the mental toll was so great that I really never want to do it again. Now, I keep things much simpler, and happily accept help from others who want to bring a dish.
  7. Gear Up. Good Tools Are a Big Help in the Kitchen. Make sure you’ve got the basics and then have a little fun. Comment: I may be having just a little bit too much fun. I think it's about time for me to catalogue my Unnecessary Kitchen Gadgets so I have a real sense of how far out there I am.
  8. Don’t Forget the Music. Comment: Since I do most of my cooking at night, I can't play music without bothering people, and I don't want to have headphones in because I want to be able to have audible cues to how the food is progressing. But, I could certainly like to add a soundtrack to my meals.
 
I agree with most of the advice, really - except:

A dinner party doesn't need to be 'simple' dishes - there are many many complex dishes which can be prepared beforehand and will benefit from leaving overnight. Then just heat and serve. And use that microwave!

The Late Night Gourmet said:
Don’t Forget the Music. Comment: Since I do most of my cooking at night, I can't play music without bothering people, and I don't want to have headphones in because I want to be able to have audible cues to how the food is progressing. But, I could certainly like to add a soundtrack to my meals.
Click to expand...

No, no, no. Complete peace and quiet for me so I can concentrate! My worse nightmare is anyone else in the kitchen...
 
morning glory said:
A dinner party doesn't need to be 'simple' dishes - there are many many complex dishes which can be prepared beforehand and will benefit from leaving overnight. Then just heat and serve. And use that microwave!
Click to expand...
I totally agree! For me the secret to a good dinner party is planning....choose dishes that you can either make ahead and warm through, or ones that slow cook/roast in the oven...leaving you time to socialise and see to the other bits without getting flustered.

I think overall they are good tips though :okay:

I usually do a kind of demi mise en place....some things get thrown straight in, but particularly if there are a lot of things that need chopping or slicing I'll do that part of the prep before I start cooking. It just makes it so much more relaxed.

I usually have either the radio or Spotify on when I'm cooking - sometimes I like it quiet, but especially if I'm doing something special having the music on makes it more of a fun party atmosphere.

My main tip to a novice cook would be to just have fun with it.....what's the worst that can go wrong? If it all goes wrong then a true friend won't think any less of you for trying (or at least if they do, then they don't deserve to be invited over for dinner!).
 
I agree with:
3. Be Fearless. Or, At Least, Don’t Be Afraid. Being a beginner cook doesn’t mean that you should cook only the basics.

Even making mistakes or making a little mess is useful, so you learn for the next time and slowly you'll have more knowledge of what you can do and what you've missed not having done so until now. And anyway, apart from some exceptions, everything can be arranged while cooking

Music during cooking? :headshake:
 
I always lay out the ingredients before I start but no music, it distracts me and I forget what I was doing/am supposed to be doing.
 
Lullabelle said:
no music, it distracts me and I forget what I was doing
Click to expand...

Interesting - I find music helps me to concentrate when I'm cooking. If it's quiet I'm just tempted to do nothing and probably fall asleep.

If I 've got a lot to do in the kitchen, then I crank it up. Get the beams shaking and the slates rattling. Some good cooking music ...
 
1. Read the Recipe. Twice. This is good advice whether you’re just getting started in the kitchen, or whether you’re an old hand.

I cannot stress how important this is. Twice this week we did not have something we planned on having. Why? First one, did not catch the 2 hour marinating time. 2nd one did not catch the extra oven time. :facepalm: :banghead:

Even tho DH does all of the cooking, I cannot blame it all on him. I was the one that handed him the recipes. lol
 
And make sure utensils are good quality and work.

I've just got home from 10 days at my sons and d.i.l . They are really good parents but their kitchen is shocking. No tongs, ok I tell a lie, one set with no spring. Try working with those. Then tiny wee tongs that were of no use whatever. About 8 fish slices and not much else. No sharp knives ( I'll take my steel out and sharpen next time I'm there) cracked plates or chipped. A pet hate of mine. No pepper, I went home a lot to get stuff for the kitchen.


Russ
 
Russ, your wonderful vacation is over? lol Ahhhhh, I can hear you all the way from New Zealand, your dancing up and down for joy in your own kitchen now. lol
 
cookieee said:
Russ, your wonderful vacation is over? lol Ahhhhh, I can hear you all the way from New Zealand, your dancing up and down for joy in your own kitchen now. lol
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How did you guess. It's so good to get back to normal. I never said anything about the lack of utensils. Or food. Or herbs n spices. Or gravy sachets or sauces. Lol.

Russ
 
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