It’s been rightly said cooking is an art. It is an art which is born and evolved with the human civilization. The history of cooking goes back to the time when natural raw food was heated or roasted on fire to give a different taste to the food. Cooking is as easy as any daily chore but a good cooking requires enthusiasm to learn, creativity to try and patience to pursue. Let’s find out what it takes for a good cooking. Read on to learn how you can master this art.
Complexity Level: Moderate
Time Required: 10-20 minutes
Resources Required:
- Stove
- Oven
- Saucepan
- Micro safe dishes
- Bowl
- Spoons and plates
- Oil or butter
- Salt and sugar
Instructions:
1. Decide what to cook
In order to learn how to cook, you have to first decide what to cook. Whether you are cooking breakfast, lunch or dinner? What is appropriate food for the occasion? This is the first step to start cooking.
2. Chose a recipe
Few recipes you inherit from your parents and the others are available in the recipe books and on the internet. There are numerous cuisines around the world and also native cuisines to be tried out. It’s not necessary that everyone will enjoy every food. So, one has to be careful in choosing right recipe for right people. One must also ensure that ingredients of the recipe are easily available.
3. Find ingredients
You are ready with the recipe, now it’s time to hunt for the ingredients. A good grocery shop should make this available to you. The correct ingredients can only make the dish worthy of eating. Be careful on finding the exact ingredients.
4. Basic preparation
- You have everything in place by now. Before you really proceed for cooking, do the initial preparation like washing, cutting or marinade.
- Itâs important to wash the vegetables, cereals, meats and seafood if they are brought from open market. Vegetables have to be washed before cutting.
- Chopping is important and uniform chopping is vital for even cooking and presentation. Diverse ways of cutting can be applied for different recipes.
- Marinating is essential for most of the meat preparations. Salt, pepper, curd and various herbs are applied to vegetables and meats for flavor. Generally, the preparation is kept for certain period of time.
- Blanching is required for making purees. Vegetables are soaked in warm water to make them easy to peel.
- Fermentation which is essential for baking and with many other recipes is also a preparatory step in cooking.
5. Boil, fry or preheat
Some food recipes require boiling with water, herbs and spices. Others like poaching and simmering require less heating of water. Boiling of vegetable, meats and fruits are basic stage of cooking. Once boiled, butter oil and spices can be added for flavor. Salt or sugar can also be added while boiling.
- For frying, the vessel needs to be heated on the stove first. Then, oil is added to fry the food. The oil has to be heated to a required temperature only before you put the food to be fried in the vessel. It could be raw food or processed, after frying, they are ready to be eaten unless the recipe has more to it. Shallow or deep frying options can be chosen from.
- Pre-heat the oven as per the time and temperature given in the recipe. Once the oven is ready, then food can be placed inside for baking or grilling.
6. Cooking with water
Many main course food recipes have gravy. When water is added to vegetable and meat, along with herbs, gravy is prepared. Preparing stock also requires water to be added to the food.
7. Grill, roast, toast or bake
These are applied for dry cooking. Food is cooked dry. Butter and herbs are added for essence for grilling and roasting.
1. Grilling can either be done in an oven or barbecue stove. Most food items require marination before grilling.
2. Roasting is done on open fire to ensure the food is cooked properly. Herbs can be added for flavor.
3. Baking is processed in an oven after it is pre-heated, for best results. Different sauces are added to dishes and desserts for baking.
4. These are few basic steps of cooking applied universally. Though every recipe needs specific applications. You need not apply all the steps for all types food. Cooking is an art, for every one to learn and master it but it is only possible if you savor it.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. At what age one can start cooking?
Cooking is not age specific. Most people start cooking as teenagers. An adult will have better sense of cooking.
2. What are the easy recipes for the beginners?
Basic cake recipes just require right ingredients. Salads are first step for first time cooking.
Quick Tips:
- Try to take cooking lessons. Cooking becomes easy if you see someone doing it practically. You can also follow cookery video or learn with the help of a book.
- Never try new recipe unless you have mastered the art of cooking.
- Be cautious while putting salt and sugar as anything in excess would spoil the taste.
- Simple and easy recipes are best for beginners.
- Do not over cook. Keep checking while you cook. Don’t let the food get overboiled nor let it burn.
- Try out healthy and fresh food. Avoid precooked food.
Things To Watch Out For:
- Always buy right ingredients to get right taste.
- Do not leave food on the stove as it may get burnt.
- Be careful while using oil. It may burn your skin.
- Avoid food that may cause allergies.
