10 Tips to Enjoy Cooking
I understand a lot of people don’t reach my level of excitement in the kitchen. I tried to think back to when we really started cooking at home and what helped. I’ve come up with ten tips to help make cooking more enjoyable, a few of which were instrumental in keeping me going at times. If you struggle to get into the kitchen, read through my list and it might just ignite a spark you didn’t know was there. Or at the very least, help make cooking less of a chore. Once you’ve read my ten tips, comment with any others you’ve found helpful!
Obtain a high quality, sharp knife
Wasted time and frustration can be caused by a dull knife. Suck it up and buy a nice knife. Yes it will be expensive (~$70-$250) but it will be worth it. Look for sales and make the leap! Our Shun chef knife has been used on a daily basis for around 8 years. If you already have a good knife, ensure you are adding an edge on a regular basis.
I recommend an every day knife (this is similar to the one we own) and a honing steel (like this one).
Double the time
If the recipe shows a total time, double it, and assume that is how long it will take. I’ve found recipes that include a total time assume you’ve already done some of the prep work or that the reader has a certain level of skill and familiarity.
Either way, read the entire recipe, total up the cooking times mentioned (5 minutes sautéing or 15 minutes simmering), add 5 minutes each for chopping or slicing of meat or produce, and then double the total time.
Reading the recipe fully allows you to get a sense of the steps you’ll take as well as see if the author has included prep work (i.e. slice tomatoes) in the steps or wants it to be done before you start. If you read the whole recipe, double the time, and ends up taking less time, it’s a bonus!
Remove distractions
Depending on your house, it might be a dog, your kids, or maybe turning on music rather than a podcast or audio book. When you are learning to love cooking, you need to focus on the task, the experience, the colors, the smells and flavors. This is a critical step!
Make a family recipe
Making your Grandma’s pasta or your Mom’s casserole can bring back wonderful memories of childhood. The smells, the feelings, and maybe the memories of helping. These thoughts can make the experience of cooking special. Eventually you may even come up with a new family recipe to pass on.
Get in character
Buying new gym clothes or a new work outfit gives you confidence and a little excitement to show it off. Buying a new kitchen tool, like a pan, zester, knife, or blender can do the same thing! Even a new apron can get you in the mood to cook. Excitement over a new tool can put you in the right mindset as you enter the kitchen.
Find your shortcuts
Reduce the amount of time in the kitchen buy spending money on a shortcut. Yes, it is possible to make your broth, sauce, rice but it is also possible to buy those items. I buy minced garlic in a jar so I don’t have to deal with garlic presses. There is always something you dread so instead, find a shortcut. Watch the ingredients of your shortcut (i.e. many sauces have sugar in them and certain broth options have a high level of sodium) and try to limit it to one per meal.
Take a class
Classes range from multi-course meals to skill sessions. Pick a class you find interesting and learn hands-on from someone who is passionate about cooking. These classes are fun but they also teach you new skills you can practice at home. Being around someone who is passionate can be contagious.
Medium to large cities will have multiple options for cooking class. In smaller cities, look into classes at your local community center or kitchen store (like William Sonoma or Crate and Barrel).
Go to the farmers market
Don’t go just to buy some vegetables you recognize. Talk to the farmer about how they use the produce at home and ask for an overview on any items you don’t recognize. This can be informative for you but also build a relationship and benefit a local farmer who is providing food to the community.
Eat Slowly
This may sound like a strange tip but it may help! If you inhale your food in less than 5 minutes, it can make you think cooking wasn’t '“worth” the effort. Take time to smell, taste, and enjoy the food you just prepared. Eat at a table, not in front of the TV. Plus, eating slowly will make your digestive system happy.
Make it an Activity
Create a date night in the kitchen! Cook a slow, progressive dinner with people you love.
Start by prepping the dinner and dessert so all the chopping is complete and any items that need to cook or chill for 45+ minutes are done. Then make the appetizer, stopping, and stepping out of the kitchen to enjoy it. Move back to the kitchen and finish up the main course. Sit down and enjoy the meal before finishing dessert.
Yes, it will take a while, but that’s the point! This can be done with your significant other or a small group of friends. Everyone should be participating so one person isn’t cooking while the rest watch. Split up the courses or jobs. If one person is working on cooking, the other should be cleaning up. This split duty process gives everyone time to talk and relax throughout all 3 courses.
