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If you are like any of us, one of your New Year’s resolutions might be to cook more, and cook better. Whatever your level of confidence in the kitchen is, we have a few ideas that will help you get your fundamentals right and fine-tune techniques you may already know, or not. Build on these and we guarantee that you will become a better chef this year.
There are a multitude of reasons why knowing how to cook well is important - we don’t have to remind you that you will eat better, save money, but most importantly, enjoy yourself while learning an essential life skill.
Here are our top ideas for you to get your New Year resolution off to a great start.
Book: “On Food And Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen” by Harold McGee
Get your basics covered by understanding why cooking in many ways is actually about science. Full of practical cooking techniques, covering topics of a breathtaking scope, this book by Harold McGee is known to be an absolute bible for many chefs in the industry. Its easy-to-read format means it’s just as useful for the first-time cook as much as it is for the kitchen pro. Get it on Amazon.
Netflix: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
Once you’ve read the book, see how the four key elements of cooking come together in beautiful dishes from familiar cuisines, in this 4 part series featuring food writer Samin Nostrat. This is an easy to digest series that follows Nostrat as she visits different parts of the world, that sees her making pesto in Northern Italy and visiting artisanal miso makers in Japan, and will open your eyes to how simple it can be to cook well. Find it on Netflix.
Masterclass Online Classes with Michelin Chefs
Masterclass currently features specialised classes by top chefs Thomas Keller, Wolfgang Puck, Alice Waters, Gordon Ramsay and cronut inventor Dominique Ansel. Each focus on important cooking techniques, fundamentals and foundation ideas that are useful for cooks of all levels. Take your pick of your favourite kitchen hero and start learning in the comfort of your own home. Online at Masterclass.
Podcast: Milk Street Radio
Milk Street travels all over the globe to ask the questions and get answers about cooking, food, culture, wine, farming, restaurants, literature and more. Every episode also comes with a recipe inspired from the talk, so it’s the perfect afternoon listening session as you plan what to cook for dinner.
Podcast: Bon Appétit Magazine’s Foodcast
Ever wondered what it’s like to be behind the scenes at the popular food magazine? The podcast series from Bon Appétit will make you feel like you are right there as they share their tips on restaurants, chefs and of course, the latest cooking techniques the team are on to right now.
Gear: Knives
A good knife will not actually make you be a better cook, but a professional blade will make the hard work in the kitchen easier and instantly take you from amateur to serious cook. Use our guide on how to choose the perfect chef’s knife and make your investment worth it.
New tech: Joules by ChefSteps Sous Vide
Make this year the year you experiment with new cooking techniques. ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide is always top of our list of tech gear for the kitchen as it is small, powerful and smart and will get Michelin-starred restaurant cooking results for any budding chef. Find it on ChefSteps.
