Basic Cooking Tips for Beginners

Cooking can be a good practice for practicing mindfulness. You can practice mindfulness before you cook and after you cook. Select your vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, or seafood without thinking about the variety of taste, and texture, and how you will use it in your meals. Sometimes the best meals are made without planning how they will come out. Yet, even if you plan your meals, you can still practice mindfulness. 

Use your senses. Make sure the room temperature is comfortable before cooking. Cook in the morning before the summer heat. Enjoy and savor the aromas before you cook and during the cooking process. Do breathing exercises and take your time while you cook. 

Cooking at home can be fun, exhausting, and exciting at the same time. Before you begin cooking, make sure all appliances, pans, pots, and cooking utensils are washed and cleaned. Additionally, clean all the counters and the stove before preparing your meals. After everything is clean, including heat-resistant potholders and kitchen hand towels, you can begin planning your meals. To plan your meals, you can use your family recipes or find an easy recipe online. 

Print out the recipe you find online. Use the ingredients you want to use, especially if you want to omit or use a substitute for one of the ingredients. Next, purchase your groceries in advance before making your meals. Learn how to wash, peel, slice, dice, and mix ingredients. When in doubt about using certain ingredients, ask a relative to guide you in cooking your meals. 

Furthermore, allow yourself some time before you cook your meals. Gather all your ingredients ahead of time and work slowly with each ingredient. Use good sturdy cutting boards, knives, spoons, and mixing bowls. Learn how to select ready-made sauces or prepare your sauce. Also, experiment with different spices when cooking meat, chicken, pork, or seafood. 

Decide if you will cook your meals in water or with oils. Furthermore, decide how much water or oil your recipe needs. Slice, dice, or cube items ahead of time especially if you are making a salad. Select your favorite vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, poultry, or seafood. Learn how to sauté your vegetables with your chosen sauce.

Have a first aid kit ready in case you cut yourself while preparing your meals. However, using your kitchen appliances and cutting your vegetables slowly will reduce any cuts and burns. Use the slowest heat setting when cooking your meal on the stove especially when you are cooking with cooking oil. Always make sure your cooking utensils are dry before stirring anything in cooking oil. Ask someone, a dietician, or your doctor about healthy cooking oils or any cooking oil recommendations.

 

Use a clean cloth and a bandage for any cuts or cooking burns. Another reason to use the slowest heat setting when cooking with cooking oil is to prevent grease fires. It is recommended to use a damp cloth or a matching lid to stop the grease fire. Keep your pets and children away from the kitchen when you are cooking. Always have adult supervision if your teenager wants to learn how to cook. 

Have someone take care of your toddler, baby, or pet while you are cooking for your peace of mind. If not, cook each item individually until your meal is complete. Another way is by cooking your meals ahead of time, especially if your family is still sleeping. Nevertheless, do not rush in cooking your meals. Have a schedule for eating your meals and cleaning your kitchen.

Keep bugs away from your kitchen and home by having essential oils, insect traps, and homemade bug repellents. Make sure it is away from pets, children, and away from food. Use apple cider, water, and a little bit of dish soap in a small bowl to repel flies. Essential oils such as Eucalyptus, Mint, Lavender, or other citrus oils can be useful for cleaning your kitchen counters and as a bug repellant. Clean before and clean after you cook, including your kitchen floor.

After your meal is cooked, shut off your stove, slow cooker, or other appliance. Prepare your dining table with a water glass, eating utensils, napkins, and a floral arrangement. Use a tablecloth for your dining table. If you like candles, you can use battery-operated candles to decorate your centerpiece for your dining table. Decorate your dining table so it is warm and inviting for yourself, your partner, your friend, or your family.

Serve your meal with a good portion size for yourself and others. Use three or four side dishes to go with your meat, poultry, or seafood. It is better to use smaller portions in case your partner, friend, or family want to do a secondary refill plate. Have two choices of drinks along with water in a glass on your dining table. Play soft instrumental music if you cannot relax in silence while you eat your meal. 

Always have salt, ground black pepper, and other ready-made condiments to flavor your meals. Use a small dish and a butter knife if someone wants to use butter for their mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, bread, or rice. Keep electronics away from your dining table and the cooking area in your kitchen. This prevents any distractions and electronics from overheating. Be alert and awake when preparing and cooking your meals. 

If your preteen wants to help you cook, give them a small task or have them put the eating utensils on the dining table. They need to learn cooking and hospitality skills at an appropriate age level. Use small bowls to serve side dishes in smaller portions. Have citrus fruits to slice and put them on the side if your guests want them for their meals. Discuss any food allergies before cooking meals and before serving meals to your partner, friend, family, or guests.

It is necessary to remain calm throughout the cooking process and the preparation of meals. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Make sure your toes are covered, hands are covered with heat-resistant oven mitts, and plenty of air ventilation before cooking. Aprons and a chef hat are optional, but it can make it fun when cooking with your family. Here are websites with more cooking tips. 

25 Skills Every Cook Should Know-BBC Good Food:

25 skills every cook should know | BBC Good Food

20 Basic Cooking Techniques That Every Home Chef Should Master Recipe-Bon Appetit:

20 Basic Cooking Techniques That Every Home Chef Should Master Recipe | Bon Appétit (bonappetit.com)

21 Basic Cooking Skills for Beginners-Abundance of Flavor: 

21 Basic Cooking Skills for Beginners - Abundance of Flavor

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