Would you like to elevate your cooking game? There is some basic cooking knowledge and skills that every cook should know. While some cooking tasks may not interest every person such as poaching an egg or making mayonnaise from scratch, there are some basic skills that will help you to build your foundation of cooking knowledge. In today’s blog post we are going to discuss some essential basic cooking skills that will benefit you no matter your age. We’ll talk about skills like how to properly cook pasta, make a hot breakfast, and more. Continue reading and when you are ready to purchase long-lasting, durable culinary knives, shop DFACKTO.
1. Making Stock
Putting in the effort to make your own stocks or soups gives you control over the amount of sodium and fat in your meals. It's also ideal for modifying flavors and herbs for specific dishes (bonito-pork stock for ramen anybody?).
2. Appropriately Cooking Pasta
While many people can boil water to cook pasta, it’s actually quite easy to cook pasta improperly. It’s incredibly important to ensure that you are using the proper amount of water. Also, don’t forget the salt!
3. Making a Flavorful Sauce
There is nothing quite like a homemade sauce. Sauces that come in a can or jar just don’t compare. Understanding the ins and outs of creating a good sauce can be the difference between a mediocre meal and an excellent dish. Learn how to make a tomato sauce, cream sauce, and a pesto. And don’t forget to include a touch of pasta water toward the end for an ultra velvety and tasty sauce.
4. Preparing a Hot Breakfast
While it may be debated whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it’s imperative that you know how to cook a hot breakfast when necessary. A great place to start is with learning the different types of ways to cook eggs like scrambled, poached, over easy, sunny-side-up, and more. Pair your eggs with some bacon, toast, or french toast for a delicious spread.
5. Stirring Up Fancy Cocktails
While many of us have had our fair share of exposure to alcoholic drinks in college, it’s time for us to elevate that experience. Start by learning how to make a few simple blended drinks and work your way up from there.
6. One-Pot (or Sheet-Pan) Dinners
Some times you’ll want to make a delectable dinner without all the dishes. When this is the case, you should learn a few one-pot or one-pan recipes. You’ll simply throw everything into the pot or pan to cook. At the end of the day, you’ll have a delicious meal with only one pot or pan to clean.
7. Whisking Together Homemade Salad Dressing
When you get the hang of creating a vinaigrette, you'll be able to do wonderful things with a jug of oil, some vinegar, and a couple of herbs.
8. Preparing Meals
Meal prepping is a great way to ensure that you are eating healthy homemade meals rather than ordering takeout simply due to the convenience factor. Set aside a few hours every week, prepare your breakfast, lunch, dinner — or all three — and place them in single-serve containers so that you’ll have convenient meals ready for the entire week.
9. Cooking a Chicken
It may appear to be somewhat scary in the beginning, but figuring out how to broil an entire chicken is a culinary skill that you will use for years to come.
10. Sauteeing Vegetables
Sauteeing can impart many delicious flavors into your vegetables, especially when compared to how they taste when they are steamed or raw.
11. Appropriately Using a Knife
Honing your knife skills is essential to becoming a culinary expert. Ensure you choose a knife that fits well in your hand and be sure to keep the blade sharp. More accidents are caused by dull blades than sharp. Also, take the time to choose the correct blade for the job.
12. Sanitation Basics
Last, but certainly not least, sanitation and food safety is a cooking fundamental that everyone needs to learn about. Check out the FDA website for food safety requirements so that you can keep your food, your kitchen, and your self safe.
Find Culinary Knives at DFACKTO
If you are learning the culinary ropes and would like a quality knife set that is durable, long-lasting, and won’t break the bank, look no further than the knives from DFACKTO. Our Mobility Set includes every knife you’ll need in the kitchen including our chef’s knife, santoku knife, pry knife, tanto knife, and our paring knife. Shop our selection of tactical kitchen knives today.
