5 Essential Cooking Tips for Beginners

Whether just starting a healthy eating journey or looking to take it to the next level, learning to cook is a powerful skill. Cooking your meals from scratch not only allows you to choose quality health-focused ingredients but also gives you the freedom to tailor it to meet specific dietary needs or preferences. 

However, we fully understand that diving into the world of cooking can feel daunting for beginners – because we’ve been there, too. That’s why we’re here to guide you through some simple tips to help you navigate the kitchen more confidently. So ease into the world of cooking at your own pace with these four tips.

1. Embrace the Spice

Spices can bring a dish from bland to mouth-watering. Not only do spices enhance flavors, but some even offer health benefits as well. For those reasons, don’t overlook the power of spices when cooking a recipe. Black pepper, cumin, garlic powder, and paprika are four of the most commonly used spices. Remember to store these dried spices in airtight containers in a cool, dark, dry place away from heat or direct sunlight to better maintain their flavor.

4 Essential Spices to Have on Hand

• Black Pepper
• Cumin
• Garlic Powder
• Paprika

2. Elevate Your Vegetables

Many times, when eating healthy, vegetables are encouraged. That’s because they are low in calories, high in fiber, and bursting with health-promoting nutrients. Sure, steaming is quick and easy, but if you want to elevate your vegetables, give roasting a try. This technique yields a tender, nicely browned caramelized veggie. 

How to Roast Vegetables: 

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Wash and dry your vegetables before cutting them into even-sized pieces
• Lightly coat with olive oil to prevent sticking and promote browning
• Add desired spices
• Toss to coat the vegetables evenly
• Arrange on a baking sheet, do not overcrowd as this will steam instead of roast
• Roast for 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the vegetables, and flip halfway through

3. Resist the Urge to Rush it

Cooking requires a skill you may not have initially thought of … patience. Whether it be simmering a sauce, allowing dough to rise, or flipping pancakes at just the right time, patience is needed to follow cooking instructions properly. A scrambled egg is a popular protein-rich breakfast that’s great for beginners and requires patience.

How to Scramble an Egg

• Crack the egg into a bowl
• Beat the egg with a fork or whisk until the yolk and white are well combined
• Season the eggs
• Add a splash of milk
• Preheat the pan to medium heat for 1-2 minutes
• Add oil or butter to the pan to prevent sticking
• Pour egg into the pan
• Using a spatula, stir and scrape the eggs from the bottom of the pan
• Resist the urge to turn up the heat to speed up cooking time; the slow heat will yield fluffier eggs
• Continue cooking until the desired doneness
• Serve and enjoy

4. Sharpen Your Knife Skills

Onions are a common ingredient in many recipes, so learning how to properly dice one is useful for beginners. The onion adds texture, aroma, and flavor, making it a versatile ingredient. Dicing is a cutting technique that results in small, uniform cubes or pieces. The key word there is uniform, as this is what you’ll strive for to ensure the food, in this case, onion, cooks evenly. 

How to Dice an Onion: 

• Peel off the skin
• Cut in half from top to bottom
• Make horizontal cuts, leaving the root end intact
• Make vertical cuts
• Repeat on the other half

If you’re more of a visual learner, check out our friends at Everday Health as they show you How to Cut an Onion 

5. Check the Temp

Cooking proteins, such as meat, seafood, and poultry, to the proper internal temperature is crucial to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses. Although this might sound intimidating, ensuring food safety is quite simple with the help of a kitchen thermometer. By accurately measuring the internal temperature and familiarizing yourself with the recommended internal temperature of the protein you plan to cook, you can easily prevent any risks of food poisoning.

Internal Temperatures to Remember:

Based on the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service

• 145 – Steak, Roast, Chops of Beef, Pork, Veal, and Lamb; Ham; Fish & Shellfish
• 160 – Ground Meats
• 165 – Ground Poultry; All Poultry; Leftovers; Casseroles

The Bottom Line

These essential tips for beginners will give you some foundational skills and knowledge to get you started with cooking. From scrambling an egg to dicing an onion, you’ll be well on your way to feeling more confident in the kitchen.