You and your family have been keeping it close to home since the start of the pandemic. As such, you’ve found yourself cooking more frequently. Though you love the idea of saving a few bucks and enhancing your family’s health and wellness, it hasn’t been a piece of cake. Unfortunately, you only specialize in a few staple dishes. Trying anything else leads to a chaotic mess, wasted time, and the need to order takeout.
Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not an expert in the kitchen. No one is born with the skills to prepare culinary masterpieces. It often takes a lot of trial and error, patience, and practice to master some of your favorite meals. Luckily, some practical solutions will take your cooking skills to the next level. Continue reading to learn more.
Try Simple Recipes
If you’re not the best in the kitchen, don’t aggravate yourself by opting for complicated dishes. While you might equate simple with plain and boring, there are many easy recipes out there that taste amazing. Do some research based on prep time, cook time, and skill level to find the best options. As you get comfortable with these, then you can advance to more elaborate meals.
Equip Your Kitchen
Do you try to make meals that end up stuck to the pan or burnt? Perhaps you tried to replicate an idea from your favorite restaurant, but it didn’t come out the same? Well, the answer could be as simple as stocking your kitchen with quality cookware. If you want to cook like the pros, you have to be willing to invest in the right tools. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank as there are many affordable brands available.
Watch Videos
While following along with recipes is an excellent want to add variety to your skills and weekly meal plan, reading them in print isn’t for everyone. If you’re unfamiliar with specific techniques or consider yourself a visual learner, you would benefit from watching videos. Companies like MadeIn have social media platforms to view clips on topics ranging from cookware quality to hacks and recipes. Many of them are created by top chefs who can teach you a thing or two.
Online Cooking Classes
If your cooking experience consists of ramen noodles, spaghetti, and a bowl of cereal, you may want to enroll in an online cooking course. Offered by expert chefs, restaurants, and hotels, you can learn practical cooking skills or your favorite recipe. Either way, it’s an experience you can evolve from. If you’re looking for something to do with the kids or your significant other, you can make it a family or date night. Everyone can pitch in to make the meal and then sit down and enjoy it at the dining room table.
Meal Kit Delivery Services
If you don’t have time to portion and prep meals before cooking them or you still need a little help with your skills, meal kit deliveries are another practical solution. You can pick from several simple recipes and have fresh ingredients shipped to your home. Most recipes are easy-to-follow, require minimal prep time, and taste delicious. As you make each meal, you can get feedback from your family and make tweaks to doctor it to your tastes.
It’s Okay to Take a Break
Don’t apply too much pressure to yourself during these uncertain times. While cooking at home is to your advantage, sometimes you need a break. You can order takeout from your favorite restaurant on occasion. Many local establishments now have promotional offers to remain in business during the pandemic. So, don’t be afraid to splurge on your family as long as it won’t strain your finances.
If cooking was never your strong suit, the pandemic-related changes have likely weighed on your heavily. Fortunately, you can lighten the load and brush up on your skills by using the practical solutions discussed above. Before long, your family will be racing to get to the table to find out what’s cooking tonight.
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