Core cooking methods explained

There are several different kinds of cooking methods to try, depending on what kind of meal you want to make. On the stove top, you can fry, boil, or steam to create tasty treats. Frying involves cooking food in hot oil - which is tasty, but may not be the best for your waistline. Boiling and steaming take away the oil, making them good choices for weight-conscious cooks.

You'll need an oven to bake or roast food. Roasting involves higher temperatures, and will usually give you a crispy exterior. Baking generally uses moderate temperatures for a softer result. Food can also be grilled, either under a grill or on top of a barbecue. This flavourful method is most commonly used for meat,but you can also grill vegetables and even fruit.

Understanding heat, timing and preparation

For kitchen success, you need to make sure your temperature and timing is right. Turning the heat up won't always give you dinner faster - it might actually ruin your plans. Higher heat is used for techniques like stir-frying or roasting, to give a crispy exterior and avoid overcooking. However, there are lots of dishes such as stews and pasta bakes which benefit from longer cooking at a lower temperature.

If you're new to the kitchen, use a timer to help you cook. Carefully check the timings for things like potatoes or pasta. If you undercook them, they'll be hard and inedible, but if you overcook them, they'll turn to mush.

Cooking guides for popular dishes

With just a few simple techniques, you can master a number of different dishes. For example, if you like Asian food, you should learn how to stir-fry. This involves preparing all your ingredients before you start, chopping them into small pieces that will cook quickly, then tossing them in a wok over a high heat for just a few minutes.

Most starches, like pasta, potatoes, and rice, can be boiled. Do this in a pot while you cook your sauce or main dish separately. Check the timings before you start, so you can have all the different parts of your meal ready to go at the same part. You can use exactly the same technique to cook different types of pasta like macaroni, spaghetti, or penne in one pan, while you prepare a simple sauce in another.

Adapting cooking methods for everyday meals

When you're cooking for yourself, feel free to adapt. That can mean making a smaller amount of food if, for example, you're only cooking for one or two people. You can also swap ingredients if you don't like something in a recipe, or if you don't have everything to hand. For instance, you might raise or lower the amount of chilli in a recipe to suit your personal preferences, or swap rice for couscous. You can also change some cooking methods, like frying meat instead of roasting it if you don’t want to turn on the oven.

Cooking is all about flexibility. When you first start out, following recipes can be very helpful, but as you grow more confident in the kitchen, you'll realise how cooking can unleash your creativity and inspire you to adapt, swap, and invent. Then you’ll feel like a true chef!

Building skills through simple how-to-cook recipes

When you're new to the kitchen, it's best to start simple. Choose recipes for dishes you already like - that way, you won't have any nasty surprises. Look for recipes with just a couple of components; for example, a classic bolognese just involves pasta and sauce. You'll only need two pans and you can do it all on the stovetop. Once you've mastered that, you can move on to a more complex dish like lasagne, which requires cooking two different sauces, layering them with pasta, and using both the stove top and the oven.

Building confidence cooking at home

Cooking your own meals is a fantastic skill to have, but getting started can feel overwhelming. Use simple recipes to help you; step-by-step guides with clear photos and no unnecessary waffle are great. In time, you'll be chopping and changing things like a pro!

Meal boxes are one of the most effective tools for learning to cook. They come with just the right amount of ingredients that you need, along with simple, step-by-step recipes. They can help you discover new meals, learn new techniques, and become a true culinary master.

How-to-cook FAQs

What are the basic cooking methods everyone should know?

Frying, boiling, steaming, roasting, baking, and grilling are among the most basic cooking methods. If you can handle these skills, you can make all kinds of dishes from around the world.

How do I learn to cook from scratch at home?

Use clear, simple recipes as a guide. Look for recipes which don’t have too many ingredients, and start with the basics. Meal boxes, which provide you with the exact ingredients you need, can help.

What kitchen tools do I really need as a beginner?

A good knife is absolutely essential. Make sure it’s nice and sharp! You should also have a chopping board, a frying pan, and two saucepans - one big, one small.

Why should you read a recipe before you start cooking?

Read the recipe before you start so you know exactly what to do. Some recipes include different components which must be cooked simultaneously. Read carefully first to avoid mistakes later.

Why should you season throughout cooking?

Seasoning as you cook means your dish will be flavoured all the way through; a sprinkle of salt at the end doesn’t have the same impact. Taste as you go to avoid overseasoning.

What should you focus on to cook effectively?

New cooks should be sure to concentrate. Put down your phone and pay close attention to your recipe and your dish. Set a timer to help you get everything right, rather than guessing.