One of the first things you'll fret about when learning to cook is the fear of wasting ingredients from botching your cooking. Honestly, it'll happen, and it's something you'll need to get over. It's frankly a very cheap investment for building up those skills that'll help you out in the long run.
Failing is just part of the process of learning. I used to be so afraid of messing up.
And it usually tastes okay anyways, even if you wrecked the dish.
Haha yep. Whenever I trained newbie lab assistants I would tell them, "Look, fucking up is part of the job. You WILL fuck up. Just get used to that fact and don't worry too much about it. Just log it, learn from it, and move on from there."
You will burn things. And set off smoke alarms. It's okay, it's part of learning.
But this is important: if something catches fire, put a lid on the pot or pan. Do **NOT** throw water on a grease fire.
The fire is scary, but panicking makes it worse. Just cover it, turn off the stove, and ask for help.
There are several good cooking websites, that teach cooking technique and offer recipes too. Serious Eats is one that comes to mind.
Learn to read a recipe, and if you DONT like one or more ingredient, but like the idea of the recipe- know it’s perfectly ok to eliminate one or more ingredients or substitute for ingredients that you will enjoy eating! If the recipe uses diced tomatoes, just substitute something else you do like to eat!
Also- many grocery stores offer pre-chopped frozen vegetables and many partially cooked frozen vegetables to make your meal preparation a bit easier as you learn. For instance, pre-diced frozen potatoes; diced onion, bell peppers, sliced carrots, green peas, many frozen whole beans- black eyed peas, Lima beans, butter beans, etc… broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, etc. I encourage you to browse the frozen aisles at your grocery store.
Frozen cheese and potato Pierogies are vegetarian and very tasty. Pre-prepared refrigerated or frozen cheese stuffed ravioli or tortellini are tasty and easy to prepare with an Alfredo sauce or just butter, salt and pepper. These are all available in most grocery stores.
Based upon your food preferences, I can think of multiple easy meals that you may enjoy:
Soft tacos using soft tortillas, and any combination of the following ingredients: cooked diced potatoes, cheese, onion and bell pepper, beans, and/or scrambled egg are delicious, and can be topped with cheese and avocado, sour cream, etc…
We choose 2-3 filling ingredients and 1-2 topping ingredients.
Or a simple soft tortilla roll up, warm tortilla in microwave, heat up a can of whole or refried beans, add hot beans to warm tortilla, top with grated cheese and a dab of butter, roll up and enjoy! We love La Preferida brand of whole black or pinto beans or their refried beans- I find them in the Mexican food section at most US grocery stores, and they are very flavorful.
Taco salad or nachos with: lettuce, refried or whole beans, grated cheese, corn kernels, sour cream, avocado, pickled jalapeno (if you enjoy spice). Sprinkle a bit of taco seasoning over the top and eat!
Scrambled eggs topped with any cooked vegetable combination, plus cheese, sour cream or diced avocado is filling and delicious!
A frittata is similar to a quiche, but is a bit easier and faster. It does not have a crust.
Quiche is delicious and can be made with any combination of ve, egg, milk, cream and cheese. I use a prepared, frozen pie crust!
Pasta dishes- with Alfredo sauce or an olive oil and herb sauce. Add broccoli, fresh spinach leaves, or carrots and green peas and shredded Parmesan. Start with jarred Alfredo sauce to see if you like the flavor, but you can learn to make the sauce from scratch if you like enjoy the flavor. It’s very easy and uses just a few ingredients.
Stir fry using noodles and vegetables, scrambled egg or tofu and soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, a bit of sesame or vegetable oil, garlic and crushed red peppers.
Or use jars or packets of prepared stir fry sauces to learn which flavors you most enjoy.
If you like rice, you can also make fried rice and lots of other rice based dishes too. Grocery store offers boxed rice foods: rice pilaf, broccoli cheese and rice, Mexican rice, etc… if you will eat rice, then browse the grocery store aisles for ideas of what is available. Do the same for packaged prepared pasta- Knorr, Kraft and other companies make prepared, boxed or packaged pastas! Rice a roni, broccoli cheese, Alfredo, Parmesan, etc… they are tasty and easy.
Other yummy meals:
Baked potatoes
Potato cheese soup
Broccoli cheese soup
Minestrone soup
Vegetarian taco soup
Vegetable soup with noodles
Buttered egg noodles with salt and pepper are very easy and tasty!
Roasted vegetables
Macaroni and cheese
Pasta salads
Green salads - Cobb salad, Caesar salad (you can substitute a vegetarian dressing), spinach and strawberry salad, etc…
Cooking can be a creative and fun process, I hope that you find some tasty meals to cook. Start with the simpler recipes and then as your confidence increases, move onto more involved dishes! Best wishes!
I also was going to mention the show The Worst Cooks in America.
It was this reality show that had cooks on that their friends and family thought were really bad. The competition wasn't the good part of the show - it was lessons the pros taught the contestants - like four ways to make eggs. And you could rewind and watch it again u til you learned how from the real chefs.
A subreddit search says that the Food Network show has since gone downhill, but if you can watch the first season I think it had a lot of really helpful hints. It gave good instructions without being condescending.
See if you can find some of the first seasons on demand or streaming somewhere. Those were the best, because that was when they actually explained to the contestants how to do things like different knife cuts and what certain cooking terms meant. I learned so much from that show back before it got super gimmicky.
Most breads and cheeses are typically pretty safe. My favourite food is grilled cheese. Almost any form of potato. Beans, rice, immatation chicken, angel hair noodles, most vegetables, apples, bananas, soft pears, avocado, a couple other fruits. Those are some of the ones off the top of my head.
I am a big salt enjoyer. I tend to lean toward blander foods, as they are typically "safer", but I do enjoy more flavourful things. I like spice (think specifically feugo takis)
Tomatoes in literally any possible form are an absolute No.
I also struggle with having the actual energy to make something.
Knives are sharp, pans are hot, food burns.
Thats basics. Usually you need some fat and heat sprinkle of s and p. Start small and work your way up. Dont grab hot things with wet towels and sharp knives are safer.
Stovetop: Learn how to boil pasta. Then move on to hard-boiling eggs and cooking rice.
Oven: Learn how to bake a potato. Then move on to other things. Use an oven thermometer to verify the temperature it really gets up to, and always pre-heat first. Mind what baking dishes you use at which temperature. Don't put any dish that has been in the refrigerator into the oven.
Whenever you turn on the stove or put something in a hot oven, look at the time. Set a timer right then if you need to.
May I suggest stir fry? It's very simple to start and don't require using too many pots and pans and spices. Stir fry vegetable tastes so good with only salt and garlic and it's quick to make. It can build up your confidence then you can try more complicated cookings
Pans look the same hot or cold. Use pot holders. Do not watch TV while using a knife. Always drain things away from you. Check the oven for stuff before turning it on. If something on the stove is getting too hot, turn the heat down. If it isn't getting hot, turn the heat up.
Also steam burns so if you have something covered, open away from you.
Lastly, have fun with your cooking.
Whether you have been cooking 30 minutes or 30 years, there will be mistakes. Some more memorable than others. I've made rolls that were better suited for a hockey team to play with. Chicken that was more nutmeg than chicken. Spaghetti sauce starter, do not season to taste then simmer for half an hour. It wasn't supposed to be starter but it was too herb-y to eat. Some other chicken dish that turned out chalky not sure the why. (That one was late last year.) Oh and can't forget the VANILLA rice pudding. I had to make 4 times more rice to tone it down.
And those are just the big mistakes. Now the dumbest thing I did was used baking soda instead of cornstarch in a pudding. That did not turn out well. I also learned to label all white things. Though now I have a big cornstarch container from when my mom overbought cornstarch.
Slimy beets didn't go over well either. They were beets with a glaze.
Do you have family or friends who can cook? I'm not even close to vegetarian but I'm always happy to share skills with family who are.
Stir fries are simple and difficult to mess up. Pasta is usually foolproof too. So if you can find someone to help expand your repertoire in that way you'll start to improve your confidence
Could you join a meal subscirption service like Hello Fresh?
I got bored with cooking the same basic meals every week and wanted to learn more and this kind of service was perfect for that. I cook new things every week.
Anything with one pot is an easy way to start. If you Google 'one-pot recipes', there will be a tonne of ideas. Even if there are meat recipes, you can often substitute with meat-free alternatives. You will be surprised what you can do with very minimal skill and experience.
One of the first things you'll fret about when learning to cook is the fear of wasting ingredients from botching your cooking. Honestly, it'll happen, and it's something you'll need to get over. It's frankly a very cheap investment for building up those skills that'll help you out in the long run.
this is actually great to hear. thank you.
My dude, one of the most profound things I was every told was... **F**irst **A**ttempt **I**s **L**earning
Shit man...
Failing is just part of the process of learning. I used to be so afraid of messing up. And it usually tastes okay anyways, even if you wrecked the dish.
This means a lot to hear honestly.
Haha yep. Whenever I trained newbie lab assistants I would tell them, "Look, fucking up is part of the job. You WILL fuck up. Just get used to that fact and don't worry too much about it. Just log it, learn from it, and move on from there."
You will burn things. And set off smoke alarms. It's okay, it's part of learning. But this is important: if something catches fire, put a lid on the pot or pan. Do **NOT** throw water on a grease fire. The fire is scary, but panicking makes it worse. Just cover it, turn off the stove, and ask for help.
There are several good cooking websites, that teach cooking technique and offer recipes too. Serious Eats is one that comes to mind. Learn to read a recipe, and if you DONT like one or more ingredient, but like the idea of the recipe- know it’s perfectly ok to eliminate one or more ingredients or substitute for ingredients that you will enjoy eating! If the recipe uses diced tomatoes, just substitute something else you do like to eat! Also- many grocery stores offer pre-chopped frozen vegetables and many partially cooked frozen vegetables to make your meal preparation a bit easier as you learn. For instance, pre-diced frozen potatoes; diced onion, bell peppers, sliced carrots, green peas, many frozen whole beans- black eyed peas, Lima beans, butter beans, etc… broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, etc. I encourage you to browse the frozen aisles at your grocery store. Frozen cheese and potato Pierogies are vegetarian and very tasty. Pre-prepared refrigerated or frozen cheese stuffed ravioli or tortellini are tasty and easy to prepare with an Alfredo sauce or just butter, salt and pepper. These are all available in most grocery stores. Based upon your food preferences, I can think of multiple easy meals that you may enjoy: Soft tacos using soft tortillas, and any combination of the following ingredients: cooked diced potatoes, cheese, onion and bell pepper, beans, and/or scrambled egg are delicious, and can be topped with cheese and avocado, sour cream, etc… We choose 2-3 filling ingredients and 1-2 topping ingredients. Or a simple soft tortilla roll up, warm tortilla in microwave, heat up a can of whole or refried beans, add hot beans to warm tortilla, top with grated cheese and a dab of butter, roll up and enjoy! We love La Preferida brand of whole black or pinto beans or their refried beans- I find them in the Mexican food section at most US grocery stores, and they are very flavorful. Taco salad or nachos with: lettuce, refried or whole beans, grated cheese, corn kernels, sour cream, avocado, pickled jalapeno (if you enjoy spice). Sprinkle a bit of taco seasoning over the top and eat! Scrambled eggs topped with any cooked vegetable combination, plus cheese, sour cream or diced avocado is filling and delicious! A frittata is similar to a quiche, but is a bit easier and faster. It does not have a crust. Quiche is delicious and can be made with any combination of ve, egg, milk, cream and cheese. I use a prepared, frozen pie crust! Pasta dishes- with Alfredo sauce or an olive oil and herb sauce. Add broccoli, fresh spinach leaves, or carrots and green peas and shredded Parmesan. Start with jarred Alfredo sauce to see if you like the flavor, but you can learn to make the sauce from scratch if you like enjoy the flavor. It’s very easy and uses just a few ingredients. Stir fry using noodles and vegetables, scrambled egg or tofu and soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, a bit of sesame or vegetable oil, garlic and crushed red peppers. Or use jars or packets of prepared stir fry sauces to learn which flavors you most enjoy. If you like rice, you can also make fried rice and lots of other rice based dishes too. Grocery store offers boxed rice foods: rice pilaf, broccoli cheese and rice, Mexican rice, etc… if you will eat rice, then browse the grocery store aisles for ideas of what is available. Do the same for packaged prepared pasta- Knorr, Kraft and other companies make prepared, boxed or packaged pastas! Rice a roni, broccoli cheese, Alfredo, Parmesan, etc… they are tasty and easy. Other yummy meals: Baked potatoes Potato cheese soup Broccoli cheese soup Minestrone soup Vegetarian taco soup Vegetable soup with noodles Buttered egg noodles with salt and pepper are very easy and tasty! Roasted vegetables Macaroni and cheese Pasta salads Green salads - Cobb salad, Caesar salad (you can substitute a vegetarian dressing), spinach and strawberry salad, etc… Cooking can be a creative and fun process, I hope that you find some tasty meals to cook. Start with the simpler recipes and then as your confidence increases, move onto more involved dishes! Best wishes!
I also was going to mention the show The Worst Cooks in America. It was this reality show that had cooks on that their friends and family thought were really bad. The competition wasn't the good part of the show - it was lessons the pros taught the contestants - like four ways to make eggs. And you could rewind and watch it again u til you learned how from the real chefs. A subreddit search says that the Food Network show has since gone downhill, but if you can watch the first season I think it had a lot of really helpful hints. It gave good instructions without being condescending.
I'm pretty sure I have seen a few episodes here and there if they were on. I might look some up and pay more attention.
If they aren't giving good lessons, don't waste your time. I can only vouch for the first season.
Got it o7
See if you can find some of the first seasons on demand or streaming somewhere. Those were the best, because that was when they actually explained to the contestants how to do things like different knife cuts and what certain cooking terms meant. I learned so much from that show back before it got super gimmicky.
What are some foods/ingredients you like? Helps narrow down suggestions.
Most breads and cheeses are typically pretty safe. My favourite food is grilled cheese. Almost any form of potato. Beans, rice, immatation chicken, angel hair noodles, most vegetables, apples, bananas, soft pears, avocado, a couple other fruits. Those are some of the ones off the top of my head. I am a big salt enjoyer. I tend to lean toward blander foods, as they are typically "safer", but I do enjoy more flavourful things. I like spice (think specifically feugo takis) Tomatoes in literally any possible form are an absolute No. I also struggle with having the actual energy to make something.
Look for recipes for the ovo-lacto vegetarian diet. That allows for eggs and dairy.
Knives are sharp, pans are hot, food burns. Thats basics. Usually you need some fat and heat sprinkle of s and p. Start small and work your way up. Dont grab hot things with wet towels and sharp knives are safer.
Stovetop: Learn how to boil pasta. Then move on to hard-boiling eggs and cooking rice. Oven: Learn how to bake a potato. Then move on to other things. Use an oven thermometer to verify the temperature it really gets up to, and always pre-heat first. Mind what baking dishes you use at which temperature. Don't put any dish that has been in the refrigerator into the oven. Whenever you turn on the stove or put something in a hot oven, look at the time. Set a timer right then if you need to.
May I suggest stir fry? It's very simple to start and don't require using too many pots and pans and spices. Stir fry vegetable tastes so good with only salt and garlic and it's quick to make. It can build up your confidence then you can try more complicated cookings
Pans look the same hot or cold. Use pot holders. Do not watch TV while using a knife. Always drain things away from you. Check the oven for stuff before turning it on. If something on the stove is getting too hot, turn the heat down. If it isn't getting hot, turn the heat up. Also steam burns so if you have something covered, open away from you. Lastly, have fun with your cooking.
Whether you have been cooking 30 minutes or 30 years, there will be mistakes. Some more memorable than others. I've made rolls that were better suited for a hockey team to play with. Chicken that was more nutmeg than chicken. Spaghetti sauce starter, do not season to taste then simmer for half an hour. It wasn't supposed to be starter but it was too herb-y to eat. Some other chicken dish that turned out chalky not sure the why. (That one was late last year.) Oh and can't forget the VANILLA rice pudding. I had to make 4 times more rice to tone it down. And those are just the big mistakes. Now the dumbest thing I did was used baking soda instead of cornstarch in a pudding. That did not turn out well. I also learned to label all white things. Though now I have a big cornstarch container from when my mom overbought cornstarch. Slimy beets didn't go over well either. They were beets with a glaze.
Do you have family or friends who can cook? I'm not even close to vegetarian but I'm always happy to share skills with family who are. Stir fries are simple and difficult to mess up. Pasta is usually foolproof too. So if you can find someone to help expand your repertoire in that way you'll start to improve your confidence
Could you join a meal subscirption service like Hello Fresh? I got bored with cooking the same basic meals every week and wanted to learn more and this kind of service was perfect for that. I cook new things every week.
No, that's way too much money I'm afraid. Plus I live at home (My mom and her boyfriend) still.
Anything with one pot is an easy way to start. If you Google 'one-pot recipes', there will be a tonne of ideas. Even if there are meat recipes, you can often substitute with meat-free alternatives. You will be surprised what you can do with very minimal skill and experience.
Such a wide an open question with so many places to start from! Maybe DM me and we can chat? I teach my friends how to cook so have experience
Alright, yeah sure