Cooking is one of the most rewarding hobbies people can try. Not only do they get to eat delicious meals, but it can also improve health and general wellbeing. Moreover, you may find yourself trying foods you never would have considered before. However, if you or your loved ones have gotten used to quick meals or eating out, it may seem daunting to start learning to cook at home.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get into cooking. In this article, we will look at five ways to get started.
Benefits of Cooking
As we have already mentioned, cooking has several benefits for general wellbeing. Here are just a few examples of why it’s better to cook at home:
- Healthier – Cooking with fresh ingredients means that many meals will be lower in calories, salt, and fat than meals bought from a supermarket, restaurant, or takeaway. Furthermore, you will have more control over the size of your portions and the ingredients you include.
- Boosts Mood – Involving yourself with the cooking process can prove therapeutic. This can help to improve mood. Many of the actions associated with cooking can help to relieve stress or muscle tension. Furthermore, the smells and tastes can help to boost serotonin, which improves mood.
- A Social Activity – Cooking can help to combat loneliness. When you cook, you can involve a loved one in the process. Whilst you make a sauce, they could cut the meat, for example. This helps them feel involved. The social side of cooking continues once the meal is plated, too, as you and your loved one can catch up. Cooking at home may also be a good excuse to invite friends or family over.
- Saves Money – Eating at a restaurant or ordering a takeaway may be convenient, but it’s not cheap. Ready meals are also more expensive than they appear, especially when compared to buying the ingredients yourself. Moreover, some ingredients last for a long time, meaning you can use them in future recipes without buying more. Moreover, if meals have been planned in advance, your loved one is less likely to splash out on unnecessary food.
- Better Food Safety – When your loved one cooks at home, they are less likely to experience an allergic reaction. This is because, despite efforts to avoid them, supermarkets and restaurants can make mistakes. Cooking at home provides more control over what goes into the meal. Your loved one will also be able to check for themselves whether food has been properly cooked, avoiding the risk of food poisoning.
With these benefits in mind, let’s look at how your loved one can start cooking at home.
1. Recreate Favourite Recipes
Everyone has certain meals they love to eat. A go-to dish when they visit the restaurant or look at the takeaway menu. If you or your loved one are trying to cook at home more often, a good place to start is by recreating these favourites. Head online and bookmark the recipes. Take note of whether these recipes include any of the same ingredients.
When you or your loved one first start to cook at home, don’t change your habits entirely. This may feel overwhelming. Instead, start by substituting one or two meals a week for something homemade. If you would have had a shepherd’s pie ready meal one night, make one from scratch instead.
2. Consider Meal Kits
When cooking at home, it might feel intimidating to start from scratch. Fortunately, there are several companies and brands who recognise that people want to cook at home. Buying a meal kit provides a mix of ingredients alongside step-by-step instructions. Some will contain everything you need, whilst others might require a few additional purchases.
A meal kit is a great way to get started with cooking at home. It will introduce your loved one to cooking techniques without the pressure of preparing everything themselves. If you purchase a meal kit from companies such as Gousto or Hello Fresh, you will also learn the full recipe, allowing you to buy your own ingredients if you ever want to make one again.
However, keep in mind that some store-bought meal kits may still have higher levels of salt or fat. Use them as a transition from easy meals to cooking full meals at home.
3. Start Simple
There are thousands of recipes out there, but some are more ambitious than others. If you or your loved one are trying to cook at home more often, it’s important not to take on too much too soon. The great news is that there are plenty of recipes that are reasonably straightforward. So-called ‘one pot meals’ limit the chaos of different timings and preparation methods. Instead, all the ingredients go into one dish until they’re cooked.
Similarly, it’s important to get used to the basics first. Learn how to cook fish properly before trying advanced techniques. Know how to fry before you flambé.
4. Use Video Tutorials
In this digital age, information is readily available for whatever you want to learn. As a result, it should come as no surprise that YouTube is home to countless cooking tutorials. Ranging from recipes by amateur home cooks to lessons from world-renowned chefs, a video tutorial could offer all the information you or your loved one need to cook at home. With cooking at home becoming such a popular pastime, you are sure to find a tutorial tailored to your skill level.
But why stop there? If you or your loved one are looking to become a cooking maestro, a full cooking course may be what you need. There are plenty of online cooking courses to choose from, most of which involve pre-recorded videos you can access whenever you want, alongside helpful hints and tips. Some online classes are live. Although you will need to join at specific times using apps like Zoom, this is a great way to ask for help along the way.
Delicious Magazine have a list of online cookery classes that they recommend for anyone who wants to cook at home.
5. In-Person Cooking Courses
Learning on our own can sometimes feel like too much to take on. What if we make a mistake? How do we know we’re following the instructions correctly? These worries, however, shouldn’t stop you from trying. Consider taking a course in person instead. Classes are available all over the country to suit a range of skill levels.
With so many to choose from, you will need to do your research. There’s likely little point signing up for a class at Gordon Ramsay’s Academy near London if you live in Aberdeen, for example. However, you don’t need a Michelin-star chef to teach you how to cook. A simple search of “cookery classes near me” on Google could be all you need to find lessons closer to home.
Confidence and Cooking
When you choose to cook at home, it’s important to feel safe. We’ve provided these five tips for cooking at home, but if you or your loved one need extra peace of mind, consider a Careline365 personal alarm. With a personal alarm, your loved one’s independence is assured. They can cook at home knowing that help is always the push of a button away.
With a personal alarm from Careline365, pressing the button on the pendant alerts our 24/7 Care Team. They will assess the situation and arrange for help in the form of emergency contacts or, when necessary, the emergency services.
For additional peace of mind in and around the home, buy a personal alarm today. You can find out more by reading our in-depth guide or by calling on 0800 101 3333 to speak with our friendly team.
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