TLDR;
This video provides a guide on how to learn to cook, emphasizing the importance of watching others and practicing what you learn. It covers essential kitchen equipment and ingredients, how to follow recipes, the significance of patience, and tips for conserving energy to maintain a consistent cooking routine. The video suggests utilizing online resources like YouTube for learning techniques and recipes, and it encourages viewers to start cooking with simple steps and gradually build their skills.
- Watch other people cook and learn from them.
- Practice what you learn in the kitchen.
- Be patient and conserve energy to maintain a consistent cooking routine.
Intro [0:00]
The video starts by addressing the definition of cooking, noting its variety and subjective nature. The host jokes about the excessive use of olive oil in cooking videos and emphasizes that learning to cook is achievable, especially with reasonable expectations.
How to Learn Cooking [0:56]
To learn cooking effectively and for free, the video recommends watching other people cook, particularly those who explain their methods, and then applying what you've learned by making food yourself. Watching others helps avoid common mistakes and learn crucial techniques like knife safety, seasoning, and heat control. The video humorously illustrates unacceptable cooking practices, highlighting the importance of observing and understanding culinary norms.
YouTube Cooking Rabbit Hole [3:13]
The video suggests exploring the vast array of cooking content on YouTube, including recipe tutorials, technique guides, and videos that demonstrate common cooking mistakes. The host specifically recommends videos that explain the "why" behind cooking techniques, as these provide a deeper understanding of the cooking process. These types of videos unlock new cooking insights and knowledge.
Essential Kitchen Equipment [5:09]
The video outlines essential kitchen equipment, starting with the absolute necessity of containers for everything, even for containing other containers. It also covers the basics like a knife and cutting board, emphasizing the importance of a sharp knife for safety. Additional useful items include a box grater, kitchen towel, peeler, whisk, spatula, tongs, ladle, strainer, mixing bowl, can opener, stainless steel pan, pot, wok, and blender.
Essential Ingredients [6:17]
The video humorously avoids dictating specific fridge contents, suggesting basics for those transitioning from processed foods: butter, frozen and fresh vegetables, protein, sauces/spreads, and dairy. It also lists non-refrigerated staples like bread, apples, oil, potatoes, onions, garlic, seasonings, rice, uncooked pasta, and canned goods. The video emphasizes that ingredient choices should align with personal dietary preferences and habits.
How to Follow a Recipe [7:25]
The video advises reading the entire recipe before starting to identify essential and optional ingredients. It provides a casual guide to measurements, suggesting that while precise measurements are important, some flexibility is acceptable, especially with seasonings. The video encourages viewers to personalize recipes and not be constrained by them.
Patience and Energy Conservation [8:35]
The video stresses the importance of patience in cooking, cautioning against using maximum heat to speed up the process, as it can lead to burning. It also highlights the need to conserve energy to maintain a consistent cooking routine, suggesting meal prepping or using convenient options like microwavable meals or even cereal when time and energy are limited.