Learning to cook usually starts with finding some recipes on the web and trying them out in the kitchen.
Thats great, but dont stop there.
Internet recipes are a great starting point, but they have limitations.
Cooking isnt easy, especially ifyou havent made it a habit.
For some, its fun and comes naturally.
For others,it takes workandrequires time and energy.
But when you blindly follow recipes, youre limiting yourself.
They want to be as inoffensive as possible.
That doesnt mean theyre alwaysbad, but theyre never trulygood.
Youll rarely think wow I can really taste the X or the Y really comes through in this dish.
Because of this, theyre almost unilaterally underseasoned.
That means that your food will be too, if you dont do something about it.
The fix is easy: Season your food.
Seriously, its that simple.
Then add a little more.
(Cooking TV shows are notorious for this kind of stuff, too.)
If not, why is it here?
Season as you cook, too, and taste to see how your flavors are developing.
Taste again before you serve, and make adjustments before your meal hits the table.
The judge or whoever shouts, Did you taste this before you served it?
Dont be that guy.
Dont get me wrong, there are some places where just a little goes a long way.
Tart acids like citrus juice are a great example.
Delicate ingredients, like saffron or gentle herbs that need mild dishes to shine, are another.
Again, this comes down to the difference betweenmakinga recipe andthinking aboutit prior to beginning cooking.
When you read a recipe, think about the flavorsyoulike and think about how to incorporate them.
Do you like spicy food?
you’re free to add red pepper flakes to just about anything.
Read every recipe and ask yourself why is this in there?
what does it bring to the party?
Then afterward, ask yourself how you’ve got the option to improve it to suityourtastes.
You dont single-source your news, right?
So dont single-source your food, either.
You want expert opinions and different perspectives.
You want someone to try it for you so you dont waste your time.
(In fact, this is one premise thatAmericas Test Kitchenwas based on!)
Explore independent food blogs.
Bon Appetit(Definitely check out theirTest Kitchenand theirYouTube channel!)
Lucky Peach
The Kitchn
Serious Eats
Saveur
Food52(Their community-poweredHotlineis especially amazing.)
They also have their own blog and test kitchen where they actually make the stuff they write about.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, too.
Theyre some ofmypersonal favorite sites, but you might and should find others.
You should also reject mine if they dont suit your tastes.
You probably already know names like Alton Brown, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, and Lynne Rossetto Kasper.
Think about the cooking shows you love and the people behind them.
Dont be afraid to play around in the kitchen.
And dont take anyones one word for a recipe, or the way your food should taste.
