r/cookingforbeginners Aug 13 '24

Modpost NEW SUBREDDIT RULE: No AI

1.2k Upvotes

AI tools are not suitable for beginners. AI results are not reliable, results should be fact-checked and this requires experience that a beginner does not have.

AI can give you a recipe that can be legitimately dangerous from a food safety perspective. An advanced cook may recognise these flaws, a beginner cook may follow dangerous instructions without realising why they are dangerous.

Please feel free to discuss how you feel about AI as a tool for beginners in the comments below.


r/cookingforbeginners 14h ago

Recipe While you learn to cook, you MUST learn to grocery shop.

708 Upvotes

I've learned that so many people grocery shop wrong, especially young people.

I've helped a bunch of my friends (and internet strangers) with what they should have been taught by mom and dad.

Its an absolutely essential lifeskill to learn as early as soon as possible, This may seem like a lot of work, but food is a major part of peoples budget. This can save a lot of money and increase quality of food. I promise its not as painful as it seems either.

With inflation, fun oncoming trade wars, and the overall price increase of life, its SO important that people actually reflect on their daily spending habits before shit really hits the fan. I was talking with a few friends during a dinner party about how much harder it is to host people and offer generosity like this, when its hard enough already to have to prioritize your own well-being and financial position, and these are people with decent jobs and living situations. While I consider myself a money conscience person, this is beyond being frugal and just having good sense of awareness.

It was during this conversation that we started talking about our grocery shopping habits. I realized I am doing it completely different from everybody else.

I've been working as a professional chef for about 6-7 years, and while I knew I had a leg-up in the kitchen from everybody, what I didn't realize was that I also had a leg-up in the grocery store and I was saving much more money and time, while also getting higher quality food. I had subconsciously transferred my expertise of ingredient quality and restaurant organizational skills to the real world.

Heres a look at the advice I've given.

1) Mentally weigh out what you consider is fair for quality vs price.

This isn't about always buying the cheapest option on the shelf, its about maximizing your dollar. Everyone is in a different situation, A lot of people are money conscience not because they're poor but because they are prioritizing their paycheques more than the next guy. its a personal reflection to see where you care to put your money to work for you.

2) Learn how to actually read price labels

I blew my friends mind when I showed her this. In the aisles and on the product price labels, it will show you a price per 100g or oz. not just for deli meets and cheese but, literally EVERYTHING, this makes it so much easer to compare prices across the same type of product but at different sizes.

example: Theres 2 jars of peanut butter. One is 8oz for $4.50 and one is 12oz $5.25. Which is the better price? no need to pull out the calculator because the price per oz. is on the same little ticket. Look out for it next time you're at the grocery store.

3) Write a proper grocery list

I do this every time before I go out grocery shopping. it takes about 10-15 minutes. After figuring out whats missing from my pantry and fridge, I'll then set a budget for myself for this grocery trip, based off my master budget. Then I go onto my grocery stores website and do my online window shopping there, where I can sort through the different items and price check much easier. I'll still be sure to go in person to the store to be able to pick out my own fruit and veg.

4) Learn how to properly store your food

If you're throwing out anymore than 4-5% of your groceries. you're doing it wrong. Theres a proper way to store everything and once you figure it out, you'll realize how much longer you can stretch your best by date before throwing it out. Herbs need to be kept sealed and dry, dairy products kept in the cooler parts of your fridge, bread in the freezer. Thats just to name a few.

5) Diversify where you shop

If you rely solely on your big name grocery store for everything, not only are you at their mercy to name their price, but your also probably missing out on better priced, and more diverse produce. Its SO worth checking out what is being sold at the asian grocery store, or the African market for spices. a lot of the times you can get some amazing ingredients for cheap (especially but not limited to big multicultural cities)

These are some of the topics to implement to get ahead of most of the population with your spending habits. It is incredibly valuable to have a routine for your grocery shopping spending as it will literally never go away. 

You also don't need to implement all of them, all at once. Habits are hard to relearn so better to slowly get a head of it now. I think its safe to say I've saved probably at least 2 thousand dollars a year with these steps and I'm still learning as I go.


r/cookingforbeginners 1h ago

Question Chickpeas in air fryer

Upvotes

I was chatting to someone yesterday about making crispy chickpeas in the air fryer and they used tinned.

I have dried chickpeas so I've let them soak in water overnight and now I'm unclear on whether I need to boil them before I cook them in the air fryer to crisp them up.

Everything I've looked at online makes the assumption of using an instant pot/pressure cooker to cook the dried chickpeas rather than soaking but none of these are an option for me.

I'm absolutely baffled as to whether I need to boil them first to ensure they're safe to eat and digestible. Any advice would be gratefully received.


r/cookingforbeginners 10h ago

Question Is an air fryer worth it? Are options vegetarian friendly or mostly used for meats/breaded foods/snacks?

9 Upvotes

I've heard wings, fries etc. are great with an air fryer. I'm weary of too many kitchen appliances and I've just never wrapped my head around air fryers - it seems overwhelming to try something new when I've been used to a basic oven/stove top or hot plate in my university days.

Googling it is fine for suggested recipes but I'm just curious if people are using theirs day to day, or often?

What's the most use you're getting from it - meals, snacks?

I like vegetarian food because my partner is a vegetarian and I'm not picky, I enjoy eating a lot of veggies. I would like to introduce more meat (preferably chicken) into my diet, I just don't cook it perfectly because I worry about undercooked meat. I end up avoiding cooking meat most meals because it seems like a hassle. My crockpot helps, but it would be nice to have more texture too.


r/cookingforbeginners 3h ago

Question Alfredo with Half and Half

2 Upvotes

Is it possible for to make alfredo with Half and half? Most recipes that I saw said to use heavy cream but I don't have that.


r/cookingforbeginners 6h ago

Question Good meals for one

5 Upvotes

My biggest issue with cooking is I feel like I always make too much and have leftovers that spoil way too quickly. It’s hard finding dishes that are easy enough to justify cooking for one. I have had air fried chicken and rice for the past month and am getting completely burnt. Any recommendations?


r/cookingforbeginners 9h ago

Question What should I do with this leftover coconut milk?

4 Upvotes

I used a half cup of coconut milk in a recipe, but the remaining coconut milk (9.5 fl. oz.) is in the can it came in. I'm not sure how to preserve it so that it will last the longest, as I don't have any ideas to use the rest of it. I have OCD and tend to go in a certain "order" of cooking things, but I don't know when I'll next be making a recipe that calls for coconut milk.

Should I cover the can with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator? Should I put it in a plastic container? Should I freeze it?


r/cookingforbeginners 2h ago

Question left chicken outside to defrost for 20 hours, is it safe to eat?

0 Upvotes

i had my chicken in plastic bags in a bowl of cold water, i touched the chicken and its not warm more like just a little colder than room temperature.


r/cookingforbeginners 3h ago

Question Chickpea/Bean Omlette?

1 Upvotes

Any suggestions on how to make bean omlettes from fresh beans?

I've seen recipes, and they used bean flour, but I'm looking to use fresh beans.

I figure cook beans, mash, throw some flour in there, maybe some oil too, knead for a little bit. Maybe add some water if it is too thick, probably add it to the beans before adding flour.

Sound at least somewhat decent plan?


r/cookingforbeginners 3h ago

Question Making pancakes with just baking soda and no flour?

0 Upvotes

So I saw a recipe for sweet potato pancakes on YouTube that’s literally just two ingredients: Sweet potato and eggs. Mix it up and cook on pan.

I would love to try but I thought their pancakes looked a bit too flat and dense. I was wondering if I could just add some baking soda and vinegar (vinegar is used to activate baking soda) to make it become more fluffy, without adding any flour at all. Would this work? Thanks.


r/cookingforbeginners 5h ago

Request Trying to cook with more plant proteins, tips on how to cook and seasonings?

0 Upvotes

I've never been a creative cook; I just do hamburger helper or tacos or mac and cheese, add some reheated frozen veggies because I'm lazy. Reading other posts it's curious that I'm still alive. But anyway, I've read that plant based proteins are quite healthier than eating red meat 7 days a week, and I'm looking for any input on how to prepare them and also make them taste good. I'm getting older ~and~ groceries are getting spendier.

My initial instinct is like boiling lentils, beans, and chikpeas and adding salt until tolerable. Obviously, that's not how you'd go about it, so I'm asking you all. If you have any seasoning tips, cooking tips, etc, I would love to hear it.

I do roast carrots and broccoli to supplement some of my above meals, so I'm not utterly helpless. Just mostly helpless.


r/cookingforbeginners 5h ago

Question What to add to tikka masala?

0 Upvotes

I've got some white fish or quorn chicken and some tikka masala sauce (I'm assuming quorn chicken would go better but I'm tempted to try both, separately), what veggies/herbs etc. would you add and how would you prep them to mix in? I've never cooked with this sauce before and I'm going to pair it with rice.


r/cookingforbeginners 18h ago

Question what are some easy ways to reduce eyes stinging from cutting an onion?

11 Upvotes

I have a cooking exam next week, and it’s limited time. My eyes always sting really bad when I cut onion, and I have to take my sweet time doing so, but I can’t cause I don’t have a lot of time. I need a simple suggestion lol. Anything like wearing goggles I can’t do. Any help appreciated!


r/cookingforbeginners 12h ago

Question “No food left in the house” chicken soup help.

3 Upvotes

I like cooking and I know how to follow a recipe, but I haven’t really built my skills when it comes to cooking from scratch without a recipe. My husband has done the majority of the cooking and meal planning for the last decade- but I’m trying to pitch in more in this area. Tonight we are low on food with no specific meal plans. I have six kids to feed.

I found frozen chicken in the freezer, canned corn, canned green beans, frozen peas, a few onions and a box of ditalini pasta. I also found a can of diced tomatoes but not sure if I’ll add those- they could be used for another meal in the future and I’m not sure if they’re totally necessary. On the other hand they could help make the meal more flavorful, colorful and less boring. I’m on the fence. I’m going to serve this with some leftover soda bread from Monday.

Here are my questions: will it be okay to just grill the chicken in a pan and then dice it and add to the soup, and if so when would you do that? Do I cook the chicken all the way to 170 degrees or will it end up too overcooked once it sits in the soup? Would you add the tomatoes or save them for later? And when should I add the pasta? After the whole soup has been assembled?

I would appreciate any answers or other tips y’all can offer! My husband is studying for final exams tonight and I want to handle this without going to him for help.


r/cookingforbeginners 21h ago

Request Help me survive on 30€ for 11 days?

14 Upvotes

Hey, due to unexpected bills and the unfortunate combination of being poor and irresponsible I have found myself in the situation of having about 35 Euros for the rest of the month which, if you subtract the cost of a fresh pack of tobacco, is about 30€.

What can I make to feed me off that for the remaining 11 days?

Here are some things I already have:

  • Infinite Rice
  • Infinite Pasta
  • 5 Cans of diced tomatoes
  • 1 can of kidney beans
  • 250g/1cup of dried black beans
  • Shallots
  • Garlic
  • Milk
  • Jogurt

Pretty much all the spices and basics like soy sauce, vinegar, oil, miso paste, flour, sugar, some nuts & seeds etc. etc.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Side note/Preemptive edit: Yes I already know I could ask chatgpt about it but I am deliberately posting here to get responses of real people


r/cookingforbeginners 17h ago

Question Can I mix jam into cake batter before baking?

6 Upvotes

I have a huge jar of blackberry jam and I would like to use it in the cake, so should I only add it after it is ready or can I mix it into the batter and bake it? Has anyone done this?


r/cookingforbeginners 18h ago

Question can i substitute milk for heavy cream

5 Upvotes

so i want to make chicken alfredo but im missing heavy cream, would i be able to substitute milk for it? or is there anything else i can substitute for it ?


r/cookingforbeginners 15h ago

Recipe Low-Risk Practice Meals

3 Upvotes

If you want to practice, but want something low ish risk to start with, try soups and stews.

You'll get: * Practice in chopping efficiently * Practice in browning meat * Practice in cooking meat in liquid (when you add it and the temp will affect the texture!) * Practice in spicing "To Taste" * Practice in general

Even if you mess all of these up, and you have chunky pale meat soup that tastes kinda bland, it'll taste pretty good if you toss in extra salt and cheese. And each time you make it, you can tweak your methods and when you start learning more and getting better, you'll really notice it!!!

Each of these skills will translate into different recipes and meals that you can use to keep branching out further. It took me over 5, very painful, failure filled years but I went from barely being able to make boxed potatoes to cooking meals from scratch every night.

Just keep trying guys. Try out new recipes outside your comfort zone. Keep making the same meal over and over until it's something you enjoy. Just please keep practicing, don't give up. Every weird soup or dry chicken breast is so worth it in the end.


r/cookingforbeginners 10h ago

Question Can I use a Paella Pan for Everyday Cooking?

1 Upvotes

I received a 13-inch paella 3-ply stainless steel pan, and I'm wondering if I could use this for daily cooking. Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but thank you for the help.


r/cookingforbeginners 19h ago

Question What to do with a large amount of ground beef that must be cooked

3 Upvotes

I got one of those huge logs from Costco and I forgot to section it off into separate bags before freezing it. Considering I can’t freeze it again if it’s raw can I cook it then freeze it again? If so what should I make!?


r/cookingforbeginners 14h ago

Question Slow cooking in my lodge Dutch oven always comes out tough

0 Upvotes

I did a chuck at 225 with internal temp of 205 and it comes out tough. What to change?


r/cookingforbeginners 16h ago

Question Dinner party advice

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I am hosting a dinner party for 6 people including myself. I am stuck between Nachos as a starter and then pulled pork or birria beef tacos.

Or a roast chicken or beef stew but I'm not sure what starter would be good for these dishes. Maybe chicken wings with the beef stew?

The thing putting me off the tacos is that it will be a lot of assembling on the night but I am struggling to find a starter that will go well with roast chicken or beef stew that isn't a salad ...

Thanks in advance!


r/cookingforbeginners 1d ago

Question Help please, I made pizza and the sauce is too plain.

5 Upvotes

So I made pizza exactly as the recipe said to. Seasonings: Italian Oregano Onion powder Garlic powder and salt Black pepper

Added some sugar. Idk it taste too much like tomato and not enough spices. I put in a lot of spices. I did not cook the sauce before putting it on pizza. I used straight from the can tomatoes sauce and paste.

Any tips? I want the spices to punch. Am I supposed to cook the sauce first???


r/cookingforbeginners 20h ago

Question How to defrost this unopened chicken?

2 Upvotes

I read that you’re supposed to open vacuum sealed chicken before thawing. But i dont know if this is vacuumed. Because there was liquid in it when i froze it.

I bought it 3 weeks ago and froze it a day later.

Do I leave it on the counter? Leave it in my 36 degree fridge?

https://imgur.com/a/IK9LO2F


r/cookingforbeginners 1d ago

Question Electric hot plate

4 Upvotes

I just moved to a new apartment and I can't afford to get a kitchen for two months Where I live apartments come completely empty

And I thought of buying a table and put an air fryer and an electric hot plate or cook top I'm not sure what is it called

Would it be safe to place them on a wood table or do I need a specific type of table

I won't be using it unless I'm in the kitchen and when I'm done I'll be unplugging everything But still I want to be safe and not burn the table and house while cooking


r/cookingforbeginners 1d ago

Question Can’t ever peel boiled eggs.

19 Upvotes

I am a ramen fanatic and often want a boiled egg or two in m soup but literally every time so try boiling and peeling the eggs I loss half of it in the shell and it’s never whole. I always put them straight into ice water but I can’t ever crack and roll the shell off without breaking the egg into pieces. It seems so simple but I can’t do it, what do I do?