Is cooking is a skill?

Being able to cook a healthy and affordable meal is a key skill for adults. It may seem scary at first, but you don't need to master a souffle right away. Instead, start with easy, affordable recipes and develop your skills. At the very least, it's good to know that you can prepare a quick and nutritious meal when tenants or caretakers aren't there to help you.

We've put together a list of 25 key skills that every beginning cook must know to gain confidence in the kitchen. The cornerstone of many dishes, learning to chop an onion efficiently can speed up the preparation of endless dinner. Take a few minutes and learn how to cut into slices like a pro with our how to chop an onion video below. We've also been discussing ways to keep tears at bay; apparently, sucking on a teaspoon while cutting will keep your eyes dry.

Invest in a good cookbook that comes in an easy to understand style and reviews the most basic recipes, with the possibility to venture out as confidence levels increase. In the Good Food Ireland network, there are several cooking schools with teachers who love to share their knowledge with students at all levels. Keep in mind that different forms of pasta will have different cooking times and pasta with fresh eggs will cook much faster than dry pasta. For the most advanced cooking enthusiasts, the Ballymaloe Cooking School offers a prestigious 12-week certified course, covering a wide range of international cuisines and professional techniques.

For anyone who thinks they could use a better kitchen, it's possible and relatively easy to understand the basics of cooking that can then be harnessed to create a repertoire of quick and easy daily meals. It's well known that a good home-cooked meal is the best way to ensure what you're eating and will contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Whether you're a beginner or want to improve your cooking skills, Lynda Booth and her team of tutors offer a wide range of cooking courses to meet everyone's needs and tastes. It opens up a world of social possibilities, from hosting dinners to cooking for a hot date or turning on the Barbie for a sausage sizzle on Sundays.

The duration of the boil depends on how firm you want the eggs to be, but it's always best to start with them at room temperature to avoid undercooking. The cooking time will depend on how well cooked you like the meat, the thickness of the cut and the type of steak it is. According to recent research by safefood, men and young adults have low levels of confidence when it comes to cooking their own food. The survey that measured the state of the country's cooking skills found that this group was the least able to prepare a meal for themselves.

If you don't have much culinary experience, learn from those who have years of cooking experience and have become highly successful chefs. On the positive side, the survey showed that conserving basic ingredients in food cabinets and sharing cooking responsibilities were seen as positive ways to further encourage home cooking.