5 Essential Cooking Skills for Every Chef

Cooking is an art form, and like any art, it requires practice and dedication to master. From knife skills to mastering the five sourdough sauces, there are a few essential cooking skills that every chef should have in their repertoire. In this article, we'll explore five must-have cooking skills that will help you go from a nervous novice to a confident chef.

Knife Skills

Knife skills are one of the most important skills you'll learn in cooking school. A chef's knife is every chef's most important tool, so if you want to take your cooking skills to the next level, the first thing you need to do is master your cooking skills with the knife.

Learning basic knife skills helps you apply the correct way to hold a chef's knife and grasp food with your other hand correctly to avoid cutting yourself. Whether you're chopping a carrot or fresh herbs, the first thing you master in the kitchen should be a basic knowledge of cooking skills with the knife. Efficient and precise skills, such as how to cut into cubes or julienne, will make the difference between making your time in the kitchen a chore or a happy breeze.

Taking Stock

Taking the time to prepare your own broths or stocks gives you maximum control over the amount of sodium and fat you consume in your meals. It's also ideal for customizing spices and herbs for certain dishes (anyone want nice pork broth for ramen?).

Mixing Fancy Cocktails

Many of us are guilty of continuing to drink like college students long after becoming former students.

Get a basic repertoire of classic mixed drinks to start your adventure in the world of stunning cocktails.

Blanching

Most people are familiar with blanching because of their history of cooking spaghetti or quickly cooking some broccoli in a pot of boiling water. Once the ingredient is well cooked, you have the option of serving it immediately or transferring it to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process and maintain the color. This is one of the most essential cooking techniques for beginners, which you can use for vegetables or for tender, quick-cooking cuts of meat, such as chicken breast.

Understanding Balanced Diets and Nutrition

Whether you want to lead a team, manage a restaurant or coffee shop, or open your own establishment, enrolling in Certificate IV in Commercial Cuisine prepares you for all the necessary knowledge and experience beyond the kitchen, including management, finance and marketing. Chefs must understand a balanced diet and good nutrition to cook and prepare beautiful dishes that can adapt to a variety of food intolerances or imbalances. These five essential cooking skills are just the beginning when it comes to mastering your culinary craft.

With practice and dedication, you can become an expert chef in no time!.

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