How do I get better at cooking meals on the stove?

[Bubbles45]

I can't seem to cook food properly, I don't understand. Is there any guidelines I should follow?

[abc3643]

Buy "Joy of Cooking" aka "The Joy of Cooking" (*). It will teach you the basics.
Also, if you can, watch "Good Eats" with Alton Brown. He teaches as well.

(*) "Joy of Cooking" premiered in 1931 and has had several editions. Personally, I prefer the 1997 Edition which is what I learned from. The 1997 Edition aka the 7th Edition has a love-hate relationship with "Joy" readers. It was different than other editions of "Joy", so fans of those older editions may not like it. I didn't have that prejudice, so I learned a lot from the 1997 Edition.

I believe a new edition of "Joy" was released just before the pandemic... Yes, the 9th Edition of "Joy" was published in 2019.

At $42.00, the 9th Edition of "Joy" is a steal. I got my 1997 edition for $34, I believe (but I may be confused because I was 34 when I bought it...).

Again, "Joy of Cooking" is a must-have book for the new cook. Many people have learned to cook from it. It's up there with the Bible as a family must-have book. My wife has become a very very good cook because of "Joy"; when I met her, making toast was challenging for her. Now, she just comes up with miracles that she makes only once because she never writes down the recipes she comes up with... but she learned the basics from "Joy" and Alton Brown.

[abc3643]

https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/joy-of-cooking

You can often find copies of "Joy" in an antique store. I'd collect them all if I can. I got I believe the 1975 (Sixth) Edition several weeks ago for $5.00.

[abc3643]

ALWAYS BUY A PRINTED COPY OF A COOKBOOK.
You will have bookmarks all over and need to read it while using your hands while doing other things.
Reading a recipe on a phone is difficult and dangerous for both you and the phone.

[AviatorTom]

My suggestion...

Go online and find a recipe for your favorite food. Follow the directions to the letter. Do this 2 or 3 times, paying attention to each individual step. Even better if you can find a video of a chef cooking that food.

Like most things, practice practice practice... to get better

[purplepoppy]

Buy one of those really cheap cookbooks rather than something written by a TV chef. You want the type where the recipes only have a few basic ingredients rather than dozens of spices.

[sheikalana]

Keep practicing. You can watch many recipes on youtube that show step by step how to make easy meals. The more you practice the better you will get at it.

[ohsheeT]

One guideline don't give up oops two guidelines don't burn the food

In time you will get better you have to be able to visualize it and taste it when you're putting it all together you know what foods go good together you know what spices what seasonings go good with whatever food you're having and it's just practice if you worry about things then you're going to the affected by that so just do it like you know what you're doing taste it cook it on medium heat low heat . If you want to know how to cook something just send me a message I'll show you how or I'll teach you how

[JacobJordan]

short of watching videos or taking classes. just practice. to give you a start though. if you are sautéing you want to stir when you hear things sizzling the other thing is if you start seeing smoke you either need to stir or reduce heat. I toss the food in the pan and cook fairly regularly but it more often than not comes down to practice

[Static_In_The_Attic]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/TLnDSHr8gdg

Practice makes perfect as they say & as for you I think you should watch a few YouTube stovetop cooking videos & go from there.

[rachel776]

watch videos of the good chefs

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0SrA5iksAaY

[RavVid]

I have just started cooking. be very precise following the recipe is what I found. Are you doing stove top or in the oven stuff

[Radiate143]

Yes, they call them recipes. Find easy ones. Follow them to a T. Learn cooking terms. Don't be distracted while cooking. Cook often.

[Still-alive]

here's one tip i can give you i learned. 165 degrees F is the appropriate temp to cook for most foods. If you got a thermometer you can check it that way.

[Still-alive]

www.fsis.usda.gov/.../safe-temperature-chart

It depends on what you’re cooking though here's a good list with their recommended internal temps

[Fireguy17]

Practice, and or take some cooking classes.
No one was born knowing how to cook.

[jahaims]

You literally follow step by step directions called recipes. If you can't do that then you are just stupid.

[Still-alive]

try to not be a jerk. yeesh dude

[TallAnon]

Just copy cooking videos 1 to 1, use the same amounts, same amount of fire and same ingredients. You will end up with the exact same dish.

[HouseMoat]

Cooking simpler things first. Then getting more complicated. Even if it's just boiling water and not burning it, to start

[DextroShade]

Just keep practicing and watch YouTube videos of the dish being cooked.

[tfan1]

YouTube and cooking classes 👍🙂

[The-Stud]

Watch Masterchef!

[gorydetails]

What is the problem with what you're cooking?

[Jennz6]

Get a gas stove

[Bklynbadboy12]

Practice baby all you have to do is practice

[Kingofkings1992]

What are you trying to cook exactly?

[ChicoFromThe305]

Are you using oil?

[ThrillSeeker01]

Try cereal 🥣