Easy cooking hacks for beginners to make daily cooking faster, cleaner, and easier. Learn simple tips anyone can follow for better meals.
Cooking food seems extremely difficult, especially for those who are just starting to cook. But the truth is that if you have a few easy cooking hacks for beginners, not only does the food become delicious, but it also saves time and effort. With the help of these simple tips, any new cook can work confidently in the kitchen.
In this article, I will tell you the 10 best cooking hacks that, if implemented, will help you cook food quickly, better, and with cleanliness.
10 Easy Cooking Hacks for Beginners to Make Everyday Cooking Simple
1. Prepare Everything Before Cooking
The most important thing before making any dish is to chop and prepare all the vegetables, spices, and necessary ingredients in advance. This is also called ‘mise en place’.
The benefit of such preparation is that:
- There is no anxiety while cooking.
- It takes less time.
- Mistakes don’t happen.
- Everything remains organised.
This is the most basic tip among simple cooking tricks that every new cook should definitely adopt.
2. Clean the Knife Frequently While Cutting Vegetables
When you cut onions, tomatoes, or juicy vegetables, moisture accumulates on the knife, making chopping difficult. The solution is basic: clean the knife with a dry cloth every so often.
From this:
- The cutting is very smooth.
- The risk of slipping from the hand is reduced.
- The vegetables are cut uniformly.
This tip is also the most useful in easy cooking hacks for beginners.
3. Cut Onions Without Tears
It is very common for tears to come into the eyes when cutting onions, but the solution for this is simple:
- Place the onion in the freezer for 10 minutes before cutting it.
- Alternatively, one can dip the knives in water before cutting.
- Or, turn on the gas and chop the onions near the flame.
These hacks prevent tears and simplify the process of chopping onions.
4. The Correct Way To Boil Pasta
New cooks often make mistakes while boiling pasta, but remember this easy tip:
- Be sure to add 1 tablespoon of salt to 1 litre of water.
- Put the pasta in boiling water.
- Keep stirring in between
Salt not only enhances the flavour but also prevents the pasta from sticking.
5. Natural Way To Tenderise Meat
If you don’t have special tenderiser powder, then don’t worry.
These are also natural ways to make meat tender:
- Yoghurt
- Papaya
- Vinegar
- Lemon
Marinate the meat for at least 30 minutes. This not only makes it tender quickly but also makes it very delicious.
6. Always Cook Eggs on Low Heat
If you fry eggs and they burn or become hard, the reason is too much heat.
Eggs always:
- Low Flame
- More Oil
- And Patience In Cooking
They become excellent with it. This is the most important among basic cooking tips.
7. A Pinch Of Salt To Cook Tomatoes Quickly
If tomatoes do not soften quickly, add a pinch of salt and cover them. The salt draws out the water from the tomatoes, which makes them cook faster.
This tip is very useful for every new cook when making curry.
8. What should I do if there is too much salt in the curry?
This almost certainly happens to every new person at least once.
If there is too much salt in the curry:
- Add one potato and cook for 10 minutes.
- Potatoes absorb salt.
- The taste of the curry becomes normal.
This tip is the best seasoning trick for easy cooking hacks for beginners.
9. Rice Should Always Be Measured With One Glass
The biggest reason rice doesn’t cook properly is the incorrect amount of water.
If you are cooking basmati rice, then:
- 1 Cup Rice
- 2 Cups Water
It always gives excellent results.
It is very important for new cooks to measure carefully.
10. An Easy Formula To Keep The Kitchen Clean
Cleanliness is the most important thing in cooking.
Remember an effortless formula:
Cook → Clean → Cook → Clean
That is, keep cooking and at the same time keep cleaning things.
From this:
- The kitchen is not messy.
- It doesn’t take much time later.
- The work remains organised.
These are time-saving cooking hacks and also great habits for beginners. If you want to cook smarter without spending much, you should also check out my guide on budget-friendly cooking hacks.
Conclusion:
Making cooking easy is just a matter of a few hacks. If you follow all these easy cooking hacks for beginners, not only will cooking become easier, but you will also quickly become a good cook. These tips will help you avoid common kitchen problems and make cooking more fun.
FAQs
What is the easiest food to cook for beginners?
For people who are just starting to cook, the easiest foods are those that don’t need many ingredients, take a short amount of time, and are easy to make. Some examples are omelettes, fried eggs, vegetable stir-fries, plain lentils, boiled pasta, or rice dishes that can be made in one pan. These things not only cook quickly but also have very low chances of going wrong, making them an excellent choice for beginners.
How to start cooking as a beginner?
If you’re just starting to cook, the best thing to do is learn the basics. You should know how to hold a knife, chop vegetables, boil rice, cook an egg, and make a simple curry. At first, avoid difficult recipes and start trying easy dishes. Thereafter, understanding basic ingredients and quantities will gradually develop on its own, and confidence will also grow.
The most important thing: cook a little bit every day; that is how skills are developed.
What are the 5 pillars of cooking?
The 5 basic pillars of cooking are the principles without which good food cannot be prepared.
They are as follows:
1. Heat: At what temperature should the food be cooked and for how long?
2. Knife Skills: The correct way to cut, peel, and make slices.
3. Flavour: The correct amount and balance of salt, spices, and seasonings.
4. Prep: Cut everything beforehand so that there is no trouble while cooking.
5. Timing: Which part should be added first and which one later, because this can change the outcome of the meal.
If a beginner understands these 5 principles, their cooking improves very quickly.
What can we cook in 5 minutes?
You can make many quick and easy things in 5 minutes, such as fried eggs, omelettes, bread omelettes, tea or coffee, instant noodles, garlic toast with butter, or a quick stir-fry of pre-cut vegetables. If the ingredients are already prepared, even a sandwich can be made in 5 minutes. All these things are quick to prepare and are excellent for beginners.
What’s a good lazy dinner?
A lazy dinner is one that can be prepared with minimal effort, fewer dishes, and less time. For example, pasta made in one pan, eggs with toast, plain rice and lentils, lightly stir-fried pre-cooked vegetables, or quickly cooked noodles. If you have already prepared vegetables, then ‘one-pan veggie fried rice’ can also become a perfect lazy dinner in just a few minutes.
