Are you ready to overcome your fear of cooking? Contrary to what you might have been told, it’s not as nearly as scary as you think! Here are eight common cooking myths that shouldn’t frighten you from firing up a recipe in the kitchen.
You Can’t Cook Good Food Without Expensive Equipment
Not only do you not need expensive equipment to cook, you don’t even need expensive food. The truth is, while fancy equipment can be fun, it’s not a necessity. The key lies in honing basic skills and techniques.
A sharp knife, a sturdy cutting board, and a reliable pan can take you far. Start with the basics and upgrade only when you feel ready; your culinary skills will grow just fine.
You Have to Follow Recipes Exactly
Many people are afraid to cook because they’re worried they might “mess up” a recipe. And while a handful of cooking recipes, like certain sauces, require strict amounts and methods, cooking is a lot more flexible than you might imagine!
Cooking is as much about creativity as it is about precision. If you don’t have a specific ingredient, don’t fret. Substitutions can often work just as well, if not better, so you don’t always have to run to the store if you’re out of kidney beans or rice wine vinegar. Experiment with herbs, spices, and different vegetables to make the dish uniquely yours.
Healthy Food Never Tastes Good
It’s not always easy to make healthy food taste good—we’ll admit that. But generally, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Think of something as modest as roast vegetables. Toss them in some good olive oil, finish with flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, and you have a restaurant-quality side that’s just as healthy as it is delicious.
You Shouldn’t Bother Cooking Unless You Have Fresh Ingredients
This one’s interesting because there’s technically some merit to using primarily fresh ingredients. However, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are often just as nutritious, sometimes even more so, because they are preserved at peak ripeness.
Using a mix of fresh, frozen, and canned ingredients can make cooking more accessible and less stressful. Plus, they tend to have longer shelf lives, reducing food waste and making meal prep easier. You might have heard that it’s wrong to use “shortcuts,” but every good chef does it; they just know which shortcuts to employ when so it doesn’t negatively impact the end result.
Cooking Always Has to Feel Like a Chore
This couldn’t be more false—cooking can be a source of joy and self-expression! It’s also highly therapeutic once you get into the swing of things. Have you ever felt the satisfaction of creating something from scratch? Or the joy of seeing loved ones enjoy a meal you prepared? Turn on some music, invite a friend to cook with you, or simply take the time to appreciate the process. You’ll soon learn that cooking can be a meditative, rewarding experience!
10 Grocery Store Foods Linked to Memory Loss
Medical research shows that your diet has the potential to affect your mental function and overall brain health. We often focus on foods that affect our internal health but rarely give attention to the impact food has on our brains. Our brain uses 20-30% of the calories we consume.
While you may have an idea of foods that promote brain health, you may be surprised to find out that some foods you’re consuming could be affecting your focus and memory.
Leave a Reply