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When the Covid pandemic hit, the lockdown was tough for everyone. However, one good thing about it was that it enabled a lot of people to learn a new skill. For some it was DIY. For others, it was make-up and nail art. The likes of photography, drawing and even yoga were widely taken up too.
But by far and away the most popular new skill people learnt or at least brushed up on, was how to cook like a professional. It’s not surprising really.
People, especially office workers, suddenly had plenty more time on their hands without the commute to and from their place of employment. They also couldn’t, or were too conscious, to leave their house to pick up their favourite takeaway, and many restaurants were on a temporary shut down too. So, mealtimes at home became a major event.
Which in turn kickstarted somewhat of a foodie movement!
Today, even though cafes, restaurants, and catering providers like the Sunshine Coast’s Gathar are pretty much back to normal operations, there is a significant number of people who plan to predominantly cook from home regardless.
Reasons why you should continue your quest to learn to cook like a pro
If you are someone who invested a lot of time and effort into cooking during the lockdown, here are 8 reasons why you should continue your quest to learn to cook like a pro.
You will save a lot of money
The equation is simple. The more you cook for yourself the more money you will save, and very quickly too.
Going out for dinner can be expensive. It’s not uncommon to drop the best part of $100 on a starter, main meal and glass of wine for two these days. Do that every week and the costs soon add up.
By contrast, even if you were to make any of the meals you would typically eat at a restaurant from scratch, you should expect to spend considerably less on all the ingredients for it.
Cooking at home is undoubtedly a very easy way to build up your cash reserves. Which, for sure, is as good a reason as any to learn to cook like a pro.
Learn to cook outside your comfort zone
One of the best things about learning to cook like a pro is that you can start to experiment outside your comfort zone with genres of cuisine you might not have previously tried.
Indian, Ethiopian, Brazilian or Korean, the gastronomic world is your oyster. So why not fully embrace it and increase your own repertoire?
You will get a real sense of achievement
Whether it be duck breasts with apricot chutney, pork tenderloin with three-berry salsa or a slow-simmered burgundy beef stew, you will get a real sense of achievement when you cook something delicious.
The more times you experience this feeling, the more it will spur you on to seek further culinary glory!
You’ll know exactly what is in your food
If you are the kind of person who likes to count calories, has food allergies, or just likes to know what goes into your meal, then cooking at home is a great option.
Not only will you be able to control what ingredients are used in the dishes you make, but you will also know where they were bought, and whether they have things like gluten or dairy products in them (if you are allergic to this), or preservatives and pesticides.
Your meals will be healthier
As delicious as takeaway meals are, they typically also come with a side of extra calories, fat, salt or sugar. So, making Pad Thai, a juicy burger and chips, or delicious pizza with a cheesy base at home, is bound to be healthier than if you order it from a restaurant.
Not least because you will be able to control just how much, and what type of ingredients, you put in it e.g. free range chicken, lean mince, low-fat cheese etc.
You’ll discover that cooking is actually pretty straightforward
Contrary to some opinions, gourmet cooking is a skill which anyone can master. It is simply a case of using good quality ingredients and following instructions to the letter.
Nowadays, there are several resources you can draw up, both online and in print, that will give you easy-to-follow, step-by-step guides on how to make any given dish.
The more you utilise these instructions, the more you will hone your cooking technique, to the point you will start to become very accomplished at the range of dishes you can make.
You’ll Impress People with your cooking
The more you cook, the more confident you will become in the kitchen. And the more confident you become, the better your dishes will turn out.
This in turn will start to impress your family, friends and even dates, which means you will soon start to garner a reputation for being an excellent cook.
Not only will this make you feel very good about yourself, but you will also find a host of people who will start wanting you to cook for them.
Which could lead to another opportunity…
It could get you a new job
A newfound passion for cooking good food could lead you in the direction of a career change.
It could even see you launch a successful food-based business from your kitchen, or get yourself a gig as a food publisher.
All you need to do is believe!
Conclusion
So, there you have it! 8 great reasons why you should learn to cook like a pro.
Whether you do it to save money, as a way to switch off and de-stress from the pressures of work, or just because you want to learn a new skill, cooking for yourself is a very rewarding experience.
And there is no time like the present to start!
