Cookbook recs for someone who never learned to cook

[Anonymous]

I never learned to cook growing up, and it was not until earlier this year that I have taken a real interest in it and have started getting more comfortable cooking a solid rotation of meals from scratch. (Spurred by a weight loss journey and a new job that gave me some more free time in the kitchen, as well as my oldest reaching an age where I’d like to make family dinner a priority.)

Despite having a good set of recipes my immediate family enjoys, I am not that confident in cooking for other people / for holidays / etc. I would love a good book to help me improve my skills and better understand the fundamentals.

I saw Salt Fat Acid Heat recommended in another thread. Other books or resources people would suggest?

[Anonymous]

Take cooking classes

[Anonymous]

Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything. America's Test Kitchen.

[Anonymous]

When I was starting I learned a lot following Alton brown recipes. His stuff is simpler and more about the methods rather some silly over complicated way of doing things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take cooking classes

I’ve considered this! Any recommendations for classes? I am aware of Cookology in Ballston.

[Anonymous]

Hands on cooking is the best start. Try Cookology, Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table.

[Anonymous]

I'd recommend some YouTube Videos. I like the ones that focus on showing what you do with your hands like Food Wishes or Basics with Babish.

[Anonymous]

I agree with How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman.

I also like old cooking shows from Jacques Pepin, Giada DeLaurentiis, Nigella Lawson, and Ina Garten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything. America's Test Kitchen.

I can't cook and read Mark's How to Cook Everything book and it was too advanced for me. I needed to read a book that comes before that one. Like a dummies edition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything. America's Test Kitchen.

Yep. I never learned to cook either, and the Bittman book is what I've learned from.

[Anonymous]

Molly Baz - Cook This Book. She’s annoying, but her recipes are pretty easy to follow. The book even has QR codes pointing to videos of different cooking techniques.

[Anonymous]

Dad’s Own Cookbook— it’s absolutely excellent. I’ve given copies to several people who wanted to learn to cook well, and they’ve liked it.

[Anonymous]

“Twelve Recipes” by cal Peternell

[Anonymous]

I learned to cook from The New Best Recipe Cookbook by Cook’s illustrated. It explains EVERYTHING and breaks it down into step-by-step science. Never had a bad meal from that book (and when I started I didn’t know how to boil an egg.)

[Anonymous]

What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers -- book just came out, but she has a pretty extensive Substack with recipes and a weekly email with a new recipe. I've had success with her recipes -- they tend to be pretty simple, use a minimum amount of dishes, and I've learned some new techniques (e.g., roasting gnocchi on a sheet pan with dollops of italian sausage and veggies in various combos -- easy and delicious!)