What Does It Take to Be a Good Chef?

If you want to be an expert at something, there are techniques and methods that you have to master. If you’d like to become a chef or be a better cook here are some must-know rules of cookery. They can help you go from a novice to a confident cook in no time at all.

Know How to Read A Recipe

Coulis, roux, sieve and shuck. The language used in recipes can seem alien. Before you begin cooking, it’s a good idea to learn the language of the kitchen.

Know How to Properly Slice and Dice An Onion

Yes, there is a technique to it! The cornerstone of so many dishes, learning to chop an onion efficiently will speed up dinner preparations. Don’t forget to use a sharp knife for the best results.

Learn How to Season

Spices make food tasty. You must add a sprinkling of salt and pepper to virtually everything you make, from pasta to vegetables. Don’t be afraid of experimenting with other seasonings, too.

Pay Attention to Food Safety

It doesn't matter how good your food tastes if it makes someone sick. Food-borne illnesses can even cause death. So you must know how to keep your food safe, including the proper way to cook meats, eggs, fish etc.

Understand "Doneness" Tests

When is a cake baked or a burger ready? Is the chicken still raw in the middle? If you don't know when your food is done, you can easily overcook or undercook it. For every recipe, there are different testing criteria. You must learn them.

Learn Meal Planning

Rice and beans or chicken and chips. Which foods go best together? You should know why some food combinations are so tasty. Also, practise cooking them so they are ready at the same time.