Cooking From Scratch Made Simple For Beginners
Tired of relying on processed foods? Learn how to start cooking from scratch and turn basic pantry ingredients into delicious meals for your family with our step by step guide.
In a world where convenience and pre-packaged meals have become the norm, there is something truly satisfying about cooking from scratch. Whether you are a beginner in the kitchen or someone looking to expand their skills in the kitchen, learning how to start cooking from scratch can be a total game changer. From learning what kitchen essentials you need to get started and how to begin cooking from scratch, this article will guide you through the journey of preparing homemade meals that are not only delicious but also nourishing for both you and your family.
Cooking from scratch is not only a rewarding and cost-effective way to nourish your body but also allows you to unleash your creativity in the kitchen. If you’re new to cooking or have always relied on pre-packaged meals, fear not! This comprehensive guide will help you start on a culinary journey that starts with the basics and leads you toward becoming a confident home cook.
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What is Cooking From Scratch?
Cooking from scratch is cooking a meal using basic real ingredients, nothing premade. This includes things like vegetables, fruits, meats, and baking ingredients such as flour.
Learning how to cook from scratch and cutting out preservatives can be a long journey. It can become extremely overwhelming if you try and make all the changes at once. So my hope is that this guide can help simplify the process of getting started with cooking from scratch.
How to Start Cooking From Scratch
Equip Your Kitchen
Before telling you what you need in your kitchen to cook from scratch I want you to know that you do not need any fancy tools or special kitchen appliances to get started. More than likely you already have all the required essentials in your kitchen to get started. So keep it simple and just get started with what you have.
Essentials For a From Scratch Kitchen
- Knives
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Pots
- Pans
- Mixing bowls
- Cooking utensils
- Baking sheet
- Casserole dish
- Muffin pan
- Pie pan
- Rolling pin
- Loaf pan
- Strainer
Stock Your Pantry, Fridge, and Freezer With Ingredients For From Scratch Cooking
Before going out to stock your home with basic ingredients you need to know that not all food is created equal. Especially when you are buying from big box stores or chain grocery stores.
But trying to source the best ingredients possible is going to take time and can be worked on over time. So don’t let that hold you back from getting started with cooking from scratch. If you want to start making small swaps then stick around, later in this article I will help you get started.
- Herbs and spices
- Oils
- Vinegar
- Flour
- Sugar
- Oats
- Cornmeal
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Beef
- Pork
- Chicken
- Vegetables
- Fruits
Plan Your Meals
Figuring out what to cook when you’re first getting started can be the hardest part. So I suggest planning out your meals in advance. This will also allow you to make your grocery list simultaneously.
- Create a weekly meal plan by considering dietary preferences and nutritional needs.
- Start with simple recipes that use few ingredients until you gain confidence. If you aren’t comfortable starting with a recipe try cooking any kind of meat and a vegetable as a side.
- Gradually introduce more complex recipes as your skills progress.
Begin Making Small Swaps
To begin making swaps in your kitchen to eliminate harmful pesticides put on fruits and vegetables and antibiotics in meat it can be a daunting task.
What Are The Dirty Dozen?
What is the dirty dozen you may be asking? The dirty dozen is a list of a dozen (12) fruits and vegetables that have the highest levels of pesticide residue. 2023’s dirty dozen list is as follows:
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale, collard & mustard greens
- Peaches
- Pears
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Bell & hot peppers
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Green beans
It is important to note that the list of the 12 dirty dozen items changes yearly.
- Swap meats. If you cannot find a local farmer or butcher to purchase your meat from then try swapping for grass-fed beef and organic pork and chicken.
- Switch Oils. Instead of using vegetable oil or canola oil substitute for a healthier option such as olive, avocado, or even coconut oils.
- Swap butter. If you use butter such as Country Crock it’s not even butter it is mostly oil. Try swapping from grass-fed butter instead.
Easy Things To Cook From Scratch
Finding foods to cook from scratch is incredibly easy to do. If you need some recipe inspiration try looking on Pinterest. I love using Pinterest to save recipes we love. Some of our family favorite from scratch meals are listed below.
Once you make a homemade recipe you will realize how it tastes better from scratch and you will never go back to processed foods.
FAQ’s
Yes, baking from scratch is much healthier than buying and eating processed baked goods. Processed baked goods contain chemical additives and preservatives. With baking from scratch you can control exactly what is going in your food.
Yes, like baking from scratch, cooking from scratch is healthier than buying prepackaged processed foods. You can control what goes into your food and exactly how much eliminating unnecessary ingredients and additives.
Anything that you can buy from the store you can make from scratch. It may take some time, research, and patience but you can create anything you desire by making homemade food and recipes from scratch.
Cooking from scratch can be cheaper than buying prepackaged foods to a point. Once you begin sourcing better ingredients, organic and grass fed foods it begins to get costly.
Baking from scratch is creating a baked good using basic ingredients most often using flour, sugar, a leavening agent, and some spices.
In conclusion, starting to cook from scratch is not only a practical and cost-effective way to nourish ourselves, but it also allows us to take control of our health and well-being. By embracing the simple pleasure of preparing homemade meals, we can explore new flavors, experiment with ingredients, and develop valuable skills. While it may seem daunting at first, the benefits far outweigh any initial challenges.
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