If you’re looking to make healthier, more delicious homemade meals, you’re come to the right place. After all, as an online cooking community, this is our jam! Sometimes it’s best to start with the basics, so read on for 5 cooking basics you should know.
Learn these 5 cooking basics to make more delicious homemade meals
1. How to stir-fry vegetables
Stir-fries are pretty much the bee’s knees. They’re truly one of the easiest ways to load up on delicious and nutrient-rich vegetables. Stir-fries only require a small amount of oil as well. Even a novice cook can quickly learn how to make a knock-your-socks-off stir-fry by their second or third attempt.
Supporting Swich Exercise and Recipe:
- Swich cooking exercise: Introduction to Stir-Frying (access with your free Swich membership)
- Practice this cooking basic with this recipe: Black Pepper Tofu, Celery, Peanut Stir-Fry
2. How to use a chef’s knife
Okay, we seriously can’t stress this one enough. But don’t take our word for it. Instead, consider these quotes from our co-founders:
“Your chef knife is the single most important cooking tool you have. You are what you cut. If you're not cutting, you're likely not eating well.” – Joe Girard, Swich co-founder
“Knowing how to use a chef’s knife is a life skill that you will have for the rest of your life. It's as important as breathing.” – Dawn Thomas, Swich co-founder
Supporting Swich Exercise and Recipe:
- Swich cooking exercise: How to Cut Using a Chef's Knife (access with your free Swich membership)
- Practice this cooking basic with this recipe: Crunchy Mediterranean Salad
3. How to set up a weekly salad bar
This might seem like an unpopular opinion, but hear us out. Salads are one of the most satisfying meals available. When approached with some imagination and enthusiasm, salads can truly become a meal with endless possibilities, recipe or no recipe. Not to mention they give you an opportunity to further hone in on your knife skills. Win-win!
Supporting Swich Exercise and Recipe:
- Swich cooking exercise: Creating a Weekly Salad Bar (access with your free Swich membership)
- Practice this cooking basic with this recipe: Quinoa and Arugula Salad
4. How to roast vegetables
Whether it is a side dish, a main, or a simple healthy and nutritious snack, the art of roasting vegetables is a simple process that even the most beginner or novice home chef can accomplish with confidence. There is certainly something to be said about how roasting vegetables elevates their flavor (think caramelized goodness) and your senses at the same time. Not to mention roasted veggies can be served hot or cold, in a salad, or on their own.
Supporting Swich Exercise and Recipe:
- Swich cooking exercise: How to Roast Vegetables (access with your free Swich membership)
- Practice this cooking basic with this recipe: Moroccan Roasted Carrots
5. How to cook rice
Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world’s population and is one of the oldest cultivated grains. It’s also very nutritious and delicious, if cooked properly. That's the key right there—not all of us have the magic touch when it comes to cooking rice. But that is about to change.
Supporting Swich Exercise and Recipe:
- Swich cooking exercise: Cooking Rice | Steaming & Boiling Methods
- Practice this cooking basic with this recipe: Fragrant Coconut Rice
Looking for more support to help build upon your cooking practice?
- Why focusing on "a little a day" might be the best way to make cooking a habit
- 6 ways to make cooking part of your daily life
Looking for more information about how Swich works and the benefits of creating a free membership?
- How Swich works
- What makes Swich different from other cooking websites?
- Who is Swich? Get to know our online cooking community
- How to make the most of learning to cook with Swich
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