30 Kitchen Skills to Master Before You Turn 30
Can you cut up a chicken or frost a cake? Learning to cook is an ongoing process, but these are the techniques we think you should know and use now.
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Whether you're living on your own for the first time or want to curb a habit of ordering takeout every day, there are some basic cooking and baking skills that everyone should learn by the time they turn 30. While these skills are beneficial on their own, they'll be even more helpful when you learn how to pair them together. Knowing how to make homemade vegetable stock, dice vegetables, and cut up a whole chicken are all useful skills, but put them together and you're well on your way to making homemade soup. You can whip up a fresh batch of buttercream, then follow our instructions for properly filling and frosting that layer cake you baked.
You may have even heard that a sharp knife is a cook's best tool, which is why we believe that an essential skill every home cook should know is how to sharpen knives of any size. Pro chefs will say that they should be sharpened after each use, but aim for once a week at a minimum. Another skill that will keep your cookware in good shape is learning how to clean a cast-iron skillet. This versatile pan can be used for both sweet and savory recipes and is a must-have for home cooks of every level.
We will also teach you how to make homemade pie crust, properly cook both fresh and dried pasta, and season any dish with salt. From here, you can cook anything for anyone, anytime. Ahead, we're sharing 30 of the most essential skills for home cooks to learn by the time of their 30th birthday.
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How to Measure Wet and Dry Ingredients
Know this: Not all measuring tools are created equal and not all ingredients—whether it be a liquid, something dry, or a sticky in-between substance such as honey or molasses—can be measured using the same tools. It's important that you own both short measuring cups for dry ingredients and glass measuring cups for liquids.
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How to Season with Salt
Different types of salt—think kosher, flaky, or sea—have different levels of saltiness, so it's important to use the right type for your recipe. Learn how to accurately measure salt and season a dish using this essential ingredient.
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How to Cut Vegetables
What does it mean when a recipe calls for the onion or a carrot to be diced, and how do you get all the pieces the same size? Once you master this technique, use diced vegetables as the base for mirepoix (carrots, celery, and onions) and add them to soups, stew fillings, or pasta.
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How to Fill and Frost a Cake
With the right tools and techniques, you can cut, layer, and decorate a cake that looks perfectly Instagram-worthy. Hint: We suggest investing a rotating cake stand, a long serrated knife, an offset spatula, and an ice-cream scoop to get filling and frosting right every time.
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How to Make Pie Crust
The best pies all start with a flaky, homemade crust. Learn how to make buttery pastry for sweet or savory pies.
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How to Make Stock
The base for great homemade soups and a vital ingredient in risotto and so many other dishes, stock takes time to cook but is easy to make. Make a big batch of vegetable, chicken, or beef stock, then store it in quart containers in the freezer.
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How to Cook Pasta
A delicious plate of pasta boils down to three things: salt, the proper size pot, and timing. Learn the difference between fresh and dried pasta and how to cook each variety, too.
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How to Gauge When Meat is Cooked
Learn the right temperature for rare to well-done meat using a meat thermometer and the touch of your finger.
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How to Make a Vinaigrette
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How to Make a Roux
For soups and sauces, this is the essential thickener. It's a starchy base made from equal parts of butter and flour.
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How to Butcher a Whole Chicken
Save some cash by cutting up a whole chicken for a braise or stew. It's an easy technique to learn; do it a couple of times and you'll master dividing a chicken into eight (or ten) tidy pieces.
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How to Mix the Perfect Cocktail
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How to Chop an Onion
Don't cry! From dicing to slicing, chopped onion is an essential ingredient for so many recipes.
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How to Brew Coffee
Start your morning off right with a perfect cup of coffee. Whether you prefer it hot or iced, made in a traditional drip coffee maker or French Press, we'll teach you how to make a delicious cup of joe.
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How to Roast Vegetables
Hearty root vegetables like parsnips, potatoes, and carrots take longer to roast than other types of vegetables such as asparagus or shredded Brussels sprouts. Learn the proper temperature, type of pan, seasoning, and cook time for roasting vegetables.
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How to Make Scrambled Eggs
The secret to perfectly cooked scrambled eggs is a nonstick pan, plenty of butter, and cooking them over a low heat for five to ten minutes. The result is creamy curds every time.
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How to Pit an Avocado
Avoid injuries by learning how to remove the pit of an avocado before scooping out the flesh and slicing it for salads or mashing it for guacamole.
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How to Sharpen Knives
A sharp knife is a cook's best tool—a dull one, on the other hand, can be dangerous. Use a honing steel and sharpening block and learn how to sharpen your own chef's knives at home.
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How to Roll Out Cookie Dough
Cookie dough that's too thick won't bake properly, but a dough that's too thin may result in the cookies falling apart or burning. Learn how to roll out a fresh batch of cut-out cookie dough and prevent the dough from sticking to a cutting board.
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How to Melt Chocolate
For shiny, silky chocolate, use a double boiler on the stove to melt it slowly. From here, add it to baked goods, turn it into homemade chocolates and truffles, or drizzle it on ice cream.
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How to Make Whipped Cream
Skip store-bought and make your own whipped cream with just two ingredients: heavy cream and sugar. Add flavored extracts such as vanilla, almond, rose, or lemon to enhance the flavor of homemade whipped cream.
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How to Cook Crispy Bacon
Our favorite method for cooking bacon is on a sheet pan in the oven. Not only does it get more evenly crispy than if it were cooked in a skillet on the stove, but it also prevents grease splatters.
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How to Make Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
To create creamy mashed potatoes that are never gummy, heat the milk and butter separately in a saucepan before adding them to cooked potatoes.
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How to Choose Pots and Pans
Every beginner cook should own one to two saucepans, a nonstick pan, skillet, and stockpot. From stainless steel to copper, find the right material and set of cookware for your cooking needs.
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How to Cook Rice
Learn how to properly cook brown, white, basmati, and sushi rice, and every variety in between. Whether you eat it on its own, use it as the filling for burritos, or the base of a healthy grain bowl, rice is one of the most versatile things you can make.
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How to Bread Anything
Breading chicken cutlets, fish fillets, pork or lamb loins, and even mozzarella sticks is as simple as one, two three. That is, a trio of flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs for a crispy, craggy crust that can then be baked or fried.
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How to Clean a Cast-Iron Skillet
Cleaning a cast iron skillet may seem intimidating, but all you need is very hot water and steel wool to scrub it clean. Care for it properly and it will last a lifetime.
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How to Make Buttercream
Instead of purchasing frosting in a can, make your own for cookies, cupcakes, layer cakes, and more. All you need is powdered sugar, butter, heavy cream, and vanilla to make homemade buttercream.
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How to Make Pizza Dough
Take pizza night to the next level with homemade pizza dough. We promise it's easier than you think and well worth the effort.
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How to Poach an Egg
Master this technique and you're well on your way to making diner-worthy eggs Benedict for breakfast.