Cook with confidence: Essential cooking skills for beginners

A woman teaching her son cooking skills in the kitchen

Cooking is one of the most empowering life skills you can learn. It not only promotes independence, but it also sets the stage for healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.

Research shows that cooking is linked to better diet quality, including a higher intake of fruits and vegetables, as well as a stronger understanding of nutritious foods.¹ Mastering a few simple cooking skills unlocks a world of possibilities, enabling you to create delicious, healthy meals at home.

Basic cooking methods everyone should know

From boiling the perfect egg to nailing al dente pasta and fluffy rice, these 3 simple methods will help you build confidence in the kitchen. Follow the steps below and you’ll have each one mastered in no time.

1. How to cook rice perfectly

For 3 cups of cooked rice, combine 1 cup of rice and 1.5 cups of water in a saucepan
Bring to a simmer (water should be gently bubbling) on medium-high heat
Cover with lid, reduce heat and cook for 13 minutes
Let rice sit in the pan for 10 minutes before serving

2. How to cook pasta perfectly

Fill a large pot with water, cover and bring to boil
Add a pinch of salt to the water
When vigorously boiling, add pasta and stir to prevent clumping
Cook according to package directions until al dente (firm to the bite)
Don’t rinse pasta after cooking – sauce sticks better this way

Perfect your pasta skills with our yummy creamy vegetable pasta recipe.

3. How to boil an egg

Fill a saucepan with water, cover and bring to boil
Turn down to a gentle simmer
using a spoon, gently place eggs into the water.
Simmer for:
- 6 minutes – runny yolk
- 8 minutes – soft boiled
- 10 minutes – hard boiled
Remove eggs with a spoon and run under cold water for 30 seconds

Essential cooking techniques for beginners

Now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s dive into a few essential cooking techniques every beginner should know. These simple methods will help you tackle all kinds of dishes, and we’ve included easy recipes to help you practice as you go.

1. Steaming

Steaming involves cooking food in a basket suspended over boiling water. The gentle heat preserves nutrients and requires no added fats. This method works great for vegetables, chicken and fish.

Learn how to steam vegetables.

Try it with our steamed barramundi for a light and healthy meal You’ll practice your steaming skills while enjoying tender fish, and perfectly steamed vegetables in a flavourful, simple dish.

2. Stir-frying

Stir-fry is a fast-cooking method where ingredients are quickly fried in a small amount of hot oil while being stirred continuously – locking in flavour and crispness.

Learn how to stir-fry veggies with oil.

3. Roasting

Roasting vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and creates delicious caramelisation.

Once you’ve mastered roasting veggies, you can blend them into soups, use them in wraps and grain bowls for extra volume, or you can toss them into salads, like our delicious roasted cauliflower, brussels sprout and chickpea salad.

Learn how to coat vegetables in oil for roasting.

Kitchen safety tips for beginners

Before jumping into cooking, remember these safety essentials:

Always wash hands thoroughly before handling food
Supervise young children in the kitchen
If children are helping in the kitchen use age-appropriate equipment
Use a chopping board to protect countertops and fingers
Handle knives carefully
Never leave cooking food unattended
Use oven mitts when handling hot pots and pans
Keep raw and cooked foods separate to prevent cross-contamination
Clean as you go to prevent cross-contamination

Essential kitchen tools for beginners

Having the right tools makes cooking easier and more enjoyable. These basics will set you up for success:

Sharp knives
A sturdy chopping board
A good-quality frying pan or skillet
A saucepan for boiling and simmering
Measuring spoons and cups

Children cutting cheese and vegetables in the kitchen

Why cooking from a young age matters

Learning to cook at a young age helps children and teens understand the importance of nutrition and build confidence in the kitchen. It’s also a fun way to get them excited about food and the process of making something from scratch.

Encouraging young people to spend time in the kitchen can provide numerous benefits, including:

Better understanding of food: They’ll learn what different ingredients look like , how food is prepared, and the basics of building a recipe.

Developing healthy habits: Kids who cook from a young age are more likely to eat a variety of nutritious foods and make healthier meal choices.²

Boosting confidence: Cooking is a hands-on activity that allows young people to take pride in making their own meals.

Family bonding: It’s a great way for parents and kids to spend quality time together, encouraging communication and teamwork.

Developing these skills early lays the foundation for lifelong habits. As adults, cooking allows you to build on these habits, giving you more control over your health and nutrition, the flexibility to adapt recipes for taste preference and allergies, and to manage portions.

Beyond the health benefits, cooking saves money, provides a sense of pride, and helps you maintain independence.

Building confidence one recipe at a time

Cooking is a skill that improves with practice. Start with simple recipes that require just a few ingredients and techniques. As confidence grows, experiment with new flavours and methods.

Remember mistakes in the kitchen can happen to everyone, even professional chefs. What matters is that you learn and keep trying. Before long, you’ll be preparing delicious and nutritious meals with confidence and creativity.

Discover more tasty beginner-friendly recipes to enhance your cooking skills here.

Sources:

Brasington, N., Jones, P., Bucher, T., & Beckett, E. L. (2021). Correlations between self-reported cooking confidence and creativity and use of convenience cooking products in an Australian cohort. Nutrients, 13(5), 1724. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13051724

Raising Children Network. (n.d.). Cooking with kids and teens. Raising Children Network. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/family-life/family-meals-cooking/cooking-with-kids-teens