cooking skills

5 Amazing Online Cooking Shows That Teach You All the Skills You Need

Christa Avampato — Wed, 14 May 2014 08:48:21 +0000

My Instagram account and Pinterest boards make me hungry. Cooks, amateurs and pros alike, are sharing gorgeous photos of food from their own kitchens and the recipes they used to whip up these masterpieces. If you're interested in heightening your own culinary skills, there is a plethora of amazing online cooking shows that will help you up your game in the kitchen. Here are five of my favorites.

1. Savory.tv

Savory.tv packs a punch. It lives up to its noble mission to help viewers create restaurant quality meals in their own homes because all of its content is created by professional chefs. In addition to the fun videos that are embedded directly into the site, it also has recipes, tips, global food trivia, and little known food facts. Easily find recipes by either using the search box or clicking on one of the many recipe categories listed on the right-hand side of the site. They also have a fun "Ask a Chef" feature, beer and wine pairing suggestions, and many resources that include a blog chock full of food news and how to find a sustainable farm near you. This video shows the preparation of a classic Butter Chicken recipe made at Sahara Restaurant in Mississauga (Ontario, Canada).

2. The New York Times Food Videos

Do you flip through the food section of The New York Times only to have your mouth watering over their seasonal recipes created by kitchen geniuses such as Mark Bittman? I do, too. The recipes are helpful though I often want to see how a professional chef follows them to get their tips on everything from knife skills to food and beverage pairings. The New York Times Food Videos section does exactly that in a simple-to-navigate interface that features all of the recipes they publish as well as clips on cool food news, trends, and explorations. Melissa Clark recently took fans into her kitchen to show us how she prepares the most devilish of Devil's Food Cake.

3. Everyday Food With Sarah Carey

Sometimes I walk into my local grocery store without a list and my mind literally goes blank. I see all of this great food and I don't know what to do with it. Sarah Carey is our guide when it comes to taking everyday items from the grocery store and turning them into healthy, inexpensive, quick, and easy-to-prepare meals for ourselves and the whole family. Her show Everyday Food features her easy breezy style and infectious laugh that make the show as joyful as it is helpful. In this video, Sarah shows us an easy, delicious, and economical green juice recipe.

4. FudeHouse

Jeffrey de Picciotto is the real deal when it comes to following a passion for food. He started out as an intern at New York City's Dickson's Farmstand Meats and worked his way up to head butcher. His multicultural background and his experience as a creative director and chef come together on his site FudeHouse, full of videos to teach you to cook from the heart and soul instead of from a recipe. Want to know how to truss a turkey, make a succulent pulled pork sandwich, easily grate ginger, or roll out the perfect pizza crust? Jeffrey has you covered with tips, advice, recipes, techniques, and encouragement. I think I'm in love. In this video, Jeffrey shows us how to make a restaurant quality steak at home.

5. Sorted Food

Laughing, cooking, and sharing, all with a British accent! That's the recipe for success for SORTED Food, an online cooking show by five chef-mates with a sense of humor who deliver the lighter side of cooking with equal parts knowledge and fun. From a three-part series on chocolate to how-to videos on sushi rolling, these blokes share everything they know about food and living a happy life in and out of the kitchen. If you go directly to their YouTube channel, they've also shared their favorite online cooking shows, which vary widely from sweet Lovely Lady Cakes to thrifty Nicko's Kitchen. With their signature humor and charming accents, they show us how to whip up a gorgeous, immensely satisfying Thai Noodle Broth.

There are few activities more satisfying than preparing nutritious, delicious food for yourself and those you love. These shows are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to online cooking shows. If there's a kitchen skill you want to learn, there's someone out there who's created a cooking video to help you learn it. These five sites are a great place to start.

What are your favorite videos for recipes and kitchen technique? Please share in comments!

This article is from Christa Avampato of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Tricks to Keeping Your Kitchen Clean While You Cook

Ashley Marcin — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 11:36:35 +0000

I have a food blog and a growing family. So, I'm in my kitchen — my tiny kitchen — a lot. Cooking, baking, or whatever else I find myself doing, things can get out of hand if I don't stay on top of the mess. And fast! Over the years, I've developed some trusty tips and tricks to keep things under control. (See also: 25 Tips for Quick and Easy Cleaning)

1. Start Fresh

My husband's cardinal rule to keeping order while cooking is to always start with a clean kitchen. That way, the mess you create is your only worry. In practice, we try to make sure the kitchen is clean before going to bed each night. Washed dishes are put away, dirty ones are placed in the dishwasher, leftovers are put in containers for the fridge or freezer, and no ingredients are left out.

2. Cook Simpler Meals

Another preemptive strike against dirty counters is to pare down your cooking routine. Try five-ingredient meals, for example. There are also a lot of great one-pot cooking or slow cooker recipes that mean fewer dishes to clean or ingredients to prepare. Whenever I see a recipe with over 10 ingredients (even fewer, really), I skip it and try something else. Say it with me: Simple food equals simpler cleaning.

3. Prep Ahead of Time

Sunday afternoon is when I prepare a lot of meals or ingredients for use during the week. I get my chopping done if stir-fries are on the menu and make sure to place those veggies in air-tight containers. I make other staples (like applesauce, muffins, and even freezer waffles) from scratch and wrap for storage. Basically, I try to do a good chunk of my cooking — or at least prep work — for the week on one day. The mess is intense, I won't lie, but it's contained to a single afternoon, meaning a cleaner kitchen for the next six days. (See also: Cook in Bulk to Save Time and Money)

4. Use Fewer Dishes or Utensils

While cooking or baking, I try to re-use measuring cups, mixing spoons, or bowls whenever possible. It usually means a quick rinse and dry, but it saves time. Better yet, skip the utensils and use your hands. Many recipes can be mixed with hands, including breads, salads, meatballs, and veggie burgers. And I love this restaurant tip for placing a jar of warm water near your cooking area to dip those dirty mixing spoons.

5. Keep Moving

A lot of these tips already are great clean-as-you-go suggestions. There's no better way to say it, though. You just have to keep moving. If the muffins need to bake for 20 minutes, you have time to clean. If there's a rise time involved, there's time to clean. If the water needs to come to a boil before the next step — you've got it — there's time to clean. It's funny how we overlook those five to 10 (or more!) minute spans that might otherwise make our jobs easier in the long haul. Clean first, and you'll have more time to relax and enjoy your meal later.

6. Collect Food Waste

I learned this next tip from my high school boyfriend's mother. I don't have a lot of counter space, so when I'm peeling, chopping, or slicing fruits and vegetables, the mess piles up fast. Always keep a large bowl nearby so you can swiftly collect all this organic waste and either send it down the garbage disposal or put in your compost in the warmer months. Not only does this method keep my workspace clean, it also saves us (substantial) money on our garbage tags and helps to nourish our garden. (See also: Beginner's Guide for the Lazy Composter)

7. Make Your Own Solution

We gave up store bought cleaning supplies a long time ago. Why? Too many weird ingredients and chemicals, which become especially concerning when sprayed near food prep areas. For kitchen cleaning, we use a simple solution made from equal parts water and vinegar, and we occasionally add a splash or two of some rubbing alcohol or lemon juice for good measure. Having a homemade spray saves time because we know it's safe, even if it hasn't totally dried and accidentally gets on food. Plus, it's inexpensive.

8. Employ a Rag System

We've banished paper towels in our home because they pile up, making more garbage or, in other words, waste. We now have around 20 clean rags (a mix of nubby washcloths and tea towels) that we have ready in a bag at the start of each week. We use two to four each day between kitchen and general cleaning tasks. When they are dirty, we place them in another bag and collect to wash. We never run out of these towels versus when we used a paper system. When it's time to wash, use hot water to sanitize and get all the icky stuff out.

9. Clean Spills and Splats ASAP

Tomatoes are a big offender in our household because we love homemade tomato sauce and tomato-based soups and stews. Inevitably, we get lots of red/orange drips and drops all over our stove-top. And walls. And ceiling. A quick wipe with a rag gets it clean in no time, so long as it's a fresh splatter. Whatever it is in your kitchen, get those wet spills up before they harden or even bake onto the surface. You'll save yourself time and frustration later. (See also: 14 Tips for Removing Grease and Oil Stains)

10. Try Canned, Frozen, or Dry Ingredients

Bags of frozen vegetables, cans of beans, or scoops of rice are lifesavers for nights when I simply don't feel like cleaning. They are often budget-friendly alternatives to fresh forms, too, depending on the time of year. Bonus: There's nearly zero prep-work involved. Simply tear open the bags of veggies and pour into soups or mix into stir-fries. Crack open cans of beans, rinse, and plop onto salads or mix into veggie burgers. Or spoon rice or pasta into boiling water and let it plump up to enjoy with the rest of your meal.

How do you keep your kitchen clean while you cook? We'd love to hear your tips!

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: