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Because I'm a recipe developer and trained chef, people rarely believe me when I tell them I was once a terrible cook. There's an assumption that there was some level of innate culinary talent present from an early age, but nothing could be further from the truth. For years, I battled with the frustration of not knowing why my meals fell short of my culinary aspirations.
From making both over and undercooked stir fries and lacklustre potato salads, and plating dishes to resemble chaos rather than art, my food lacked the finesse I longed for. I had no idea that one day, a simple two-hour knife-skills class at a local cooking school would be the key to transforming my cooking forever.
Here's why you should consider these skills too.
Think back to when you first learned to cook. Whether it was to uphold family traditions, for a school assignment, or with friends, partners or cookbooks, it's unlikely that you were taught how to use a knife properly. Like learning to drive a car, neglecting basic proficiency with knife skills can result in long-term, costly mistakes, all of which can be avoided with proper training and practice.
Chopping roughly through ingredients creates lots of uneven textures. Source: Supplied
So, why should you prioritise knife skills?
Mastering knife techniques helps you to significantly improve the flavour, texture and presentation of your meals. Well chopped onion, garlic and ginger distribute better in dressings, soups and sauces, providing a more balanced flavour. Evenly cut vegetables cook at the same time, reducing over and under-cooked dishes. Finely sliced celery adds subtle flavour and crunch, and can drastically improve the look of salads.
Mastering knife techniques helps you to significantly improve the flavour, texture and presentation of your meals.
It also enhances your speed and efficiency in the kitchen, saving valuable time on a daily and weekly basis. As an untrained cook with a knife skills class under my belt, I found that I was able to prepare meals two to three times faster, shaving hours off my weekly kitchen work.
My friend practicing dicing and slicing Source: Supplied
So, where can you learn how to master slicing and dicing?
There are various options like cooking schools, private chef tutorials, cookbooks and more. However, the fastest and cheapest option is YouTube.
Use the search term "basic knife skills" and you'll find a wealth of videos at your fingertips. Explore different channels to find a teacher you resonate with, then watch the video from beginning to end, taking note of the vegetables or ingredients that they prepare. Re-watch the video while practising alongside it, pausing and taking notes or a break as needed. This hands-on approach can enhance your skills in no time.
Evenly sliced veggies will make a real difference to your eating experience. Source: Supplied
