How to Get Better At Home Cooking In 5 Hours Every Week

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As we’ve mentioned in our weekly newsletter, Dinner Notes, no one was born a perfect host (or a Michelin-starred chef for that matter!). We all have the power to transform our cooking skills by dedicating less than an hour each day.

In this article, we’ll share how to get better at home cooking by integrating some minor habits and mindset shifts that make a huge difference.

They’re the exact things we did to go from serving store-bought salads to 48oz seared sous vide cowboy steaks at our dinner parties.

By the end, you’ll be ready to tackle all the different cooking methods & techniques you thought you had to dine out to enjoy.

Developing a Consistent Weekly Practice

The first step to becoming a better cook is dedicating yourself to the art of cooking. We’re not asking you to enrol in culinary school or flip your life around. It’s more about showing up with consistency and curiosity.

This could look like taking five minutes to watch a Gordon Ramsay YouTube tutorial that teaches you a new cooking technique or knife-sharpening skill.

Or, it could look like picking up a new cookbook at the grocery store and challenging yourself to try at least one recipe from it each week.

You could challenge yourself to make a tiramisu from scratch to enjoy throughout the week when your sweet cravings kick in, instead of dishing out $9 for a tiny slice at the local bakery.

Your 5-Hour Weekly Cooking Commitment (Example)

Prepare 3 weeknight dinners from scratch (45-60 minutes each), prepping ahead for busier days as needed = 2-3 hours

Spend ~1 hour researching new recipes and cooking techniques, and taking note of what interests you = 1 hour

Dedicate one weekend cooking session to recipe experimentation. This can also be used to prep snacks and desserts for the week ahead = 1-2 hours

By just practicing some basic techniques each week, you’ll be on your way to becoming a better home cook in no time!

Take Notes From Professional Kitchens

Efficient cooking is 50% skill, and 50% prep. That’s why restaurants spend hours before service stocking their prep stations or doing their mise en place.

What is “mise en place”?

“Mise en place” is a French term that literally translates to “everything in its place”. It’s the process of washing, chopping, measuring, and meticulously preparing everything you possibly can in advance to make the cooking process quick, efficient, and enjoyable.

In our household, cooking started to feel SO much more enjoyable once we started getting a bit more diligent with our prep.

You might wonder if you really need to do this for a casual weeknight dinner. Sure, it’s not as much of a dealbreaker as it is for dinner parties, but it definitely makes things much easier and enjoyable.

How do I prep like a professional chef at home?

Chop and prep all ingredients and place them in their respective ramekins or bowls for each dish. This gives you the freedom to spend less time stressing and focus on the actual cooking process, making sure nothing is sticking or burning.
If you know you’re making dinner at 5 p.m., bring your protein to room temperature by taking it out of the fridge at 4-4:30 p.m.
Measure any spices, oils, lemon juice, vinegars, or other liquids in advance.
Keep cooking staples like olive oil and kosher salt within reach.

Or, read this article on how to throw a successful dinner party using your kitchen setup!

Having the right tools is another big part of your mise-en-place. We recommend investing in a high-quality paring knife, and keeping your knives sharp (a dull knife can slow you down and increase the risk of injury).

Investing in some solid cookware essentials, such as a stainless steel fry pan and a cast iron skillet, can take your cooking efficiency and enjoyment to the next level. This will depend on your cooking style and preferences. If you always order rice in a restaurant, perhaps investing in a rice cooker is the move for you!

Check out this article for a more in-depth look at the essential cookware all home cooks need.

Take Your Flavor Palette on Regular Adventures

The journey of becoming better at home cooking means that you get to try new recipes every single week—all without paying the restaurant price tag.

Just like an author needs to constantly read new things as inspiration to write, you need to taste new things to get inspired to create new dishes!

So, dedicate at least one of your five weekly hours to a completely new dish or cuisine. You might need to source some specialty ingredients, so consider making this your weekend cooking project.

One thing we like to do at TGH is to read cookbooks cover-to-cover and really immerse ourselves in the cuisine and cooking style. After years of heavy meat eating, the Love & Lemons Cookbook opened our eyes to the world of plant-forward meals and has forever changed the way we approach dinner.

This can also prove to be economical, as you may use recurring ingredients throughout recipes from the same book.

Committing to this practice is a great way to expand your cooking skills and culinary repertoire, training your taste buds to appreciate diverse flavor profiles. You’ll start recognizing the subtleties of how different ingredients can impact the composition of a dish, and how to balance flavors.

Plus, you’ll learn how to turn some of those convenience foods and DoorDash dinners into a flavor-packed home-cooked meal, at just a fraction of the cost!

Who knows, maybe you even start saving some of that extra DoorDash money for a vacation to your favorite food destination!

Master The Basics

Start with simple cooking techniques that give you the confidence to keep going.

Experiment with fuss-free high heat methods such as roasting vegetables (cooking root vegetables at high temperatures).

For weekend mains, practice the art of roasting a whole chicken.

Perfect your approach to cooking pasta properly (salting the water, reserving some pasta water for sauce, etc.).

Watch a quick YouTube video on some basic knife skills and where to use them.

These simple meals will help you gain the confidence to explore more adventurous cooking techniques and recipes over time. With practice, you’ll transform into a good cook who can tackle any recipe—and maybe even host your own dinner party!

Build A Foundation of Ingredients

Finally, make sure your kitchen is stocked with the best ingredients and everyday staples.

Some essential pantry items we always keep on hand:

Kosher salt
Olive oil
Soy sauce
Lemons (or store-bought lemon juice)
Tahini
Fresh herbs (cilantro and parsley)
Sour cream
Yogurt
Selection of dried spices & herbs
Maple syrup

What’s Your 5-hour Journey to Becoming a Better Home Cook?

We’re not gonna lie to you. Committing to this journey of curiosity and consistent practice will not pay off right away, but it will give you a set of skills that will enhance your life for years to come.

Eventually, the healthy meals and money saved on eating out will feel worth it. And before you know it, you’ll be able to whip up a quick meal that tastes better than your local restaurant!

Start building your toolkit with our guide to all the different cooking methods and techniques.

Or, give your kitchen a mini audit and see if there’s some essential cookware you need to invest in to make this journey an enjoyable one.

If you’re like us and need a clear system to organize this new passion of yours, check out The Gourmet Host App. It’s the only app that combines a recipe keeper, event planner, grocery list manager, RSVP hub, and cost splitter all in one place. Join the waitlist today!