The art of making a good meal is often thought of as something that you either have or don’t have. Too often, people will say, “I can’t cook,” or “I’m not a good cook,” based on very few attempts and no schooling whatsoever. As a result, they give up and only buy food from restaurants or rely on family and friends to cook for them.
However, cooking is nearly universal. With few exceptions, anyone can learn the skills and techniques to cook and bake delicious, simple food. With some education, you can overcome the hurdles preventing you from making attractive and tasty meals. Whether you’re already experienced or have never used a stove, culinary schools offer a wealth of knowledge to give you a well-rounded skillset for the kitchen.
Benefits of Online Cooking Classes
With nothing more than access to the internet and your kitchen, you can get lessons from world-renowned chefs and educators in the culinary arts. While in-person classes are the most effective way to get direct instruction and feedback on your progress, online classes can use webcams to simulate many of the same benefits.
Due to their flexibility, online classes are suitable for beginners looking to gain the fundamentals of home cooking just as much as those who work in professional kitchens and want to hone their skills to improve at their jobs. While you may have heard of prestigious schools like the Culinary Institute of America, many options give you access to quality culinary education.
The Top Culinary Schools Offering Online Courses
After conducting thorough research, we have settled on the following schools as being the best options for those who want to learn from the comfort of home.
- Kitchn Cooking School – This series of 20 classes gives you the foundational skills to know the “how” and “why” of what to do in the kitchen. It covers theory and practice regarding properly heating foods using different cooking methods and their differences. While advanced home chefs likely know many of the lessons already, beginner to intermediate cooks will find these lessons a treasure trove of information.
- Online Cooking School by America’s Test Kitchen – With more than 300 courses, the Online Cooking School has many options to improve your culinary skills. You can select specific styles and learn how to make cuisine from around the world. The laser focus of each class makes it easy to overcome your blind spots, such as ensuring that poultry comes out succulent and you avoid producing oily dumplings. You can choose which courses you’d like, maximizing your flexibility and letting you learn at your own pace.
- Top Chef University – Get personalized access to the contestants from Top Chef, featuring their unique tips and tricks for how to master the culinary craft. With these personalities, you can round out your knife skills, learn how to use pots and pans most effectively, and develop a signature repertoire of dishes you can turn to at any point.
- Udemy – As a budget option, Udemy offers an affordable course that is well-rounded and suited to those who haven’t yet learned their way around the kitchen. Even though it’s not the most in-depth course available, nor does it have the flexibility of the Online Cooking School, you can notice a significant improvement in all aspects of your cooking after completing the Essential Cooking Skills course. Due to this course’s versatility, businesses around the world use it in their training materials for new chefs as a foundation for further skill development.
Regardless of the program you decide on, you’ll quickly understand how a dash of formal education can transform your confidence and results in the kitchen. These classes can be the difference between making edible food and being the one your friends and family turn to when they want to enjoy a special dinner without going out to a restaurant. Whether for your personal or professional enrichment, take the time to invest in your education, complete one of these courses and start feeling like a true chef in your element.