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[Dresden]

A1 is the way to go for steak. Not too sweet and not too bland.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

Valid point

But I still get angry when someone gets glass eyed at the idea of boiling an egg or someone who can't appreciate good food or someone who doesn't care what they eat or how it's made.

I guess it's more of a hatred of ignorance

This is nothing to do with not appreciating good food. Believe me, if I did not appreciate the talents of a chef, I would most likely eat my own swill willingly.

*shudder*

 

[industrian]

But believe me while I can make something safe to eat, I don't want to eat it. I'd much rather have the person who has the knack (and can modify a recipe on the fly and improve it) do it. Just like you probably wouldn't want to be dealing with fifteen seemingly random words and figuring out how to get PIE from it.

I'm kind of like your good self except with it seems a bit more bravery. As in I cook for myself and only myself. I wouldn't subject someone to my cooking skills, nor do I know how to accommodate anyone else's tastes. That and I'd rather someone more skilled do it. Leave me to code your websites n' stuff, not cook a casserole or anything.

 

[favouriteflavour]

i only know how to do simple things like cook meat but nothing fancy. works for me since i'm lifting weights and i need to eat lots of meat.

Alot of simple foods are the best. Not much out there better than really good mashed potatoes for instance.

 

[Boonoo]

That just came to mind immediately, sorry.

But believe me while I can make something safe to eat, I don't want to eat it. I'd much rather have the person who has the knack (and can modify a recipe on the fly and improve it) do it. Just like you probably wouldn't want to be dealing with fifteen seemingly random words and figuring out how to get PIE from it.

Yeah, but at it's most basic level there's no need to try and improve on established recipes. People make perfectly delicious meals following recipes to the letter.

I think people just have trouble believing that anyone couldn't follow a simple set of instructions if they really wanted to. I mean, many people obviously can't, but I just don't know how they screw up so much--maybe they try to experiment from the get go?. When you're first starting to cook there are no leaps of logic or unknown quantities

A1 is the way to go for steak. Not too sweet and not too bland.

Steak is the way to go for (good) steak; if you're adding anything more than salt and pepper you're doing it wrong.

 

[jamesinclair]

I'm not directly calling you out but here's something for you.

I have no talent doing anything demanding physical know-how or kinesthetic learning. I am completely hopeless as a mechanic for my motorcycle. So even though I ride really well, you can bet I'd destroy something if I attempted to do something as simple as change the oil (believe me I have stories).

I am very good at other things, but cooking (and mechanics) just isn't one of them. You have the talent, so it's obvious to you. But would you be able to take fifteen data points and then be able to begin to restructure an extinct language in fifteen minutes?

I dont have cooking talent, and most people dont. I cant taste a spice and say "aha! it's ____" or taste a soup and say "it's missing this". I cant fix a broken meal, but starting from scratch, think anyone can do it, even you.

(I also have no clue how to change oil)


All cooking is, is following instructions. Sure, you can make it complex, by having x going on in one pan, y going on in the boiler, and z on the grill, but thats an acquired skill. I think that as long as you can read, measure time and quantities, you're golden. There are so many proven recipes, theres no need to experiment.

What are you comfortable cooking?

 

[Speevy]

I think young men are accustomed to having their mothers cook for them, and what they learn after that is simply a matter of what quality of food they are comfortable eating.

Also, your relationships and eventually your family will dictate how much cooking you do.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

I dont have cooking talent, and most people dont. I cant taste a spice and say "aha! it's ____" or taste a soup and say "it's missing this". I cant fix a broken meal, but starting from scratch, think anyone can do it, even you.

(I also have no clue how to change oil)


All cooking is, is following instructions. Sure, you can make it complex, by having x going on in one pan, y going on in the boiler, and z on the grill, but thats an acquired skill. I think that as long as you can read, measure time and quantities, you're golden. There are so many proven recipes, theres no need to experiment.

What are you comfortable cooking?

Believe me, you're still better at it than me. While I understand the concept of cooking, I am just no good at doing it.

For instance, I'm a very good car driver and motorcycle driver whereas live-in chef is able to drive but absolutely hates it. Who should drive?

 

[SapientWolf]

I'm not directly calling you out but here's something for you.

I have no talent doing anything demanding physical know-how or kinesthetic learning. I am completely hopeless as a mechanic for my motorcycle. So even though I ride really well, you can bet I'd destroy something if I attempted to do something as simple as change the oil (believe me I have stories).

I am very good at other things, but cooking (and mechanics) just isn't one of them. You have the talent, so it's obvious to you. But would you be able to take fifteen data points and then be able to begin to restructure an extinct language in fifteen minutes?

I think you're selling yourself short. Operating a motorcycle is one of the most demanding physical (and mental) activities there is. It requires a lot of attention to detail with very little margin for error. I just don't think you have the same passion for cooking that you do for motorcycle riding. Which is fine, but that doesn't mean that you wouldn't be capable of cooking if you put enough time and effort into it.

I'm not trying to sound condescending or anything but that's just how I feel about the subject. I think Ratatouille had the right idea. Anyone can cook. But some people don't think that the outcome is worth their effort.

edit:

For instance, I'm a very good car driver and motorcycle driver whereas live-in chef is able to drive but absolutely hates it. Who should drive?

Yeah, I guess that's the point I was getting at.

 

[jorma]

That just came to mind immediately, sorry.

But believe me while I can make something safe to eat, I don't want to eat it. I'd much rather have the person who has the knack (and can modify a recipe on the fly and improve it) do it. Just like you probably wouldn't want to be dealing with fifteen seemingly random words and figuring out how to get PIE from it.

Fair enough. But to me this reads much like "my husband is an accountant, so i dont need to know how to declare my income" or "my wife is an author so i dont need to be literate" =)

 

[Dragona Akehi]

I think you're selling yourself short. Operating a motorcycle is one of the most demanding physical (and mental) activities there is. It requires a lot of attention to detail with very little margin for error. I just don't think you have the same passion for cooking that you do for motorcycle riding. Which is fine, but that doesn't mean that you wouldn't be capable of cooking if you put enough time and effort into it.

I'm not trying to sound condescending or anything but that's just how I feel about the subject. I think Ratatouille had the right idea. Anyone can cook. But some people don't think that the outcome is worth their effort.

There are different talents that require different levels of use and types of physical activity.

Does that make sense?

Fair enough. But to me this reads much like "my husband is an accountant, so i dont need to know how to declare my income" or "my wife is an author so i dont need to be literate" =)

Well, perhaps it's more like "this person can read fifteen pages in five minutes with 99% recall" and "this person takes four hours to read the same fifteen pages and only get 50% recall".

 

[Speevy]

I will say though that cooking is an exceptionally great skill for anyone to have.

Telling someone you'll cook a meal for them (especially if they're not a child of yours) is probably one of the surest ways to make them feel special, regardless of the relationship.

 

[Stahsky]

I don't cook too much, but it's not difficult. Most meals can easily be figured out via cookbook/friend/family/internet and done with a simple timer and a few spices.

 

[cory]

I had a semester of cooking in middle school, it wasn't very productive, and we spent half of that time learning about food and kitchen safety. I learned a lot more from my mom. My dad, well, let's just say he's not allowed to cook anymore.
If someone really wants to learn how to cook, they should start with dinner-in-a-box type stuff and then work their way towards proper recipes.

 

[jorma]

Well, perhaps it's more like "this person can read fifteen pages in five minutes with 99% recall" and "this person takes four hours to read the same fifteen pages and only get 50% recall".

Yeah, but i think we both agree that literacy is still not wasted on the four hour dude? Even if person A takes care of most of the reading in the family because he has a talent for it, person B still needs to know how to read.

I guess i think it's about the same when it comes to cooking.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Laziness. No one "can't cook" barring some disabilities.

"Talent" as it is often thought of doesn't really exist.

 

[Aaron]

Cooking is an easy skill to learn and be decent at, but it still must be learned. That is, you can't expect someone who has never cooked before to crack open a cookbook and produce something they'll be happy with. I think though that it's something that would only take a few lessons, focusing on different kinds of dishes, to get them up to speed. People usually think it's difficult because they've been trying completely in the dark, like trying to play a sport without knowing any of the rules.

Also, putting any sort of sauce on steak is a goddamn sacrilege. I do like a bit of seasoning, but the meat itself still carries most of the flavor.

 

[jamesinclair]

Believe me, you're still better at it than me. While I understand the concept of cooking, I am just no good at doing it.

For instance, I'm a very good car driver and motorcycle driver whereas live-in chef is able to drive but absolutely hates it. Who should drive?

I have to agree with this

I think you're selling yourself short. Operating a motorcycle is one of the most demanding physical (and mental) activities there is. It requires a lot of attention to detail with very little margin for error. I just don't think you have the same passion for cooking that you do for motorcycle riding. Which is fine, but that doesn't mean that you wouldn't be capable of cooking if you put enough time and effort into it.

I'm not trying to sound condescending or anything but that's just how I feel about the subject. I think Ratatouille had the right idea. Anyone can cook. But some people don't think that the outcome is worth their effort.

Ill give you the example of my dad. He never cooked in his life, it was either his mom, his wife or a maid, or he'd eat out. All he knew how to cook was pasta.

I showed him how easy it was to make a pasta + store brought sauce into a full meal. All he knew how to do was cook the pasta, heat up the sauce in the microwave and mix.

Try this:

You know how to cook pasta right? Before starting, cut up pieces of cheese, ham or turkey, and a boiled egg or two. 5 minutes or so before the pasta is done, butter up a pan (medium heat) and apply the store bought sauce. Then add the cheese, ham/turkey and egg pieces. Bacon too (everyone likes bacon). Drain the pasta, throw it in, mix it a bit, and bam, you're done. Add pepper if you like pepper. If you're more of a vegetarian, substitute the meats with onions and broccoli. Or, put it all together. Experimentation in this case is simply selecting vegetables or meats that you know you like, theres no way to go wrong.

If you want to get fancy, throw in some shrimp or chicken, and now you have a meal that restaurants charge $11.99 for. Buy precooked shrimps to make it even easier. Theres nothing that can go wrong as long as you dont leave the room and forget the stove is on.

 

[WasteLand Soldier]

Steak is the way to go for (good) steak; if you're adding anything more than salt and pepper you're doing it wrong.

i put ketchup on steak. am i doing it wrong? :lol nothing like a 1 pound cut prime rib with ketchup and horseradish for dipping. *drool* my dad used to yell at me for "ruining" steak. OH WELL.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

Yeah, but i think we both agree that literacy is still not wasted on the four hour dude? Even if person A takes care of most of the reading in the family because he has a talent for it, person B still needs to know how to read.

I guess i think it's about the same when it comes to cooking.

Well the person with the four hour reading skill is able to take advantage of audiobooks or something like the Intel Reader.

Someone invent the equivalent for cooking, and I'd be willing to try it out.

 

[way more]

Steak is the way to go for (good) steak; if you're adding anything more than salt and pepper you're doing it wrong.

After eating over half your steak your taste buds may become used to the flavor, bored even. At that point it makes good sense to use additional spices. The same with sushi. You can be eating the greatest tuna in the world but after a dozen bites your taste buds need a little extra.

 

[Seth C]

I guess you can make a distinction between cooking and preparing if you want to be that guy. But if someone can go into the kitchen with ingredients and comes out with a meal I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

I think that a lot of people stand to benefit from perpetuating the myth that cooking is difficult so it's not going to go away.

I really only made the distinction because I know several people who can follow the directions, but seem afraid to deviate from them. For example, if they are preparing a package of ramen, they set a timer to exactly 3 minutes as directed on the package and when the time is up, those noodles are coming out of the water. Spaghetti? 8-10 or whatever it says. Someone who cooks would be far more inclined to test the noodles and know from experience when they were done, not just rely strictly on the time on a package.

 

[SapientWolf]

I really only made the distinction because I know several people who can follow the directions, but seem afraid to deviate from them. For example, if they are preparing a package of ramen, they set a timer to exactly 3 minutes as directed on the package and when the time is up, those noodles are coming out of the water. Spaghetti? 8-10 or whatever it says. Someone who cooks would be far more inclined to test the noodles and know from experience when they were done, not just rely strictly on the time on a package.

Being a cook is sort of like being a musician. You can play music someone else wrote verbatim. Or you can improvise a little. And if you're really creative, you can write your own music.

 

[Rickard]

Whisk an egg in it. Now that's proper cooking.

You explain exactly what you mean by this and I'll try it.

Like, am I trying to produce egg drops, or just have a raw egg in the broth? Do I still add the soup stock? Cooked egg floating on top?

Explain yourself.

 

[Kentpaul]

It's there loss cooking is awsome.

 

[Dresden]

You explain exactly what you mean by this and I'll try it.

Like, am I trying to produce egg drops, or just have a raw egg in the broth? Do I still add the soup stock? Cooked egg floating on top?

Explain yourself.

You can just dump the egg in there and let it cook, or whisk and get egg drops.

 

[Brian Fellows]

I'm sure I could cook if I wanted to but I'm too lazy and I just don't care to do it. I'll live off frozen food the rest of my life.

 

[Axion22]

I want everyone who can't cook to try this recipe:
Garlic Chicken

2 teaspoons crushed garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Warm the garlic and olive oil to blend the flavors. In a separate dish, combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Dip the chicken breasts in the olive oil and garlic mixture, then into the bread crumb mixture. Place in a shallow baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

Preheat the oven, just turn it on and set it while you do everything.

2 teaspoons of garlic is a few cloves. Pull out one clove, and crush it using the side of your knife. Pull off the outside skin, cut off the tips if you please, and cut it into teeny-tiny bits until you have 2 teaspoons worth. Toss it into a bowl, then measure out your olive oil and add it to the bowl as well. I microwaved this mixture for a minute to get the heat they ask for.

The one thing you need to take from this recipe is that the breading is simply half bread crumbs, half Parmesan cheese. I didn't have bread crumbs, so I crushed up Ritz crackers, and you definitely want to use the powdered Parmesan (from the green cylinder).

Cut chicken breasts in half any way you choose, but try to get even halves. Science says it will cook best if everything's even.

Put it in the oven and set a timer to 30 minutes. It, like most foods, is done cooking when you can smell it, but you want it to look lightly golden brown.

Honestly, it's the easiest thing ever and there's nothing you should be able to do wrong.

 

[jorma]

Well the person with the four hour reading skill is able to take advantage of audiobooks or something like the Intel Reader.

Someone invent the equivalent for cooking, and I'd be willing to try it out.

Again, he or she still needs to know how to read, even with access to every audiobook in the world. The cooking equivalent i guess is microwave food and - much like audiobooks - is not an adequate substitute for the real thing!

oh well.

 

[SouthernDragon]

I would love to learn how to cook, but my mom is a master chef and won't let me use the kitchen. : /

I briefly "learned" how to make spaghetti while living on my own in Rotterdam, but I don't think that counts.

Part of the reason that it's hard for me to cook good edible things for others is my sense of smell. the left side of my nose is fucked up, so I can't really smell or breathe properly. This severely impedes my sense of smell, my sense of taste, and my ability to cook : /

Can't wait till I can get surgery for that...

 

[Brian Fellows]

I want everyone who can't cook to try this recipe:
Garlic Chicken





Preheat the oven, just turn it on and set it while you do everything.

2 teaspoons of garlic is a few cloves. Pull out one clove, and crush it using the side of your knife. Pull off the outside skin, cut off the tips if you please, and cut it into teeny-tiny bits until you have 2 teaspoons worth. Toss it into a bowl, then measure out your olive oil and add it to the bowl as well. I microwaved this mixture for a minute to get the heat they ask for.

The one thing you need to take from this recipe is that the breading is simply half bread crumbs, half Parmesan cheese. I didn't have bread crumbs, so I crushed up Ritz crackers, and you definitely want to use the powdered Parmesan (from the green cylinder).

Cut chicken breasts in half any way you choose, but try to get even halves. Science says it will cook best if everything's even.

Put it in the oven and set a timer to 30 minutes. It, like most foods, is done cooking when you can smell it, but you want it to look lightly golden brown.

Honestly, it's the easiest thing ever and there's nothing you should be able to do wrong.

Even if I cooked it perfectly I wouldn't eat that.

 

[Always-honest]

Jamie Oliver: "I'll show them what's in their fucking nuggets!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFkAszCA9dI

:lol

that breaks my heart

what the FUCK @ their parents?????????!!

 

[got2bekidding]

You explain exactly what you mean by this and I'll try it.

Like, am I trying to produce egg drops, or just have a raw egg in the broth? Do I still add the soup stock? Cooked egg floating on top?

Explain yourself.

I'm just talking about putting an egg in once the water starts to boil. In order to have big bits of egg, you allow the egg to fully cook during the 3 mins, and once that is up you break it up with a whisk. If you want the egg to be mixed into the broth, just whisk it right away after putting it in. I prefer to have the big pieces personally.

I apologize if this wasn't as elaborate as you might have thought it was. It's just something my mom always did. Plus it adds vitamins and protein in a quick and easy way.

If I knew how to make egg drop soup, I don't believe I would eat anything else ever again. lol

 

[Rickard]

I'm just talking about putting an egg in once the water starts to boil. In order to have big bits of egg, you allow the egg to fully cook during the 3 mins, and once that is up you break it up with a whisk. If you want the egg to be mixed into the broth, just whisk it right away after putting it in. I prefer to have the big pieces personally.

I apologize if this wasn't as elaborate as you might have thought it was. It's just something my mom always did. Plus it adds vitamins and protein in a quick and easy way.

If I knew how to make egg drop soup, I don't believe I would anything else ever again. lol

It is done.

Beef mr noodle + Egg + Franks red hot.

It's alright.

I would never buy eggs just to make it but if I ever happen to have any again I'll probabaly throw one in.

 

[got2bekidding]

It is done.

Beef mr noodle + Egg + Franks red hot.

It's alright.

I would never buy eggs just to make it but if I ever happen to have any again I'll probabaly throw one in.

Sounds good. Yeah, I do the same. If I have an egg around, I'll toss it in there.

 

[PumpkinPie]

I don't think there is such a thing as not being able to cook, you just follow instructions after all. I'm sure anyone could knock up a nice bit of pasta and bolognese, it's easy.

 

[Scrow]

I'm eating my self made gourmet ratatouille right now
I look down on people who can't cook

I'd never date a girl who can't cook

agreed. i think being able to cook and an appreciation of food and its preperation are very important qualities in other people.

couple of my friends can't cook to save themselves and i'm okay with that. but i couldn't see myself being with a life partner who isn't a "foody".

 

[Death Dealer]

I don't think there is such a thing as not being able to cook, you just follow instructions after all. I'm sure anyone could knock up a nice bit of pasta and bolognese, it's easy.

Yeah forget complicated from scratch baking or Indian cuisine with 20 ingredients in one dish, every adult should know how to boil pasta, scramble eggs, or bake a chicken. The basics aren't rocket science. Self sufficience please.

 

[Slavik81]

Cooking itself is pretty easy, but the amount of time it takes is significant. Setup, cooking and cleanup combined will take a reasonable portion of an evening. And worse, it requires a fairly wide range of often perishable ingredients. You cannot simply cook a single meal when you have time, unless you're willing to let the rest of your ingredients go bad. Even with my meager selection of mostly non-perishable foods, I still have to throw things out from time to time. I simply don't consume enough food to maintain a wide selection without it going to waste.

It's not simply 'laziness' or lack of ability. Complex cooking is a significant investment. And quite frankly, it's not high enough on my priority list to overtake either my work or my study. Nor am I willing to give up on my hobby programming, or reading, or watching TV or playing games. And my sleeping time is already lacking.

It's great that you like to cook, but it's only one of many worthwhile things a person could invest time in.

 

[OnkelC]

I don't think there is such a thing as not being able to cook, you just follow instructions after all. I'm sure anyone could knock up a nice bit of pasta and bolognese, it's easy.

I'd assume it's more of a "don't want to be bothered with the hassle of perparing/cooking something" point of view than the actual fear of failure when getting into the matter.

For that, I accept that.

Being able (and willing) to cook at least a few basic dishes is a sign of higher education, though, and is a skill that everybody should have IMHO.

 

[Binabik15]

Ask your mother to show you some basic cooking. Seriously.

I can´t imagine not being able to cook, once my mom started woking I learned everything I didn´t know ASAP. My brother is 17 and pissed when he´s told to make his own meals, I don´t get it, at his age I was already cooking for the two of us. He eats some canned ravioli instead.

Cooking your own meals is so important for your health and fitness, as well as at least a bit of independence from others (and multi-million dollar companies), I don´t get people who don´t want to learn it. It´s also a matter of pride. Eat your first delicious meal with self-made pasta and sauce or a pizza with self made dough and sauce and you´ll want to pat yourself on the back.

It´s not like you´d have to slaughter a pig and till some soil for self-grown potatoes (well, that´d be a cool learning experience and I know the theory, but THAT´d be time consuming), but at least prepare the ingredients yourself once in a while instead of eating oversalted, oversugared and chemically bombarded food. Yes, many restaurants are as guilty of dabbling with the food as well, so that´s not a viable alternative.

 

[hydragonwarrior]

Your school failed you if they did not give you cooking classes. And the same goes for your mom!

Everyone should really know at least basic cooking.

Wow, my school bypassed cooking classes completely :lol - or it was an optional class that I never knew existed.

Cooking is fucking easy, i was cooking for my family when i was 10, fuck doing dishes though.

Doing dishes after cooking a great meal is like pulling your sled back uphill after an epic ride... and then you ask someone else to do it lol

 

[R&R]

I totally suck at making food...I can make some simple, basic ones fine...but very rarely it is actually worth the hassle. Especially considering that I live in South-East Asia where it is dirt cheap to eat out or order delivery. It is actually more costly in most cases to make the food yourself, especially if you want something not-asian.

All in all...I think I would have trouble getting used to living in the west again...

 

[OgTheClever]

I can cook most things, well at least with proper instructions beyond barbecuing etc. The one thing that I will say that I can't do is crack eggs, because I've never broken one correctly without getting it everywhere or getting eggshell in it.

 

[ShadyMilkman]

I cook; nothing extravagant, but it gets the job done.

A lot cheaper and a lot healthier. Buy only things that are good for you, and just get creative. It isn't difficult.

 

[The Elite]

I don't cook.

If you know how to follow instructions, you can cook. I'm simply too lazy to follow instructions.

 

[Trent Strong]

Whats with all the hate on people who don't cook? Why do you care if someone can't cook? I do just fine with microwaveable food, cereal, and eating out. I've literally never used, or even turned on, my oven. In fact, I've never turned on my stove tops. I've never used a pan. Even the ramen I eat is microwaveable.

 

[jorma]

Ask your mother to show you some basic cooking. Seriously.

I can´t imagine not being able to cook, once my mom started woking I learned everything I didn´t know ASAP. My brother is 17 and pissed when he´s told to make his own meals, I don´t get it, at his age I was already cooking for the two of us. He eats some canned ravioli instead.

You probably meant working but:
I bought an electric wok 10 years ago, and it is probably one of my best purchases ever. It's super duper awesome. Everything is so easy and fast to make with one of these.

 

[Cdammen]

I can cook but don't do it that often. But I almost always eat with somebody, talking and sharing a meal is great and relaxing. If I eat by myself the meal is consumed all to quick.

 

[6.8]

Does Hot Ham Water count?