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[agrajag]

Yes, you're right, the alteration in chemical composition of food after applying heat is completely relevant to this thread.[/sarcasm] Taken straight from the OP: "How can someone not know how to cook?" Do you really think he means, "How can someone not know how to apply heat to food?"

That's exactly what that means. He's talking about people that are intimidated of making a simple meal of roasted chicken, salad and pasta tossed with garlic and oil. There are tons of people like that, and tons of people who say they "can only cook cereal." That's precisely what the OP was referring to when he said these folks only make sandwiches.

You, on the other hand, ridiculously equated preparing a hot meal from scratch (or nearly from scratch) to heating up a hot pocket. Get out of here with that nonsense. Even preparing a great cold sandwich is an art in itself and takes a lot more than heating up a hot pocket.

 

[Blair]

Prepare my own food? What is this, the middle ages?


I'll hunt for the beast, but i'm not cooking it!

 

[Mr. B Natural]

Cooking has a large barrier to entry for people that have already "grown up" but never learned how to.

• what equipment you need. a kitchen set has like 93247982724 pieces to it. there's like 3908530 kinds of knives, measurement tools, pans pots dish sizes, etc.
  
• you have to go out and purchase specific ingredients for whatever you're making
  
• you have to have recipes. imagine finding one recipe, going out and buying the ingredients, making it, but at the end of the day that's the only thing you can make because to make something else you need other ingredients.

That's why it's tough for people to get off their ass and learn to cook. Because you could really just go out and pick from a million different things to eat without bothering with any of the above three steps.

So...

I would like to learn how to cook. Can someone recommend:

1. What equipment I need, preferably with links to exactly what the thing looks like.
   
2. What the basic, general, fits-all-recipes ingredients I need. Even basic things like pepper or cheeses.
   
3. Some good recipes.

You're making this so much more complicated than it is. It really is in your head. Pick a recipe that sounds good. Head to foodnetwork or get a basic "easy 15 minute" cook book. It might be better to watch a video so you can emulate what the person in the video is doing. Get only what you need to make that recipe. Make the food the best you can. Don't worry about it. It's fun. It's an adventure. If you have a partner, have her/him help! It's a great way to mingle and strengthen bonds.

Then choose another recipe. You may need to buy all new stuff, but as you keep choosing recipes you will realize "hey, I already have that ingredient because I used paprika for the chicken I made last week!" Then 3 months later, you will go "Wow, I can make this dinner for 8 and I only need to buy the beef!"

Soon your spice rack will fill up. Soon your ingredient shelves and cookery will fill up. One recipe at a time.

Just take it one recipe at a time.

Another good idea is if you know someone that knows how to cook, offer yourself to help the person. Be the apprentice. I was lucky to have a mother that was an excellent cook and I took advantage of that when I was a kid by always helping her out. You may not have that luck, but I'm sure you know somebody that will be glad to have a helping hand. The best alternative to a friend is the internet (especially youtube) , of course.

 

[Axion22]

You need a skillet type pan for frying, a medium pot for veggies or the like, and a large pot for soups and their ilk. Broiling pan is pretty essential too, for roasting chicken and other meats. I suggest to go to goodwill or something and pick some up for cheap. That's what I have. You don't need a billion types of knives, a simple chef knife like this one will work fine:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000638D32/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Better yet, I got a 3-pack of varied sized chef knives at wal-mart this weekend for ~$17.
(pause to hunt down a link) - these

Never underestimate the 99c store for bowls and other implements, either.

You don't need the most expensive things, but they do make things go smoother.

 

[Hilbert]

Better yet, I got a 3-pack of varied sized chef knives at wal-mart this weekend for ~$17.
(pause to hunt down a link) - these

Never underestimate the 99c store for bowls and other implements, either.

You don't need the most expensive things, but they do make things go smoother.

The link was more to show the most useful knife I have in the kitchen. I don't really recommend that particular knife, as I don't have it. Just the type of knife is what you need.

 

[brianjones]

You eat 3 to 5 times a day. You spend on average 2 hours a day just eating.

who the hell eats that much? :lol

i probably spend less than an hour total eating everyday

edited for less harshness

 

[Axion22]

The link was more to show the most useful knife I have in the kitchen. I don't really recommend that particular knife, as I don't have it. Just the type of knife is what you need.

I'm not really boasting about my cheap ass knife selection, either.

 

[OmniGamer]

Cooking is great...it arouses all of the senses...the sizzle in the pan, the colors of the food, the aroma filling the kitchen, etc, it can be relaxing, you get that primal satisfaction of eating something you made

I like the feeling of eating something I've made with my bare hands, it's 2nd only to eating something you've killed with your bare hands.

*Internet High-Five*

 

[Mr. B Natural]

who the hell eats that much? :lol

i probably spend less than an hour total eating everyday

edited for less harshness

Haha, seems you're right about that - http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/November05/DataFeature/

Still, you spend an hour eating ever single day of your life and yet, most can not prepare their own food anymore.

 

[Plywood]

So if you actually wanted to, could you cook or would you just eat out?

I can cook, but not as many meals as I would like. Also they are pretty simple meals.

But if the question was homecooked versus eating out. Then homecooked. I prefer to know what is in that which I'm eating.

 

[StoOgE]

I think it's laziness.

I know that was the case with me.

I've started learning how to combine spices and just not being scared to combine things that I like together.

I've always been able to BBQ and grill well, but I'm just now getting into regular cooking. It's sort of fun to have 3-4 pans going and something in the oven. Getting the timing of all the elements to come together is pretty damn hard.

Eating healthier and needing to control my ingredients was the motivation to get me into it, but I'm really starting to enjoy doing it. I'm still scared to make my own sauces so I'm buying store bought, but I think that is my next step.

 

[MaxSteel]

If you're a grown person and you can't cook then yes, i will look down on you. Just about everything that has made my generation of americans look bad can be paralleled in the kitchen.

You eat 3 to 5 times a day. You spend on average 2 hours a day just eating. It's like being a grown person and not knowing how to sleep, get your boogie on or how to brush your teeth. It's so fundamental that it is a part of who you are. If you can't cook for yourself, you obviously have no interest in yourself. Where the hell have you been your whole life? Then what happens next? Well, those lazy people have children and now they can't properly feed them. They'll be unhealthy and fat by age 5. Wonderful. How selfish. And those kids will have kids and know even less about food, etc.

Lazy
Uneducated
Selfish
Indulgent
Indifferent

America in kitchen = America outside kitchen

lmao. you're insane.

you got all that just because i'm not a good cook? because my lifestyle and my job lends itself more towards quick, skillet top meals and frozen pizzas and delivery? that makes me all those things? that means i haven no interest in myself? gtfoh

first of all - who the fuck eats 3-5 meals a day?? i eat one, maybe two meals a day with smaller things interspersed. and when i eat, i'm never just eating - i'm eating and working or at the least eating and catching up on tv. i don't care about food enough for it to be a ritual.

if i had to cook for myself, i could - there's never been something that i've had to do for myself that i haven't been able to do. i've cooked for myself in the past - i didn't like it, it took too much time and there was too much clean up. no dishwasher, tiny sink, no working room sucks. so now i simply choose not to.

i think you're more representative of america today - judgmental as fuck

 

[agrajag]

I think it's laziness.

I know that was the case with me.

I've started learning how to combine spices and just not being scared to combine things that I like together.

Exactly. Most people that say they can't cook are just lazy or intimidated and don't know where to start.

 

[SFA_AOK]

I would like to learn how to cook. Can someone recommend:

1. What equipment I need, preferably with links to exactly what the thing looks like.
   
2. What the basic, general, fits-all-recipes ingredients I need. Even basic things like pepper or cheeses.
   
3. Some good recipes.

Other people have suggested equipment, I'll suggest some stuff to get you started:

Mushrooms, onions and bell peppers. Chicken, beef (minced, cubed, strips, whatever). With these vegetables and one of those meats (and you can add/subsitute items), and some rice or pasta, you can cook a variety of dishes. I'd recommend starting with store bought sauces - some people will balk at that, but I think it's an excellent way to learn about how to cook veggies and meat.

All you do is chop the stuff up and fry it in a pan, once it's nearly ready, throw on a sauce, and serve with rice/pasta/noodles as appropriate. With a couple of weeks of trying this, you should have worked out how you like to cook things.

Depending on the rice/pasta you're using, they'll take 10-15 minutes in boiling water, but that's all you need to do. Get that going first, if it's ready before the rest of it is, no matter, you can just turn the heat down. Noodles only take a few minutes, so just have a kettle/pan of hot water ready towards the end of your cooking...

Vegetables you can eat raw obviously, so it doesn't matter if they're over/under cooked. Meat needs a bit more care, you can start by frying it first til it's nearly ready, then putting it to one side while you cook the veggies. Fry in some olive oil over a medium heat, if the pan smokes a lot, it's probably too hot so take it off the heat for a bit.

Don't know what sauces you'll have where you are but you can buy bolognese, chili, sweet and sour, chow mein, just pick up anything you like the look of and give it a go. Once you get comfortable, you can start trying your own sauces - find a book with some simple recipes (there's loads here in the UK, my gf and I seem to own half of them!) or look them up online. Go for simple recipes first, if it seems fussy and complicated, either take some steps out or look for a simpler recipe. For every gourment recipe out there for something, there's a simple one that'll still taste good.

 

[BorkBork]

I think for many of us who cook, it's easy to do so because it is an activity that we view not as a chore, but as a hobby and a genuinely enjoyable process to do. Not everyone thinks like that, and coupled with the aforementioned issues of confidence and the lack of childhood exposure, I can see (but still feel sad) why people can find cooking unappealing when prepared food is so widely available these days.

 

[Future]

lmao. you're insane.

you got all that just because i'm not a good cook? because my lifestyle and my job lends itself more towards quick, skillet top meals and frozen pizzas and delivery? that makes me all those things? that means i haven no interest in myself? gtfoh

first of all - who the fuck eats 3-5 meals a day?? i eat one, maybe two meals a day with smaller things interspersed. and when i eat, i'm never just eating - i'm eating and working or at the least eating and catching up on tv. i don't care about food enough for it to be a ritual.

if i had to cook for myself, i could - there's never been something that i've had to do for myself that i haven't been able to do. i've cooked for myself in the past - i didn't like it, it took too much time and too much clean up. so now i simply choose not to.

i think you're more representative of america today - judgmental as fuck

I love it when people express that with pride. Its like being proud to drink 1 glass of water a week. Worst possible way to eat, and part of the major reason everyone is unhealthy. It slows metabolism, builds fat, and while the problems it causes can seem unnoticeable when really young, it starts taking its toll the older you get

That dude probably went a little far in his judgements, but I see where hes comin from. Cooking can be seen as synonomous to simply being able to take care of yourself. Saying I choose not to cook is like saying I choose not to shower and being proud of it. To someone that showers everyday thats gonna be pretty tough to understand

 

[Houston3000]

I don't see how people can not understand that some people just don't cook because they don't need to or want to.

Take someone who doesn't live with any significant other. Going out to eat is part of my social experience, I probably "spend too much money" taking girls to restaurants or meeting my friends for pizza or burgers, going to the movie theater and stopping at the bar next door for some calamari or at the McDonalds for a Big Mac... but that's what goes on in my life. Yeah, it's not literally every single night but it's often enough that the one or two days a week I am home I'm content with eating something simple that doesn't require any real work to prepare.

I totally see the point in cooking, but it's not hard to imagine a life style that doesn't require you do so - at least not until one might settle down with a family or husband/wife/bf/gf.

 

[MaxSteel]

I love it when people express that with pride. Its like being proud to drink 1 glass of water a week. Worst possible way to eat, and part of the major reason everyone is unhealthy. It slows metabolism, builds fat, and while the problems it causes can seem unnoticeable when really young, it starts taking its toll the older you get

That dude probably went a little far in his judgements, but I see where hes comin from. Cooking can be seen as synonomous to simply being able to take care of yourself. Saying I choose not to cook is like saying I choose not to shower and being proud of it. To someone that showers everyday thats gonna be pretty tough to understand

i wasn't saying it with pride, not at all. it's just how i eat. i know it's not the healthiest thing in the world. but it's what works for me. suprise - like everyone else, i'm not perfect.

i don't understand how you people can be so dense. look, ever single person here could cook if they had to - some just choose not to. can i cook well? no, because i don't have to. if i had to, i would learn to cook better. simple as that.

comparing cooking and showering is absurd and i won't even comment.

and i'm not proud of not cooking - but i'm not ashamed. it simply makes more sense for me NOT to cook.

if i lived in the 'burbs and had a family, of course i would cook. but i live in manhattan, by myself, and i work all day and then come home and write all night. taking time out to make a nice lasagna aint for me. i rather heat up a nice, healthy frozen meal from trader joes, eat, and get back to work (or videogames or whatever).

wtf is so hard to understand? i never knew people who were decent cooks had such a superiority complex.

 

[GatorBait]

That's exactly what that means. He's talking about people that are intimidated of making a simple meal of roasted chicken, salad and pasta tossed with garlic and oil. There are tons of people like that, and tons of people who say they "can only cook cereal." That's precisely what the OP was referring to when he said these folks only make sandwiches.

You, on the other hand, ridiculously equated preparing a hot meal from scratch (or nearly from scratch) to heating up a hot pocket. Get out of here with that nonsense. Even preparing a great cold sandwich is an art in itself and takes a lot more than heating up a hot pocket.

And you are totally missing my point. I was trying to answer the OP's question by explaining that the phrase, "I can't cook" is a misnomer. If you are smart and capable enough to put a Hot Pocket in the microwave for two minutes, I like to imagine that you can put a chicken breast in the oven for 20 minutes. Perhaps I greatly overestimate the intelligence of the average person though?

That's why, in the context the OP is speaking of, I think the phrase "I can't cook" means either: 1) I don't like to cook because of X-reason (too lazy, time-constrained, or like you said, intimidated, which is more a case of being uninformed and ignorant as to the difficulties of cooking); or 2) They are attributing a more complex, colloquial definition to the term "cook".

Nowhere did I say making a meal from scratch is the same as heating up a hot pocket. In actuality, my argument is that they are on totally opposite ends of the cooking spectrum! It's just that some people who say they "can't cook" often don't consider all the shades of gray within that spectrum. I can easily cook a meal that is conceptually no more difficult than microwaving a Hot Pocket or boiling a packet of Ramen. If you can do those two actions, you CAN cook. If you say you can't, you either just don't want to, or you are using a totally different definition of the word cook.

 

[beje]

healthy

frozen meal

does not compute

 

[Pristine_Condition]

I would like to learn how to cook. Can someone recommend:

1. What equipment I need, preferably with links to exactly what the thing looks like.
   

1. 
   
   
   Basic Tool Set:
   
   
   Two good, pro-quality (but inexpensive) knives, sharpener, cutting boards -- Links added:
   
   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000CF8YO/?tag=neogaf0e-20
   
   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001V3UYG/?tag=neogaf0e-20
   
   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004VWKQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20
   
   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00011RTE8/?tag=neogaf0e-20
   
   Vegetable peeler
   
   Cheese grater
   
   A set of measuring spoons
   
   2 Cup Measuring Cup
   
   Three Mixing bowls (different sizes)
   
   One or two good 10-12" nonstick fry pans
   
   One or two good 10-12" regular fry pans (I prefer aluminum clad with stainless steel)
   
   One Smallish Sauce Pan
   
   One Large (Usually 4 qt.) Sauce or Saute pan with cover
   
   One large pot (for soups and boiling water for pasta with cover
   
   A baking/cookie sheet/jelly roll pan or two. (get the ones with sides to start--they're more versatile)
   
   Spatula (plastic is better for use with nonstick pan)
   
   Stirring Spoon (plastic is better for use with nonstick pan)
   
   Slotted Spoon (plastic is better for use with nonstick pan)
   
   Silicone spatula (high temp)
   
   Tongs
   
   Whisk
   
   Corkscrew
   
   Some kind of inexpensive "instant read" digital probe thermometer. (You can find them for less than $20 now, and it's the best investment you'll ever make until you get used to knowing when food, especially meat, is done, just by touching/looking/smelling it.) Many have a plastic cover that goes over the probe when you aren't using it that has helpful information printed on it regarding the target temperatures of various things. Very helpful.
   ​
   
   A general rule of thumb for me: If you are at a loss for what kind of small tools to buy, everything from mixing/storage bowls to spoons/spatulas, ect. Check out the OXO brand stuff. You don't have to buy it in the end, but it's generally designed well, made well, and is fairly priced. Compare what you do buy against that brand, and you'll usually do well.
   
   
   
   Plastic Wrap
   
   Aluminum Foil
   
   A few kitchen towels and maybe something to handle those hot pans with (although you can often use a kitchen towel for this as well)
   ​

 

[MaxSteel]

does not compute

relatively healthy. for example: http://www.freshdirect.com/product.jsp?catId=hmr_fresh_ss&trk=cpage&productId=var_ds_grldslmn

 

[Naked Snake]

I used to say that the only thing I can probably never learn (because I don't care) was cooking... until I started experimenting with it a few months ago (because I wanted to control all ingredients and insure freshness, for health reasons), and now I'm hooked! I practically cook or prepare everything I eat by myself now. It's awesome.

Nothing beats making yourself a meal and genuinely saying "This is the tastiest thing I've ever had."

 

[agrajag]

And you are totally missing my point. I was trying to answer the OP's question by explaining that the phrase, "I can't cook" is a misnomer. If you are smart and capable enough to put a Hot Pocket in the microwave for two minutes, I like to imagine that you can put a chicken breast in the oven for 20 minutes. Perhaps I greatly overestimate the intelligence of the average person though?

i completely agree with you there. My first post in the thread was "anyone can cook."

That's why, in the context the OP is speaking of, I think the phrase "I can't cook" means either: 1) I don't like to cook because of X-reason (too lazy, time-constrained, or like you said, intimidated, which is more a case of being uninformed and ignorant as to the difficulties of cooking); or 2) They are attributing a more complex, colloquial definition to the term "cook".

i think your first hunch is correct, the second is off the mark. At least as far as the OP goes, because he suggested nothing like that.

Nowhere did I say making a meal from scratch is the same as heating up a hot pocket. In actuality, my argument is that they are on totally opposite ends of the cooking spectrum! It's just that some people who say they "can't cook" often don't consider all the shades of gray within that spectrum. I can easily cook a meal that is conceptually no more difficult than microwaving a Hot Pocket or boiling a packet of Ramen. If you can do those two actions, you CAN cook. If you say you can't, you either just don't want to, or you are using a totally different definition of the word cook.

well, if there are people that, as you say, define cooking as being creative and playing with pairing exotic ingredients, and what not, i must say that they are simply wrong. i say, if you can: sear/roast/pan-fry a protein to the desired done-ness, season correctly, mix a salad, make a batch of white rice... you can cook! in other words, if someone can feed themselves without over-relying on hot pockets and ramen noodles and at least make paletable meals, they can cook.

 

[HappyBivouac]

To me, being able to say "I can cook" would mean I can whip up something delicious without following a recipe, either from a book, internet, or memory. I can certainly follow recipes to make decent food, but it feels so empty when I have a girlfriend who has barely been taught to cook, never follows recipes and can consistently wow me with amazing Sichuan (where she's from) style dishes. I just wish I had what she has, I guess.

 

[Future]

comparing cooking and showering is absurd and i won't even comment.


and i'm not proud of not cooking - but i'm not ashamed. it simply makes more sense for me NOT to cook.

if i lived in the 'burbs and had a family, of course i would cook. but i live in manhattan, by myself, and i work all day and then come home and write all night. taking time out to make a nice lasagna aint for me. i rather heat up a nice, healthy frozen meal from trader joes, eat, and get back to work (or videogames or whatever).

wtf is so hard to understand? i never knew people who were decent cooks had such a superiority complex.

And its the fact that you think this that is the point. Some people think that cooking should be as basic as showering or every day shit you really dont have to do. You really dont have to do anything really. But you do, cuz ya know, you probably should. It takes time but you make the time because shit like this is important

Here's where you chime in that no one should be telling you what you should and shouldnt do. How can cooking equate to personal hygiene. That you dont feel any particular need to cook and shouldnt have to ... and that is absolutely correct. Not gonna stop me from agreeing with the OP and sayin my peace, however. Its not about bein a chef and knowin when to use Vanilla Extract, its about not wasting tons of money on over processed crap and caring about what the fuck you put into your body.

A lot of people (not directed at you) use the time excuse for everything: No time to cook. No time to excercise. No time to do anything. That to attempt to bother to do anything at all would be trying to be some perfectionist or some shit. Bullshit. Everyone has the time, just most either are too lazy and/or dont care. I blame society myself. Schools teach you all kinds of shit that dont matter, and dont teach you basics like puttin meat on a pan

 

[Axion22]

I expect to see lots of you in the IronGAF thread.

 

[Dipper145]

I can't cook. I don't really want to learn to cook. I'm sure I will learn to make some basic things. Chances are I'll just be making stir fry, because I love it so much. That's just easy, you toss a whole bunch of shit into a pan and leave it for a bit. I've found that to make most things really good you just toss some cheese on top of it. Or add some onions or peppers.

I'm mostly afraid of cooking because I don't want to under cook food. It also takes up way too much time to make anything other than eggs, or a toasted sandwich. I don't want to have to spend an hour cooking and eating the meal. I'm lazy, and I just want to eat something that tastes good. Chances are if I try to make something it'll turn out not good.

I'll learn how to cook one day.

 

[MetatronM]

I like cooking, but I find it's just not really time or cost effective to do it when only cooking for one. For a while when I first moved into my apartment my roommate and I were both around for similar hours in the day so we'd alternate days cooking dinners, and that worked well for a couple of months until our schedules flopped. There is the possibility of leftovers when cooking for myself, yeah, but that means my options are either wasting lots of ingredients by not using them all and having to toss them or having leftovers and eating the same exact meal three or four days in a row (and hoping it preserves well enough and long enough).

Plus groceries are really expensive here in Manhattan, so as long as you're somewhat smart about what you're ordering, it's often at least as cheap if not cheaper to just order something in.

I will sometimes do pasta, though, since that's nice and cheap, can be easily rationed out into individual portions, and can be stored for long periods of time.

It's kind of sad, since I am capable of cooking some pretty decent stuff. I have been getting the urge to do some cooking again lately, though. Maybe when I get back from vacation I'll whip up a lasagna or something. That's something I don't mind eating all week.

 

[Hilbert]

I expect to see lots of you in the IronGAF thread.

I was thinking about a series of posts about cooking Mexican food, but that thread is HUGE. Not sure what has been covered or not yet.

 

[GatorBait]

well, if there are people that, as you say, define cooking as being creative and playing with pairing exotic ingredients, and what not, i must say that they are simply wrong. i say, if you can: sear/roast/pan-fry a protein to the desired done-ness, season correctly, mix a salad, make a batch of white rice... you can cook! in other words, if someone can feed themselves without over-relying on hot pockets and ramen noodles and at least make paletable meals, they can cook.

Damn agrajag, it sounds like we are in total agreement then. It just took us a while to get there! I don't know if I was not explaining myself adequately, if you were misinterpreting what I wrote, or if it was some combination of the two.

The second point I wrote was more directed at previous posters in this thread. In fact, you don't even need to go past the first page in this thread to find posters who are using the term "cook" to refer to something more involved and complex than it has to be.

 

[beje]

I expect to see lots of you in the IronGAF thread.

I post there from time to time when I do something I'm specially proud about

Edit:

Also, this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiAdg01bU5c
Easy and ideal for anyone that's starting to cook.

 

[HappyBivouac]

Seasoning blends are also a modern godsend. Heat up just a dab of oil, throw a chicken breast in the pan seasoned with Montreal chicken seasoning, prepare a nice big salad, and pour a glass of your beer/wine of choice and you've got a delicious meal.

 

[MaxSteel]

And its the fact that you think this that is the point. Some people think that cooking should be as basic as showering or every day shit you really dont have to do. You really dont have to do anything really. But you do, cuz ya know, you probably should. It takes time but you make the time because shit like this is important

Here's where you chime in that no one should be telling you what you should and shouldnt do. How can cooking equate to personal hygiene. That you dont feel any particular need to cook and shouldnt have to ... and that is absolutely correct. Not gonna stop me from agreeing with the OP and sayin my peace, however. Its not about bein a chef and knowin when to use Vanilla Extract, its about not wasting tons of money on over processed crap and caring about what the fuck you put into your body.

A lot of people (not directed at you) use the time excuse for everything: No time to cook. No time to excercise. No time to do anything. That to attempt to bother to do anything at all would be trying to be some perfectionist or some shit. Bullshit. Everyone has the time, just most either are too lazy and/or dont care. I blame society myself. Schools teach you all kinds of shit that dont matter, and dont teach you basics like puttin meat on a pan

i just think that people who believe cooking should be as basic as showering are plain wrong. if it's that important to them - that's great - but to think that about someone else who values different things is absolutely crazy to me.

agree to disagree, i suppose.

 

[brianjones]

Seasoning blends are also a modern godsend. Heat up just a dab of oil, throw a chicken breast in the pan seasoned with Montreal chicken seasoning, prepare a nice big salad, and pour a glass of your beer/wine of choice and you've got a delicious meal.

i need to look into more spices and sauces

i know how to cook a simple chicken breast but I don't know how to liven it up.

same with steaming vegetables. i can do these things but they always come out kind of bland.

 

[Decado]

I don't cook at all. Im 20 and living in a house with 4 other roommates. They can all make exceptional shit except for one of them. Me and him get by on ramen, boiling pasta, making sandwiches, cooking hotdogs, and ordering fastfood. We suck.

I have started to make chicken though. I put that shit on the stove top and cook it. Nothing special but I should start to cook more. I never really needed to since my mother would just throw shit into the oven every night and it'd be awesome and delicious.

Learn from your roommates...?

 

[Brannon]

i don't get the notion of looking down on someone who can't cook. it's a skill to be learned just like anything else.

if i can play guitar and you can't do I have right to think less of you? fuck you

You mean you don't? You shouldn't hold in your scoffs like that. Hand them out liberally, it's the only way to be sure. Of course, I understand if you're... you know... scoff deficient. It's okay. Some people just have less scoffs than others. Not me though. I was born proper.

*scoff*

 

[beelzebozo]

other things that are purely optional skills:

• swimming. we live on land. why would you ever need to know how to swim?
• tying shoelaces. just get some slip-ons!
• driving a car. if you've got the money, get a driver. somebody else can do this for me.

 

[rykomatsu]

Of course if you want to start doing more complex stuff you can get more advanced equipment. But all that stuff is excess, and you don't *need* it in order to make delicious, home-cooked meals.

I'd also add a spatula to that list for most people

 

[MaxSteel]

other things that are purely optional skills:

• swimming. we live on land. why would you ever need to know how to swim?
• tying shoelaces. just get some slip-ons!
• driving a car. if you've got the money, get a driver. somebody else can do this for me.

lots of people who grow up in the city can't swim - you look down on them?

tying shoelaces doesn't quite compare to not being a master chef

lots of people who grow up in the city can't drive - you look down on them?

 

[brianjones]

other things that are purely optional skills:

• swimming. we live on land. why would you ever need to know how to swim?
• tying shoelaces. just get some slip-ons!
• driving a car. if you've got the money, get a driver. somebody else can do this for me.

i was taught how to swim by my parents.. i can't even remember learning how to swim. i've just known how for as long as i can remember.

same with tying shoes.

cars are necessary unless you have live in a big city to support yourself. if you can't drive a car to a job how are you going to buy food and therefore cook?

these analogies are weak.

if I get a rip in my clothing and I know how to stitch it up should I look down on you for taking damaged clothing to a tailor? how dare you not know a skill that I do.

 

[OmniGamer]

"Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime"

 

[Pristine_Condition]

I expect to see lots of you in the IronGAF thread.

I keep meaning to get in there to post, and I've enjoyed lurking there, but I'm usually too busy cooking to actually think about documenting it.

I'd like to contribute some stuff though someday. You guys have a great thread going.

My latest project is a huge produce garden at my parents' new house. It's going to be epic. I've already weeded, tilled, and planted most of the huge plot for the spring/summer. Lots of work. This weekend, my Dad and I should finish getting the irrigation system installed. I could spend every weekend there and have plenty to do, but alas, I can't. Funny thing is, I've always hated gardening. But I guess my love of cooking comes first.

 

[beelzebozo]

i'm not sure if i look down on them or just feel sorry for them, really. the notion that if someone said, "hey, we're all getting together to swim in my new pool, come on over!" and they couldn't get out of the shallow end is just funny and sad. i'm with my daughter at a pool party she's attending, and a kid's drowning! someone else do something! i'm traveling, and i would rent a car, but yeah, i don't know how to drive this thing. somebody get me a cab.

and sorry, but knowing how to simply prepare food--i.e., "knowing how to cook"--is as simple as tying shoelaces. it just is. nobody ever taught you how when you were young, and therefore it feels foreign and overly complex. i could cook something in less time than it takes you to order takeout. and i'm no chef.

 

[MaxSteel]

"Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime"

"Judge not, that you be not judged."

 

[Future]

tying shoelaces doesn't quite compare to not being a master chef

I try to stay out, but its quotes like these that keep reeling me back in

Whats funny about this is that I dont really care about the health reasons to cook. People smoke and do all kinds of things that are unhealthy, and more power to them.

But what gets me is the thought that if you are cooking, then you are looked at like you have an apron and chef hat, and you are chopping onions and veggies for hours, while stirring sauces and mixing herbs. "Master chef" per say haha

Cooking will never be faster than a 3 minute hot pocket. But shit man the longest I cook is 15-20 min. It usually consists of:

Go to store. Buy meat and veggies.

Go home. Unwrap meat. Place in container (30s)

Mix a marinade and pour in container. Place container in fridge (2 min).

Remove container when hungry. Place meat in grill. Cook for about 10-15 min depending on how cooked you want it. Flip once

Put veggies in steamer. Steam them for a few minutes while meat is cooking.

Put shit on plate. Add spices or whatever shit. Eat.

To clean...I have a plate, fork, knife, grill top, container, and pot used to steam veggies. Pot takes like 30 seconds to clean cuz steamin veggies doesnt do much

I'll admit that is pretty basic, but there are tons of recipes that literally take about that long, with that much work. Its just baffling that people wouldnt want to take the extra 10-15 min or so for a much better, healthier, meal. Which is probably why the OP made this thread

 

[The Quiet Man]

I'm mostly afraid of cooking because I don't want to under cook food.

Use a thermometer.

 

[Axion22]

I was thinking about a series of posts about cooking Mexican food, but that thread is HUGE. Not sure what has been covered or not yet.

otake is doing peurtoriccan things.

I've spent some time combing through and I haven't seen a lot of Mexican, but it doesn't matter if it's been done before, chances are you're never going to do the exact same thing someone else did.

If you're worried about joining the thread late, don't. I jumped in on page 72.

 

[beelzebozo]

there are so many implicit issues tied up in this question, and it's not just about not knowing how to do something. reliance on outside sources for food puts you at the mercy of others for your health. and in that sense, you can only say, okay, fine, that's your body, and your health, and there are some decent healthy options, and opportunities to eat well. but then that inability to do things for yourself gets passed down to children, who also have no clue how to prepare food, and the ability to take care of ourselves in a very fundamental and biological way begins to be slowly removed from our culture altogether. the reason rodriguez's quote about not knowing how to cook being much like having no skills in bed is so true and relevant is that both things are important biological needs, and knowing how to do these things helps fulfill those needs.

maybe you don't plan on having children. and that's fine. many people don't. but i look at this other situation with a girl, let's say, since we can then connect it to the rodriguez quote: i cook my wife dinner, or i take her to a fancy dinner. which is better? i see more value in the first--i took the time to do this thing for her, to make something with my hands, rather than just use my hands to drive the car and remove the money from the wallet. it's personal. it's fundamental and unique to us.

and yes, if anything, i'm more sad for someone who makes no effort whatsoever to be involved with the preparation of their own meals than i am for someone who cannot tie a pair of shoes or drive a car.

 

[MaxSteel]

I try to stay out, but its quotes like these that keep reeling me back in

Whats funny about this is that I dont really care about the health reasons to cook. People smoke and do all kinds of things that are unhealthy, and more power to them.

But what gets me is the thought that if you are cooking, then you are looked at like you have an apron and chef hat, and you are chopping onions and veggies for hours, while stirring sauces and mixing herbs. "Master chef" per say haha

Cooking will never be faster than a 3 minute hot pocket. But shit man the longest I cook is 15-20 min. It usually consists of:

Go to store. Buy meat and veggies.

Go home. Unwrap meat. Place in container (30s)

Mix a marinade and pour in container. Place container in fridge (2 min).

Remove container when hungry. Place meat in grill. Cook for about 10-15 min depending on how cooked you want it. Flip once

Put veggies in steamer. Steam them for a few minutes while meat is cooking.

Put shit on plate. Add spices or whatever shit. Eat.

To clean...I have a plate, fork, knife, grill top, container, and pot used to steam veggies. Pot takes like 30 seconds to clean cuz steamin veggies doesnt do much

I'll admit that is pretty basic, but there are tons of recipes that literally take about that long, with that much work. Its just baffling that people wouldnt want to take the extra 10-15 min or so for a much better, healthier, meal. Which is probably why the OP made this thread

no, no - not saying if you cook you're a master chef - i knew that would come back to bite me in the ass.

i used to cook all my meals. i was far from a master chef. when i first moved to the city after college and i was on a diet, i cooked everything i ate. when i lived with my ex for 2 years, we cooked dinner probably 5 nights a week.

yes, cooking a good meal can only take like 15 minutes - but there's shopping for food, making sure you have everything you need for every meal, using up your ingredients before they go bad so you didn't waste money on them, etc.

to me, now, as a severely overworked bachelor - that is just an unnecessary hassle that i don't need in my life.