Discover the Best Basic Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
The definition of cooking is the preparation of food using heat. As humans have evolved, so has this very ancient art form. Once people were able to harness the power of fire, cooking, and meal preparation were well on their way to becoming more sophisticated and tasty. Both meals and ingredients have evolved over time, as has what various cultures and regions have available to them. However, in its simplest form, cooking is the same for everyone: something edible being heated for human consumption.
Cooking is a life skill that requires practice and nuance, unlike eating. Eating is something that everyone knows how to do instinctually. But not everyone has the basic skills that can result in a delicious meal that people want to eat. Foundational skills like boiling, slicing, and seasoning, are fundamental to creating something to eat.
Why You Should Learn Basic Cooking in Los Angeles
Eating is such a fundamental human need and experience that having some basic cooking skills is absolutely essential. It’s a life skill that can improve your quality of life and your health outcomes. Cooking your own food puts you in control of what ingredients go into it. The freedom of choosing the quality of your ingredients and tailoring things like salt, sugar, and heat levels to your preferences and dietary needs, means that you’re getting a more enjoyable eating experience. Cooking involves body movement, which helps to move stress out of the body. The act of cooking can do more than satiate hunger, it also helps to bring some balance to your inner world.
Dining out is expensive, but having basic cooking skills makes eating more pocket friendly. In addition to saving money, learning how to cook can teach you about other cultures and their cuisines. Cooking and eating are communal experiences, and you may find that learning how to cook creates stronger bonds between you and those you care for. Learning basic cooking skills can even help you discover a new social network.
In-Person Basic Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
Most people really enjoy an in-person cooking class. A traditional learning setting allows students and chefs to be able to more intimately work together. The instructor can better offer suggestions or more closely demonstrate techniques and more easily help to troubleshoot problems if they arise. The other big advantage to in-person cooking classes is that you don’t have to worry about not having the proper supplies to work with, because the school typically provides you with everything you need.
Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom is located in West Los Angeles, and it’s a top cooking school in the area offering both hands-on and technical education to students ages 14 and up. There is high-end kitchen equipment and knowledgeable, professional instructors there to help students achieve their culinary goals. Their 4-Week Culinary Basics Series was created with the novice cook in mind. Students will start with basic knife skills and move through the basic cooking techniques, including sautèing and roasting. This class also covers kitchen safety and sanitation. By the end of the course, participants will be able to cook a basic meal and have added a few recipes to their repertoire.
For those cooks who are considering taking their culinary skills to the next level, Chef Eric’s also offers a 12-week Master Chef Program. Many students take this class to help decide whether or not they’re going to pursue a professional culinary career. The class starts off with kitchen safety and knife skills and finishes with a chef’s menu. In the final class, participants will prepare a menu without using recipes. The meal will be tasted and critiqued according to its flavor, presentation, technique, and timing.
At VPN Americas in Inglewood, learn the art of the Neapolitan pizza. This school is the American Delegation of the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana. Pizza making is a culinary discipline; so if you’re interested in an authentic pizza and pizza making course featuring the best ingredients and aged-to-perfection practices, their Basic Pizza Course is a great class to get you that knowledge and experience. Not only will you learn the history of Neapolitan pizza, but you’ll also learn how to prepare the dough, the proper technique to open and form the disc, and how to manage the pizza once it’s in the oven. You’ll leave the class having made your own authentic pizza, a certificate of completion, and a VPN gift bag.
At CocuSocial Cooking Classes located in Eagle Rock Los Angeles, you’ll join other novice cooks and foodies to create something delicious. Participants can experience the joy of cooking in a social setting which makes for an engaging and more immersive experience. Their classes cover topics from cake decorating to Thai cuisine. CocuSocial has several locations around the country, including New York and Texas.
At their Handmade Dumpling Party participants ages 21 and older will unlock the world of plump and juicy handmade dumplings. This hands-on and easy-going class is a BYOB event. No experience is required, but by the time class is done, you will have learned how to wrap different dumpling shapes and how to create your own fillings from scratch. This course also gives students a chance to work on or learn knife skills.
Virtual Basic Cooking Classes
People enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with enrolling in online classes. The biggest advantage to virtual classes is being able to attend wherever you are in the world because the locale is not a hurdle to move past. Another advantage is being able to ditch the traffic and not worry about commuting to class. Taking online basic cooking classes can save you time that you can put back into practicing your newly acquired cooking skills.
In online classes, an instructor presents and conducts a class on camera, so you won’t have the benefit of hands-on help from them. Participants are responsible for having the needed supplies and ingredients to participate in class. Many people find virtual cooking classes engaging and fun given the location and proximity constraints.
Mexican Cooking Online w/ Angie is a course for those who love Mexican cuisine, and those who just want to explore. The menu for this class is rib eye steak tacos with handmade corn tortillas. Your tasty tacos will include a salsa verde and a fresh smashed guacamole. It is a taco bar extravaganza. You’ll receive a shopping and equipment list and a recipe packet upon registration, and the class will be recorded so you can keep practicing.
In Virtual Cook Along: Southern Brunch Workshop, participants will enjoy preparing a delightful Southern brunch. The menu includes shrimp and grits and buttermilk biscuits with honey butter. You’ll make an amazing brunch and learn how to determine shellfish doneness, make a roux and veloutè, make quick bread, and segment citrus. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive a recipe packet and the shopping and equipment list needed for class.
Private Group Basic Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
Is your business or organization having a team-building event? If you’re interested in booking private online group basic cooking classes for businesses, CourseHorse offers engaging live online group classes with professional and knowledgeable instructors. Because cooking is a fun and highly interactive activity, your team will enjoy getting to learn more about one another in a relaxed environment that promotes sharing, free communication, and joy.
Something like this Virtual Pasta Making could be a good fit for your team. Participants will be learning how to mix and knead pasta dough from scratch and hand-form pappardelle pasta. This class includes making pasta dough and two authentic pasta sauces from scratch. The instructors will mail participants a pasta kit before the scheduled class and an additional materials needed list so that everyone can fully participate. Gluten-free requests can even be accommodated. The group size is capped at 500 people and runs for about two hours.
And in Virtual Doughnut Making, your team can experience a fresh and hot doughnut in their own homes. Participants will be led by a professional chef in making cornmeal cake doughnuts from scratch. You’ll get to mix the dough, cut it, shape it, and fry your very own doughnuts. You’ll even get to coat your confectionery delights with a glaze and powder. This class can handle groups of up to 500 persons and is about two hours and 30 minutes long.
If you’re looking for a specific class and don’t see it listed publicly, simply reach out to CourseHorse using the contact form on their website to inquire about your options. Even if you don’t see the class you’re looking for, private group classes are a service they provide. Booking with CourseHorse is simple, and once you've booked your event, you have plenty of flexibility. You’ll be able to change the group size if needed. You’ll receive confirmation within 24 hours of booking, there are no booking fees, and multiple platforms are supported.