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Discover the Best Basic Cooking Classes in NYC
Cooking is, in its simplest form, preparing food using heat. The art of cooking has evolved with humans from the time they first harnessed the power of fire. Fire is what took food preparation from simple salt drying and curing to what we recognize today. Meals and ingredients have changed over time and are different depending on where you are in the world and cultural preferences. However, at its core, cooking is all the same: something edible being heated for human consumption and nutrition.
This life skill requires practice, discernment, and knowledge. Whereas eating is not a skill that is taught. Eating is something that all humans are born knowing how to do. Having a grasp of the fundamental skills of basic cooking like boiling, slicing, and seasoning is important to creating a menu that will bring people to your table.
Why You Should Learn Basic Cooking in NYC
It is to everyone’s advantage to know how to do things like toasting, boiling, and baking. When you know your way around a kitchen you can eat more healthfully. You’ll be in control of what goes into your food and in what quantities. Once you’ve learned some basic cooking skills, the kitchen is a safer and less intimidating space. Being able to make your own rice, pasta, and fresh vegetables is important to your quality of life, physically and financially.
If you’re not confident in your ability to cook something well at home, you could benefit from some basic cooking classes. Once you learn how to cook and what ingredients work well together, you’ll begin to get more comfortable experimenting with recipes and inviting family and friends over to try your culinary creations.
For many people, cooking is both a hobby and a necessity of life. Cooking is fun and a stress reliever, and there is always something new to learn. Cooking classes help more experienced cooks learn new skills, new cuisines, and new pairings to share with family and friends. If you’re feeling alone in your culinary journey, you could join or start a supper club to make new friends and learn about other cultures and cuisines.
In-Person Basic Cooking Classes & Schools in NYC
An in-person cooking class is just as much of a great idea for those who are uncomfortable in the kitchen and for those who are seasoned cooks looking to spread their culinary wings a little wider. In-person basic cooking classes are a chance to meet new people, create new culinary memories, and enjoy food that you played a role in preparing. Classes can be taken as a couple, group, or youth. Classes are meant to be fun and engaging while expanding your culinary skills.
Miette Culinary Studio is one such school in NYC that offers basic cooking classes. Located in Manhattan’s Little Italy, Miette offers classes to amateur cooks and home chefs. Their classes are taught by classically trained, professional chefs who want to make cooking fun and accessible for anyone who is interested in learning.
Miette’s Knife Skills: The Fundamentals is a class offered to beginner cooks ages 13 and older. This class teaches knife skills through the creation of a menu, which includes bruschetta, roast chicken, and potatoes. As participants work toward the completion of the menu, they’ll be learning how to choose the best knife for specific tasks, how to safely handle knives, and how to make different types of cuts. When class is over, you’ll have made a lovely meal and you’ll feel more comfortable using kitchen knives.
Home Cooking New York is a culinary educational space founded by Jenifer Clair, a former Recipe Editor for The Wall Street Journal and Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and it’s located in SoHo. Chef Clair has a team of veteran chefs and culinary professionals eager to help share their knowledge and passion for the culinary arts while making cooking accessible to anyone who wants to learn. Here you’ll find classes in cuisine-focused favorites as well as in various basic cooking techniques.
In their Six Basic Cooking Techniques course, participants ages 16 and older will learn basic knife skills, making pan sauces, roasting vegetables, and cooking meat to perfection. Class size is capped at 10 students so that it can be more of a group effort and intimate. This is a hands-on class. There will be some demonstrations by the instructor, but students will have every opportunity to get up close and personal with the food. Besides learning some new kitchen skills, you may find that the best part of the class is having a full sit-down meal to enjoy with the class. You can even bring your own bottle of wine to share.
They also offer Culinary Boot Camp: For Beginner Cooks. In this course, students age 16 and over will learn the basics of the kitchen. Over the course of six weeks, you’ll cover every cooking technique and use multiple ingredients to help reinforce the lesson and increase your confidence. The menu includes roasted vegetables, chicken stock and broth, pan-roasted lemon chicken, and linguine with white clam sauce. Some of the skills covered include working with whole grains, browning butter, choosing and cleaning shrimp, and searing meat. Class size is capped at 10 students, so everyone can have a personal and hands-on experience.
Virtual Basic Cooking Classes & Schools
Virtual cooking classes can be just as engaging as in-person cooking classes, but there are some key differences between the two. The advantage of taking online basic cooking classes is having the flexibility to attend classes from anywhere in the world without any disruption to your schedule. Skipping the stress of commuting and traffic is another reason to choose online classes.
Usually, taking an online virtual cooking class means supplying your own materials, equipment, and ingredients, you may be more comfortable with cooking in your own kitchen than that of a classroom or culinary studio. You’ll become more acquainted with the tools you have in your kitchen and what improvisations you can make with what you have. Another potential disadvantage to an online basic cooking class is that your instructor can’t truly be hands-on in helping you improve your technique.
An Introduction to Korean Cooking is a great way to expand your global cuisine knowledge and your palate. Learners ages 16 and older can enjoy learning to make sweet potato glass noodles, spicy braised tofu, and sesame cucumbers. This class explores some of the techniques and flavors that distinguish Korean food from other cuisines. Although this class is live online, at the end of the class you can enjoy a sit-down meal with your virtual classmates.
Try Virtual French Bistro if you’re curious about French cooking and culinary techniques. Up to 20 adult learners will get to create steak au poivre and salade lyonnaise alongside the chef. This class teaches how to sear beef, determine beef doneness, poach, and make a vinaigrette.
Greek Cooking Online with Despina is a class for adults who are interested in Greek food. You’ll learn how to make keftedes (Greek meatballs), tzatziki sauce, and xoriatiki salata (a traditional Greek salad) in this virtual cooking class. You don’t have to be a whiz in the kitchen, just be willing to try. At the end of class, there will be time for a virtual dinner party with your classmates. You’ll get a shopping list and recipes before class so you’ll have everything you need. And the class will be recorded so you can go back and practice and revisit what you learn.
Private Group Basic Cooking Classes in NYC
If you’re interested in hosting a private online group basic cooking classes for businesses, CourseHorse offers top-notch live online group classes with professional and knowledgeable instructors. Choosing a cooking class for your team means that they will enjoy getting better acquainted with one another in a more relaxed environment that leaves plenty of room for sharing, free communication, and fun.
A class like this Candy Making: Truffles & Brittle might be a good choice for your team. Participants will learn how to make the two classic candies from scratch. The dark chocolate truffles can be made with or without hazelnuts, and the brittle is highly customizable. If peanuts aren’t welcome, any other mix-in can be substituted. The instructors will mail participants a candy making kit before the scheduled class and an additional materials list so that everyone can fully participate in the workshop. The group size is capped at 250 people and runs for about one hour.
And in the Virtual Sushi Making Workshop, your team can try making sushi at home. Participants will be led by a professional chef in creating their perfect sushi roll. You’ll learn basic knife cuts, fish basics, and the difference between hand rolls and cut rolls. Each team member will have their very own sushi kit mailed to them ahead of the class with additional required tools. This class can handle groups of up to 500 persons and is about 90 minutes long.
If you’re looking for a specific class and don’t see it publicly listed, please reach out to CourseHorse using the contact form on their website to find out what your options are. Even if you don’t see what you’re looking for, private group classes are a provided service. Booking with CourseHorse is easy, 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.
