How To Become A More Experimental Home Cook

Although not everyone is born to be a great chef, that doesn’t mean to say that you cannot be a better cook than you already are. Should you lack motivation or passion in the kitchen most days, then it is time to spice things up and start being more experimental. Here are some effective ways to become a more experimental home cook no matter if you are lazy in the kitchen or not. 

Use the internet to your advantage

The internet has endless recipes that you can utilize no matter where you are cooking. Hence, it is a great way to start experimenting with more cuisines and flavors. If you are lacking ideas for dinner, then you can quickly find a recipe to reignite your passion for cooking. Whether you want to know how to make eclairs or sweet cherry pie, then finding recipes online will help you find anything that you desire to make. You can even search recipes for the ingredients you have in the house and create something delicious that you have never made before.  Hence, using the internet to source recipes is a great way to be more experimental in the kitchen. 

Cook using other tools

Sometimes we fall out of love with cooking because we get bored of the same routine, same tools, and same surroundings. Hence, it is a great idea to mix things up and start using the other cooking equipment that you often neglect, like a barbeque. Using a barbeque this summer to cook off a feast for your friends instead of using the inside grill will help you experience outdoor cooking, which could be something out of your comfort zone. It is always a good idea to diversify what you use to cook with as well as the ingredients. 

Take good care of your tools

Speaking of tools, it is also a good idea to take good care of them. If your knives become less sharp or your oven gets too dirty that you hate using it to cook, then you will quickly lose the passion for trying new dishes.  Hence, always take good care of all of your tools so that preparing, cooking, and serving is a breeze. The easier and more straightforward cooking is, the more you will get to enjoy it. 

Use herbs and spices

If you enjoy your food but not as much as the food that you eat out, then it could be down to you not using enough flavorings.  Using herbs and spices is a simple and effective way to make your food taste more delicious as well as practice experimentation. Although you might use thyme on your roast potatoes, why not switch up the herb for rosemary? Or, use herbs on other foods that you tend to leave bland, such as meat and vegetables. The more flavor you add to your meals, the more you can experiment and find new dishes.  It can be a great idea to invest in a herbs and spices rack so that you have them on display at all times so that you can put them to good use. 

Try different ingredients

You might think that you are a dull or bad cook because you don’t switch up the ingredients that you are using. If you stick to using the same meat, fish, and vegetables each night, then how are you supposed to get excited about dinner?  If you experiment a few times a week with different ingredients, then you can start to experiment with different textures and make up your own recipes.  Instead of using rice as a side for your chicken, you could use a grains mixture or sweet potato mash instead. There are lots of ingredients out there that you might shy away from. Instead, putting them to the test will help you find new ideas and become more experimental. 

Add a twist to your existing recipes

To become a true experimental chef, you could take the plunge and add a twist to existing recipes. This could be as simple as substituting chicken for beef in a noodle dish. Or, add your own herbs and spices that are not included in the recipe.  Adding your own twist can encourage you to have fun and also help you become more adventurous and fun with your meals.  Using these tips, you can soon become a more experimental and fun cook in the comfort of your own home. Simply using new flavors or ingredients for your dinners can help you rekindle your love for good food and cooking.