When I graduated from college I moved back home and commuted back and forth from NYC for work. I was relying on my parent’s cooking when I got home, which was limited at best. To learn to cook for myself, I started watching the Food Network. Guy Fieri, Anne Burrell, and Tyler Florence consumed my DVR. Every night I would watch about 90 minutes of pan-searing, roasting, frying, and braising. As I watched them all, they had one thing in common: They all used a 9” chef’s knife. I needed my own knife. I did some research and found the perfect knife for me, but I hesitated because of the price tag: $200. I had never spent that much money on anything in my life, but I knew if I wanted to be serious about cooking for myself, I needed the right tools. I was reassured by my mother when she said, “If you take care of that knife, it will be the only knife you will ever need or own.” I took my first pay check and drove to Bed, Bath, and Beyond (with a 20% off coupon of course). I remember seeing that shining blade in the case and asking one of the store attendants to I’d like to buy one. He was both shocked and excited to see someone my age picking out such a high end piece of hardware. I walked out of the store with a Wusthof 9” Chef’s knife and hurried home to start slicing, chopping, and mincing everything I could find.
Did I mess up? Yes, a lot. But with time, I found recipes that I liked and learned how to cook them. Cheddar Stuffed Burgers, Cedar Plank Salmon, and Braised Lamb Shanks were all on my menu. Cooking food I wanted to eat allowed me to learn the basic skills of cooking. Today, my diet has changed and I am eating for long term health and longevity, but the same rules apply whether you are cooking for a 22 year old post grad, or a 45 year old housewife. Learn the basics by cooking what you like, and then apply it to the rest of your diet.
A chef’s knife is one of those tools, but there are two others that I highly recommend that will cut down on the time you need and improve the flavor and healthfulness of the foods you prepare. You must have a good non-stick pan. Doesn’t need to be super expensive (honestly, all pans eventually loose their non-stick coating). A T-Fal 10” frying pan from Target or Amazon is a great place to start. Why a non-stick pan? Cooking with a non-stick man greatly reduces the amount of cooking oil you have to use in frying things like protein and veggies.
The final must have for your kitchen is a crockpot or slow cooker. They range from $25 for a smaller unit all the way up into the $200-$300 range when you combine various cooking options like pressure cooking and braising. I use the 6 Qt. Gourmia Express Slow Cooker/Pressure Cooker.
The beauty of slow cooking is it is super simple, cheap, and the results are restaurant quality. The other bonus is you can prep a bulk amount of meals and eat them for lunch and dinner over the next few days. My favorite things to make in the cooker are chili, beef stew, and meatballs.
Regardless of the diet you follow, if you don’t have the right tools to cook and meal prep, your diet is going to go no where fast. I’d love to help. Click the link below to book a free assessment and see if Floch Fitness is right for you!