Cooking & Home Chef Starter Checklist

1. Gather your supplies

• A good chef knife and a sturdy cutting board
• One or two pans (a skillet and a pot)
• Basic pantry staples: salt, pepper, oil, and a few spices
• A measuring cup, spoons, and a willingness to taste as you go

2. Your first project

3. Your first month, step by step

• Week 1: Learn your knife. Practice a basic chop and dice on an onion and a carrot, and cook a simple omelette or scrambled eggs.
• Week 2: Cook one full recipe start to finish, reading it all the way through first. Aim for a one-pan dinner.
• Week 3: Make a pan sauce or a pot of soup, tasting and adjusting the salt as you go.
• Week 4: Roast a chicken or batch-cook a big pot of stew, then portion it out for easy meals all week.

4. Mistakes to avoid

• Crowding the pan, which steams food instead of browning it; cook in batches with room to spare.
• Under-seasoning; salt in layers as you cook, not just at the end.
• Using a dull knife, which is slower and far more dangerous than a sharp one.
• Not tasting as you go; taste often and adjust before serving.
• Cooking on the wrong heat; let pans preheat and learn when to go low and slow.
• Skipping the prep; have everything chopped and measured before the pan gets hot.