Let's face it, buying already made pizza dough or a box of pasta [1] saves a lot of time, effort, and sweat in the kitchen than if you were to make those things from scratch. But with all this extra free time — and time at home [2] — on our hands, now seems like the perfect time to ditch the excuses and finally master the cooking and baking [3] skills we've always deemed too hard or intimidating. Besides, homemade is always better, right? And is there anything more rewarding than enjoying something you've spend a lot of time and effort on? Keep reading for 13 skills we're sure you'll get the hang of in no time.
Caramelize Sugar
If you've ever taken a bite of crème brûlée, then you know caramelized sugar can transcend a dish to a new level of deliciousness. It's not as hard to make as you may think either. The process takes about 10 minutes and only requires water, sugar, and lemon. No more excuses — get to caramelizing!
How To: caramelize sugar [4]
Make Dough
Imagine all of the dishes you could cook from scratch if you mastered this skill . . . pizza, dinner rolls, donuts, garlic knots, pot pies, buffalo chicken bites; the list is truly endless. Kneading dough is also a great arm workout, we're just sayin'.
How To: make dough [5]
Master Every Way to Cook an Egg
Did you know there are over 10 ways to cook an egg? From sunny side up to poached to hard boiled to soft scrambled, you'll have your work cut out for you in the kitchen. But you won't regret it the next time you're making breakfast — we can promise you that!
How To: poach an egg
Make Your Own Jam
Although making fresh, homemade jam is one of the simplest recipes to learn, grabbing a jar off the shelf is always the go-to move. Well, not anymore. The hardest part of the job is deciding whether or not to use pectin, a type of starch that will add thickness. Or make a jar of both so you have options!
How To: make jam [6]
Make Homemade Whipped Cream
Any recipe that requires a type of cream (whipped cream, clotted cream, etc.) will taste better homemade than store bought. When made fresh, whipped cream will last about four days refrigerated max, allowing plenty of baking time. By the time the next potluck or bake sale rolls around, your desserts will be the talk of town.
How To: make whipped cream [7]
Temper Chocolate
Tempering chocolate is essentially the process of heating, and then cooling, chocolate to be used on candies and confections (think things like chocolate-covered fruit or nuts). Afterwards, the chocolate will have a beautifully smooth and glossy finish.
How To: temper chocolate [8]
Make Puff Pastry
Learning how to bake puff pastries from scratch will only make them taste a million times better. Common puff pastries include cinnamon rolls, croissants, tarts, and palmiers to name a few. Is your mouth watering yet?
How To: make puff pastry [9]
Make a Mirror Glaze
If you're feeling extra confident with your baking skills, try taking it to the next level by mastering a mirror glaze. This intense but colourful glaze is made from sweetened condensed milk, water, gelatin, chocolate, and flavourings and colours of your choosing.
How To: make a mirror glaze [10]
Make Fondue
There's such an overwhelming abundance of fondue appetizers out there, so once you've got this down, that's when the real fun begins. The trick is boiling the cheese, chocolate, or whatever you like into a melted state that can be used as a dip, but that isn't too thick or burned.
How To: make fondue [11]
Make Pasta From Scratch
There are so many variations of pastas dishes out there, it's pretty much impossible to ever get tired of noodles. A basic pasta and sauce combo can be prepared within 15 minutes if you don't cook from scratch. Challenge yourself this month by making homemade pasta. Have Italian music playing in the background, pour a glass of wine, and have some fun!
How To: make pasta [12]
Master How to Zest a Fruit
Many recipes take advantage of the acidity from fruits like lemons, limes, or oranges for extra flavour or even to use as a garnish. But there's a difference between juicing and zesting a fruit. And there's different types of zest—wide strips (use a y-peeler), curly strips (use a zester), and shavings (use a microplane) that'll add their own taste and texture.
How To: zest a fruit [13]
Make Fondant
Fondant is a way of preparing sugar which is commonly used as icing for cakes. Unlike tradition icing, fondant can be shaped into decorations like flowers and rolled out to be used as a thick sheet or layer of icing.
How To: make fondant [14]
Sharpen Your Knives
Taking care of your knives is just as important as mastering any of these other harder cooking skills. Be sure to proceed with caution and to check that no one is within close proximity to you while you're sharpening.
How To: sharpen knives [15]