A guest post in collaboration with Circulon.
Do you call yourself a good cook? Then you’ll be able to identify common herbs, have the confidence to add a ‘twist’ to classic dishes – and create the perfect cake, a recent study has found.
A poll of 2,000 people revealed the top 50 indicators of culinary expertise, including always trying a new dish when eating out, and owning top quality cookware.
Confident cooks also know the correct wine to pair with meats and fish, know which foods go well together and are happy preparing meals in front of guests.
Rustling up a roast for mum, rather than relying on her for sumptuous Sunday dinners also proves you can stand the heat in the kitchen.
It also emerged two in three Brits have been labelled a ‘good cook’, with 54 per cent happy to try attempt an extravagant new dish when friends are coming over.
A spokesman for Circulon, who conducted the research said: “It has been very insightful to discover what makes the average consumer tick, and what categorises them as a ‘good cook’.
Proficient home cooks tend to be those who are confident about preparing food in front of others, and who are knowledgeable about their food, cookware and kitchen equipment.
It’s been fascinating to uncover just how many people class themselves as relatively good at cooking – the rise of cookery programmes and the increased popularity of sharing food on social media has influenced Britain’s love of food and desire to cook.”
Being able to prepare food properly without a timer and knowing what all the settings on the oven do are also key indicators of a good cook.
Chopping an onion in seconds, cooking steaks perfectly using the thumb technique and the ability to whip something up from scratch also sets confident chefs from the rest of us.
Top quality cooks will also regularly reel off terms such as ’Al dente’, ‘broil’ and ‘blanch’, and have a pantry stocked with ingredients such as masala leaves, mustard seeds and truffle.
Other factors in the top 50 signs of a good cook include being willing to experiment with foods, being able to prepare a nice meal when there’s nothing in the cupboard – and have the ability to laugh when things go pear-shaped.
Understanding food combinations, knowing what every utensil in the kitchen does, owning a spice rack and being able to home-make all sauces and condiments also featured highly on the list.
Researchers found just five per cent of respondents class themselves as an excellent cook, while 43 percent say they’re good.
The average person cooks around 11 dishes on rotation. While two-thirds of those polled are confident about throwing together random ingredients from their cupboard to make something delicious and 55 percent say they are confident knowing which herbs should be used.
A third of people often try to replicate celebrity recipes and 22 per cent are so proficient at preparing food they don’t even weigh the ingredients, preferring to throw them in at random.
And when it comes to cookware, 23 percent will always read reviews before purchase and 22 percent take recommendations from friends and family.
Inspiration for cooking still comes from cookery books for 54 percent of people, while 43 percent regularly watch cookery programmes.
The spokesman for Circulon continues: “Carrying out this research has enabled us to fully appreciate our customers’ needs in the kitchen, whilst recognising their ability, confidence and approach to home cooking.
“Our findings have informed and influenced key elements in the development of future cookware ranges, with customer buying habits and usability in mind.”
TOP 50 SIGNS OF A GOOD COOK
1. Can rustle up anything from scratch
2. Loving to eat as well as cook
3. Willing to experiment and try all foods and ingredients when cooking at home
4. Being happy to prepare food in front of guests
5. Always being able to whip something up when there’s virtually nothing in the cupboard
6. When making a roast dinner everything finishes cooking at the same time
7. Can identify certain herbs from appearance
8. Can throw things together knowing that the different combinations (of various foods, herbs, spices) will go together and taste fab
9. Experiments with dishes by adding a twist on classics
10. Experimenting with recipes more than once a week
11. Being able to laugh if things go wrong in the kitchen
12. Can identify herbs and spices by the taste
13. Knowing what herbs go in each dishes
14. Can chop things really finely, safely
15. Always have eggs and milk in the fridge
16. Home-makes all condiments and sauces
17. Owning a spice rack
18. Always the one people go to for cooking tips
19. Knows what every utensil in the kitchen does
20. Have a very well stocked pantry with all kinds of ingredients, i.e.: masala leaves, curry powder, mustard seeds, different types of oils: olive, avocado, roasted sesame seed, peanut, truffle, canola
21. Doesn’t need Oxo to make gravy
22. Will offer for extra people to stay to dinner at a moment’s notice
23. Rarely eat takeaways
24. Knows exactly how long to cook a perfectly poached egg
25. Knows how to peel fruit and veggies most efficiently
26. Knowing and practising cooking terms like: ‘Al dente’, broil, blanch, clarify, deglaze, flambé, gratin, etc.
27. Always wanting to try a new dish when eating out
28. Being able to guess what is in a dish just from the taste
29. Never needing to use a cookbook
30. Always the designated cook for large family gatherings
31. Know when a cake is done without having to stick a cocktail stick in it a hundred times
32. Knowing measurements without having to actually measure
33. Owns good quality cookware
34. Writes a detailed list for the food shop
35. Knowing which wine to pair with certain meat or fish
36. Owning a full set of herbs/spices
37. Enjoying a messy kitchen
38. Don’t need a timer
39. Understanding what all the symbols on the oven mean
40. Can chop an onion in seconds
41. Being able to cook steaks perfectly using the thumb technique
42. Can always add in just the right amount of seasoning
43. Knowing what ‘Bain Marie’ is and having the perfect pans for it
44. Knowing the correct pronunciation of unusual or exotic foods
45. Knowing which wine to drink with meat
46. Can flip a pancake perfectly
47. Knows how to prepare celeriac
48. Mum goes round for Sunday dinner rather than the other way round
49. Always read food magazines
50. Owns set of fancy knives
This is a paid guest post in collaboration with Circulon. All text provided by Circulon and all photographs (except the Circulon cookware one) via Shutterstock. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipe stories.
Review: Our Top Five Fashion & Lifestyle Picks
Being a good cook can also rely on the proper tools used in cooking. It makes a lot of difference. A cook can only be good if with the right tools.
That is interesting. I have never been fond of cooking though.
I used to be an OK cook – well I didn’t suck. But now I’m married to a chef and I just never really cook anymore.
Katja xxx
Lucky you! 😀
I have to give this list to my friend who is obsessed with cooking! She would love it!
I am far from being a good cook at all! That is why so many of your statements are not on my list. 11 meals in rota?! I reckon it would be 6 for me 🙁
After reading this list I think I can confidently classify myself as a “good cook.” I always want to try new dishes!
I must be half decent as I meet a lot of the list, although my kids might disagree as they always want something different to whatever I want to cook!
I am a good cook then because I can’t admit 100% to everything on your list . Time to start perfecting my skills. Nah. I prefer baking.
Wow, It looks that I’m a good cook haha, I enjoy messy kitchen and experiment recipe
I am an okay cook. I feed the family every day and that is my marker of success. I do love kitchen gadgets though and, if I had a larger kitchen, I would definitely have more!
Interesting post, so many varied factors! Sometimes I think I’m a good cook and then my kids reject it so maybe not!
I’d like to think I am a good cook for certain dishes, those tried and tested ones I am happy to say I’m good at but I’m not always good at trying new things x
Based on the characteristics here, I am not sure I am a good cook. But I think I am.
I’m not sure if I’m a good cook or not. I can cook though so that’s a step up from people who don’t cook, lol.
I never thought about how good of a cook I am. I think it would be nice to analyze so I can see where I need to improve on.
Then I think that I am a good cook then! Thanks for putting this up!!
I’m a good cook when motivated, but sometimes I’m also a very lazy cook. LOL It’s all good though – I can feed myself and others, and that’s what counts.
Wow. I didn’t know I’m a good cook. Haha, just kidding. I just love cooking but I ain’t good. I love experimenting with different spices though since they help me discover new flavors.
Haha I have a lot of the cooker best practices ! Nice article !
I love this! I would say I am a decent cook! I show many of the 50 signs though. My husband says my best meals are the ones I just throw together with random items.
I consider myself a good cook, although I am absolutely rubbish at pairing appropriate wines with dinners! I would normally just pick something that I like hehe 😉 x
Loving to cook and eat, knowing your herbs and whipping up from scratch are the big 3 for me, no chef style classes, pot sets or ranges are needed as we find delicious meals across cultures where they don’t have any of those luxuries.
XO, MJ
There are days I need a cookbook, and there are days when I just make something out of whatever I have in stock. Sometimes, I “invent” a dish that my family says tastes really good. When they ask me what the dish is called, I say, “Spruce (our street name) Surprise.” Other days it is “Spruce Delight” 🙂
Looking at the list and seeing what quantitates as being a good or excellent cook I can say I am an ok cool lol
What a great post .. I’ve never really stopped to consider what makes a good cook. The best I know if my brother and he fits the bill in nearly every way. Especially always knowing the right wine to pair with any of the meals he cooks (without a recipe). They’re always all sorts of amazing!
I am still a beginner in cooking, but I think I am pretty good so far. At least my husband seems to think so. I have no idea what wines to pair with food though….that’s something I have to figure out!
This list pretty much sums it up. I don’t have a spice rack, but rather a whole shelf with whole spices in mason jars to grind as needed.
I love to make fresh healthy meals for the family but I get stuck in the staple foods and need to be more creative x
I think I’m a pretty good cook and lots of things on the list apply to me. I don’t really enjoy cooking so much as it always seems to be a rush. One thing I do love is baking though, I tend to do that when I have a bit more time and it seems more fun to me 🙂
oh i love being in the kitchen and quite happily will admit to doing/knowing all of those on the list!
I don’t meet all 50 of the qualifications on your list, but I meet most of them. Guess that makes me a halfway decent cook. 🙂
That’s good news for me since I have a food blog lol.
I love cooking. I enjoy experimenting and just knowing that everything is being cooked to my liking and just enjoy fresh lunches and dinners!
I tend to cook every night, I just enjoy it.
I dont cook but my parents does my dad is a cook lol and my mom is a chef and the kitchen is pretty much like a grocery shop lol
Although I’ve been a mom and cooking for 27 years I would say that even that time investment doesn’t make me a good cook lol! I know my limitations so I describe myself as an ‘adequate’ cook 🙂
Turns our I am a good cook. I do love cooking actually, and eating too :). But most of all I love experimenting and trying new tastes or unusual recipes.
I don’t know how to use most kitchen appliances and tend to burn everything I do so I am probably not a good cook. I do enjoy eating and baking though! xx corinne
I enjoy cooking and I think I am a pretty good cook. I taught myself how to make homemade meals by reading recipe books. Now I am able to cook food without using measuring cups and add my own seasonings.
Nice! Very extensive list. Number 42 is incomplete though…
I am always trying to improve my cooking skills. I will have to start doing more of these.
I consider myself OK in cooking, i am not expert but yes i love cooking. I love to try new dishes.
These are good indications of kitchen skills. I love creating new recipes as well as reinventing old ones.
I most definitely do not consider myself a good cook but reading this is like reading my mom in law’s biography! She is definitely a good cook! A very lovely cook and a few lessons I can pick up!
I am a good cook when my family eats my food. I so enjoy cooking.
I consider myself a decent cook, I am confident and I enjoy it, but definitely want to increase my variations of meals!
I consider myself a decent cook and as long as my hubby loves my meals, then I am a happy camper myself.
Ha ha ha! Me too! As long as hubby and the kids are happy I’m goid!.