Great Tips on How to Choose the Right Cooking Class

Taking a cooking class can be fun and rewarding. Choosing a cooking class can be a daunting task. Some considerations include the menu and recipes being prepared in class, take home materials, the cooking class size and the cooking environment, prepared food sampling, quality of instructor, length of class, and price.


The Menu
It goes without saying you want to take a class that has a menu and recipes that appeal to your tastes. The cooking class menu and recipes should be interesting, well thought out and presented, and easy to duplicate in your own kitchen.

The Recipes
Make sure you will receive copies of the recipes to take home with you so you can attach your cooking notes to them and insure your success in preparing the same dishes and meals in your own home.

Cooking Class
The instruction may be hands on or demo style. It’s important to know what type of class you will be attending and the number of students in the class. Class sizes will vary from very small to very large. If the class has too many students, it may be easy to get distracted. Be sure the classroom setup insures everyone in the class will have a clear view of the instructor and their cooking area.

Recipe Sampling
If you are taking a demo style class where the instructor prepares all the dishes, be certain there will be enough food prepared for the cooking class students to get a good sample.

Instruction
The instructor should be knowledgeable and speak clearly and concisely. Ask ahead of time if you will be allowed to ask questions during class. The instructor should be speaking in a manner that engages students and teaches them the techniques and terminology in a way that is understood and enjoyed.

Length of Class
Most cooking classes last a few hours. Some classes will be continued over several days as they progress through more difficult techniques. Cooking schools and cooking vacations offer cooking classes that last several weeks or months.

Price
A quality cooking class can still be quite affordable. Shop around. Ask for referrals and look in publications for reviews.

When determining which classes to take consider everything we’ve talked about so far, and remember that while a cooking class is to better ones cooking skills it is also for recreational and a chance to meet new friends with similar interests.

Local Cooking Classes presents a wide variety of hands-on cooking classes available for the home chef, right in your backyard. Use our handy directory to quickly find your city and neighborhood.