What Do You Need to Learn American Cooking?

Are you worried that American cooking will be too hard to learn? This guide will help you understand the best methods for learning American cooking and what you should study first to make the learning process easier. With a few tips and tricks, you’ll be a master of American cooking in no time. 

What is American Cooking?

Known as a melting pot, the United States is composed of immigrants from across the globe, descendants of enslaved people, and indigenous populations that have all contributed to the country’s culture and food. American cuisine celebrates this diversity by pulling inspiration, ingredients, and cooking techniques from all of its citizens. 

American cooking can vary by region which can sometimes make it difficult to define. Barbecue is the pride of the South, which has been influenced by France (think New Orleans) and the descendants of enslaved people, like the Gullah Geechee. The culinary tendencies of the West are the result of a fusion of Native American, Latin American, and Mexican traditions. Proudly known for being the home of meat and potatoes, the recipes Midwest can bear influence from a large population of European immigrants. 

While defining American food can be challenging, several main dishes are most commonly associated with the nation’s cuisine: cookout food (hot dogs and hamburgers), southern (barbecue, grits, fried green tomatoes), meat and potatoes, and international recipes that have been given an American twist (pizza, pasta, Chinese food).

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Benefits of Learning American Cooking?

Learning how to cook American dishes can be beneficial in many ways. It can help you to slow down, set aside your daily stressors, and focus on learning techniques and recipes. There are even studies, like this one cited in Southern Living, that claim that taking on small, creative projects like baking or cooking can help you feel more relaxed and happier in your everyday life.

Prepping and cooking require the use of your fine motor skills which is why cooking is often encouraged as a hobby in older adults. You can improve their hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity by measuring, chopping, and stirring ingredients.

Looking to make new friends? You’ll instantly have a shared interest with your fellow cooking class students and, oftentimes, will be given opportunities to work together while you practice various recipes. American cuisine is a blend of many culinary styles and attracts people from all backgrounds, so you can meet people from communities different from your own. 

If you’re a current cook or chef, learning new recipes and techniques in an American cooking class can be a great way to level up your career. You can study the cultural fusion central to American cuisine and then infuse your restaurant’s menu with that unique approach. Someday, you might even find your restaurant listed alongside top contenders like those found on Mash’s The Absolute Best American Restaurants in the U.S.

Is American Cooking Easy to Learn?

American recipes originate from a wide range of cultures, so learning to cook American dishes requires you to be a jack-of-all-trades in the kitchen. While this may seem tricky, most American recipes focus on simple ingredients and basic techniques, so with enough determination, patients, and passion, you’ll be whipping up a variety of dishes in no time. 

There’s also a shrimp and grits class in Nashville, Tennessee. Put on by Dabble Studio, students will be guided through making a southern feast, course by course. The menu includes pimento cheese and pita, roasted shrimp and Gouda grits, a sweet southern salad, and bourbon ice cream floats. This will be a lively hands-on class with ice buckets, bottle openers, and wine glasses provided for you to bring your own beverages. 

Americans love their meat and potatoes, so why not try your hand at grilling the perfect steak? Hosted by CocuSocial Cooking Classes in Novato, California, you’ll learn the fundamentals of outdoor grilling safety while cooking many of your cookout favorites. Designed for both the cooking enthusiast and the first-timer, students will work in groups of 2-4. No experience is required and all ingredients and tools are provided. 

From the deep dish versions in Chicago to the thin-crust giant slices in New York, pizza has long been an adapted American staple. This pizza party class in Washington D.C. is a chance to summon your inner Italian spirit by making Neapolitan-style pizza. You’ll begin with a discussion of the history and regional variations of pizza, watch a detailed demonstration, and then try your hand at making your own pies. The class will cover how to make a quick-rising dough, how to choose the right flour, basic kneading techniques, and how to achieve the perfect crust.

What You Need to Know Before Learning American Cooking

While there are no prerequisites for learning to cook American cuisine, there are some skills that are helpful to have. Mastery of fundamental knife skills like how to dice an onion and julienne a pepper, will give you an upper hand in class. It’s also helpful if you have a basic understanding of common spices, herbs, and oils, and what meats or produces they pair best with. Having a firm grasp of primary cooking techniques will help you feel at ease in the kitchen and make your class more enjoyable. 

What You Need to Learn American Cooking

Cooking typically requires all the kitchen essentials, which are listed out for you, but it’s also important to remember that learning to cook a new cuisine also needs patience, practice, and the willingness to make mistakes. While you can’t buy those things in a store, all the tools described below can easily be purchased locally. (And don’t forget, most in-person classes will provide these things for you!)

Knife Set

A good set of knives is a must for every chef’s kitchen. While knife sets can vary in what they include, most tend to have a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife. You’ll use these three for your most common cooking needs like cutting fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish. You’ll want to invest in a quality set as your knives will be used often. 

Cutting Board

A good cutting board goes hand in hand with your knife set. These come in a variety of materials like glass, food-safe plastic, and wood. A cutting board will protect your countertops from scratches, ensuring that your kitchen can be both functional and beautiful.

Cast Iron Skillet

Cast iron skillets are designed to evenly distribute heat, making them great for searing meat. These pans are extremely durable and can last for several decades if cared for properly. They typically have high enough edges for frying and can transition from stove top to oven with ease. 

Saute Pan

A large saute pan is a must-have for every cook. Whether stainless steel, ceramic-coated, or non-stick, a saute pan is ideal for making sauces, stir-fry dishes, or even eggs and pancakes. You’ll want a large one to start, or you can buy a complete cooking set that contains multiple-size pans to fit a variety of needs.

Dutch Oven

Destined to be one of the most versatile tools in your kitchen, a Dutch oven can tackle nearly any task. They’re designed to go from stovetop to oven and can be used to make soups, braise pork or beef, or roast a chicken. They’re created to retain heat, so Dutch ovens tend to be heavy. 

Spatulas

Spatulas are another kitchen staple. It’s recommended that you have a variety of them, at least one metal and one rubber. A metal spatula is great for flipping eggs and scraping any last little bits off the pan. A rubber spatula is ideal for stirring soups and sauces or making sure you get every last amount of batter out of a bowl.

Tongs

Rubber-tipped tongs are a handy tool for flipping meat, stirring vegetables, or moving hot items from grill to plate (like delicious hot dogs or roasted corn on the cob). 

Sheet Pan

A rimmed sheet pan, whether full-, half-, or quarter-size, is designed for roasting or baking large amounts of food. You can even cook entire one-pan meals using your sheet pan, combining your protein and your produce to cut down on your time in the kitchen.

Key Takeaways

• American cooking is as diverse and vibrant as the country’s citizens. It calls upon the culinary traditions of indigenous people, immigrants from across the globe, and the soulful recipes created by enslaved people. 
• Learning American cooking can improve your mental health, enhance your fine motor skills, help you make friends, and even advance your culinary career.
• While American cooking is diverse, it is fairly easy to learn. Having a firm grasp of basic kitchen skills will benefit you immensely, so dust off those knives and pans.
• There are quite a few essential instruments for cooking American cuisine, but they all can easily be sourced and will typically be provided by an in-person class. 
• Are you looking for private lessons or a private group class? CourseHorse can provide those! Reach out on the website to discuss all available options, including both in-person and virtual classes.