Why Learn American Cooking?

American cuisine is as diverse and complex as the people who make up the country’s population so learning to master some staple American dishes can be a fun challenge. Here, you’ll learn more about the ways that you can benefit from American cooking and how it can enhance your life. Regardless of your overall goals, learning American cooking can be a valuable and impressive skill to learn

What is American Cooking?

The United States is known as a melting pot made up of immigrants from across the globe, enslaved people, and indigenous populations that have all contributed to the culture and food of the country. American cuisine is a celebration of this diversity, pulling inspiration, ingredients, and cooking techniques from all parts of its population. 

American cooking can also vary by region which can sometimes make it difficult to define. The south is known for its barbecue and has been influenced by France (think New Orleans) and the descendants of enslaved people, like the Gullah Geechee. The culinary style of the West is the result of a fusion of Native American, Latin American, and Mexican. The Midwest is proudly known for being the home of meat and potatoes, thanks to a large population of European immigrants. 

While defining American food can be tricky, 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. From improving your mental health to meeting new people to furthering your career, learning to cook American dishes can be a worthwhile experience. Read below for a list of the most common benefits of learning to cook American cuisine. 

Improved Mental Health

Modern life is filled with work, relationships, and seemingly never-ending lists of chores. Everyone is constantly connected to technology, from laptops to phones to televisions, which can create stress. Learning to cook American cuisine 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.

You can focus on improving your body and mind while learning the ins and outs of an all-American tradition. This organic grilling course in Silver Lake, Los Angeles will teach you to make your favorite cookout recipes with a healthy twist: each dish is entirely organic. Led by Chef Mick Brown, Grill Master Champion winner on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, you’ll learn to make smoked snacks, a grilled salad, homemade all-natural BBQ sauce, and how to properly grill organic chicken, steak, fruits, and veggies. 

Study the food of the southeast from your home in the northeast. Southern Seafood is hosted by ArtEpicure Cooking School in Somerville, MA, and explores the recipes and ingredients from below the Mason-Dixon line. Class participants will prepare crab and corn fritters, pan-fried catfish with cajun coleslaw, and a delicious apple crisp for dessert. They also host Southern Cooking Classics, teaching an additional three classically southern recipes: shrimp and grits, duck and sausage jambalaya, and a chocolate-chip bourbon pecan tart.

Enhance Fine Motor Skills

Prepping and cooking require the use of your fine motor skills. Cooking is often encouraged as a hobby in older adults as it can help improve their hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity, and it can do the same for you. Measuring, chopping, and stirring ingredients can all help improve your fine motor skills and keep your hands nimble.

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. 

If you’re in Los Angeles and love Caribbean food, look no further than Cook LA Cooking School’s Cajun/Creole Southern Cooking class. Students will learn the differences between the two cuisines while they whip up a few staple dishes like chicken and sausage jambalaya, vegetarian gumbo, hush puppies, cornbread, coleslaw, and delicious sugary beignets. There’s a wine tasting provided with the finished meals and you’re welcome to BYOB if you prefer another beverage.

Making Friends

If you’re looking to make new friends, look no further. 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. You can also use your new-found skills to cook delicious meals for your current friends and family, becoming known as the king of the cookout or the expert on at-home pizza nights.

You can get to know your fellow cooks at Southern Brunch, hosted by Home Cooking New York. Chef John Scott will teach you the ins and outs of cooking a Southern-style brunch inspired by his South Carolina roots. This class is equal parts hands-on and demonstrative, focusing on knife skills, preparing ingredients prepping ingredients, and cooking techniques. Students will learn to cook shrimp and grits, eggs benedict with fried green tomatoes, sweet cream biscuits, and micheladas. Each class ends with a sit-down meal where you can have a chance to get to know other students better.

If you’re in Georgia, Southern Thunder Cooking School of BBQ offers a similar class called Grilling and Wine Pairing. Designed to be a date-night event, students will prepare a three-course meal while learning what wines pair best with each dish. Beverages are provided and you and your date will leave with a student manual with recipes and wine information. So grab an old or new friend and have some fun!

Career Advancement

Are you a current line cook or chef looking to expand your skill set? Learning new recipes and techniques in an American cooking class can be a great way to level up your career. You can gain a better understanding of the cultural fusion that is central to American cuisine and then infuse your restaurant’s menu with that flare. 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.

You can expand your recipe repertoire by learning the best dishes from the Bayou region in this low-country cuisine class. Students will learn what Cajun and Creole cooking have in common and their shared French heritage, unique ingredients, and the city versus country aspects of these two cuisines. You’ll try your hand at cooking fried green tomatoes, jambalaya, buttermilk fried chicken, jalapeno cheddar cornbread muffins, and strawberry shortcakes, so come ready to work and eat!

How to Start Learning American Cooking

There are many ways to learn American cooking, but the best way to ensure you become a master is to attend an in-person class. These classes provide you with a traditional classroom structure and a more efficient learning process. You’ll also have face-to-face interaction with an expert instructor, be able to engage with other students, and gain hands-on experience cooking in the fully-equipped classroom kitchen. In-person classes typically provide all supplies and ingredients so you can just show up and learn. 

Home Cooking New York in SoHo offers a Southern BBQ course. Led by South Carolina native Chef John Scoff, this class will teach students how to make four southern comfort staples: sweet and spicy BBQ spareribs, coleslaw, creamy macaroni and cheese, and fresh fruit hand pies. Come ready to eat!

If you’re located in Atlanta, check out Southern Thunder Cooking School of BBQ’s Master Class. Equal parts class and party, you’ll learn the ins and outs of different smokers while you prepare and cook your meats (whole hog, pork, chicken, ribs, and even bacon). There will be a discussion on how to properly plan the perfect BBQ party, including suggested wine pairings, and you can invite up to five of your friends or family to join for the banquet at the end of class. 

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. 

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.

Online classes are considered the next best option and may be better suited for those who don’t live near in-person offerings or have complicated schedules. These classes still allow you to ask questions and receive feedback from a trained teacher, but you will be responsible for arranging your own workspace and gathering your needed ingredients and supplies. These classes offer more flexibility so that you can attend class from wherever you choose. 

The Chopping Block Lincoln Square offers a Southern brunch course described as an intensively interactive two-hour workshop. Trained chefs will guide you through the steps and techniques to prepare some classic Southern dishes like shrimp and grits, buttermilk biscuits, and spinach and grapefruit salad. Each student will be provided with a recipe packet, equipment list, and class syllabus upon registration to help them prepare. 

A true example of American cuisine, Chicken Parmesan originated in the Northeast U.S. from Italian immigrants. You can try your hand at cooking the dish in this virtual chicken parmesan class that also includes a delicious orzo salad with sautéed asparagus, artichokes, and lemon. You’ll learn to select quality chicken that you will pound, bread, and pan-fry. The class will also teach how to know when your chicken is perfectly cooked, saute and green vegetables, and work with fresh herbs.

Is there anything more distinctly American than a bagel? Brought to the U.S. by immigrant Polish Jews, bagels are now seen as a staple breakfast food across America (but particularly in New York). You can master the art of making warm, chewy bagels in this virtual bagel workshop. You’ll learn to mix, proof, shape, boil, and bake New York City-worthy bagels, with classic toppings like sesame and poppy seeds, and fillings like cinnamon and raisins. Plus, you’ll make flavored cream cheese and butter to top off your doughy masterpieces.

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.
• In-person classes are the most efficient way to learn, thanks to perks like a structured learning environment, face-to-face time with an expert instructor and other students, and having your supplies provided for you.
• Online classes are best suited for those who require a bit more flexibility or prefer to learn remotely. You can attend class from wherever you choose and still learn from a highly-trained professional. 
• Looking for a more intimate learning environment? CourseHorse also offers private lessons and private group classes. You can reach out on the website to find options for online or in-person training, including private group sessions.