Someone Asked “What Is The Single Greatest Cooking Tip You Ever Got?”, And 30 People Delivered

Whether it's the proper way to prepare your ingredients or genius fried mushroom and baking tricks, the Redditor’s question sparked an informative discussion that almost serves as a crash course in culinary knowledge. After all, everyone has a different relationship with cooking and brings their own lifetime of experiences and perspectives into the picture. But no matter how competent in the kitchen you may feel, there are always benefits to learning something new. For example, the Redditor kicked off the thread by revealing they always overcook everything — steak, chicken, eggs, etc. — to the max.

Since they enjoy creating delicious meals, they decided to look for a way to fix this mistake and boost their skills along the way. They turned to the culinary master Gordon Ramsay who explained in a video that food still continues to cook, even off the heat. "Mind was blown," the user wrote. "I now turn the flame off, flip it over, and let the food sit in the pan for a few minutes, no flame. Total game changer in terms of not overcooking everything."

To learn more about the joys of cooking and the ups and downs that inevitably arise in this journey, we reached out to Belgian food and travel blogger June d'Arville. Feeling a burning passion for everything kitchen-related ever since she was a child, June co-runs a blog with her husband called Luc & June that’s filled with pictures of delicious-looking food, fascinating stories, and advice on interesting travel destinations around the world.

As long as June can remember, she has always been interested in food and flavor combinations. So we were curious to hear her take on whether passion for cooking is something we’re born with, or is it a life-long process we cultivate throughout the years. "We are all born without knowing what taste or flavor is," she told Bored Panda. "You grow up trying out several foods along the way, especially when you are a small kid. Some you like, some you don’t like at all."

The food blogger pointed out that parents can be very instrumental in raising a child in a world of flavors and different foods. However, she added that not everyone gets that head start when it comes to food and cooking. "But even then, you can always change that if you are interested, excited and eager enough to learn more when you grow older."

"I grew up in a vegetarian family. Once I turned 18 and left the house, I didn’t have a clue how to cook a steak, or how a chicken breast was cooked. But I was eager to learn and to start exploring new flavors and cooking skills," she said. Improving your culinary skills can open doors to brand new experiences, and expanding your palette is always exciting. Just think about the colorful cuisines of other cultures you haven’t tried yet, and the exciting adventures awaiting with every meal you decide to test out.

People sometimes say that the beauty of cooking at home often lies in the improvisation and experimentation in the kitchen. But if you’re a novice cook who feels overwhelmed by myriads of rules and techniques, you may be hesitant to go all adventurous with your meals. If you describe your cooking skills as "fine" at best but feel this sizzling desire to elevate your culinary know-how, June has a few pieces of advice to help you out.

According to her, even the smallest tweaks and changes can make a positive impact on your cooking. For example, "Getting organized and prepping your ingredients before you start cooking is essential. Timing as well, know how long it takes to cook each component of your meal."

"Seasoning is another part of cooking that is underestimated," she continued. "You can make a meal so much more exciting by adding a touch of salt or spices and fresh herbs. It lights up food, makes it vibrant and so much more enjoyable."

If you ever feel discouraged or inept in the kitchen, "Don’t give up", June said. "See cooking as a learning curve, not a job that you have to get right every single day. Perhaps it is best to focus on one cooking skill only that you want to improve, such as baking, making fresh pasta, or cooking Thai dishes. Read about it, watch cooking videos, write down what you do, and try again to see how you improve," she advised.