Mastering the Art of Home Cooking: Tips and Techniques for Every Kitchen

There are hundreds of kitchen tools you could choose from, but only a select few will be your everyday staples. 

Getting your kitchen set up with the right tools can make cooking at home more fun and less stressful! With a few essential items for prepping, cooking, and storing your homemade meals, you’ll be ready to tackle any recipe and feel like a total pro in your own kitchen. 

As a dietitian, here’s my list of must-have tools that make cooking easier, faster, and more fun.

Tools for Prepping

• Chef’s knife: An 8-inch chef’s knife is a great all-purpose option. If you’re looking for a couple of knives, a smaller paring knife is another kitchen staple.
• Cutting board: Get a sturdy, non-slip plastic board for safe and efficient meal prep. Choose a large one for versatility.
• Measuring cups and spoons: These are essential for accurate ingredient measurements in both cooking and baking.
• Mixing bowls: Find a set of various sizes for mixing, marinating, and serving ingredients.
• Vegetable peeler: This is your tool for easily peeling fruits, vegetables, and potatoes.

Tools for Cooking

• 12-inch nonstick or cast iron skillet: Perfect for cooking eggs and sautéing ingredients for dinner.
• Stock pot: A 6-quart pot for boiling pasta, soups and stews,
• Tongs: For flipping meats, tossing salads, and handling hot items safely.
• Spatula: Great for stirring sauces and soups without scratching cookware.
• Large baking sheet: Ideal for roasting vegetables, sheet pan meals, baked chicken, and more. Plus, it doubles as your cookie sheet for dessert!

Tools for Storing

• Food storage containers: A variety of airtight containers for meal prep and leftovers. Glass or plastic containers work here, and be sure to choose a variety of sizes.
• Plastic wrap and aluminum foil: Handy for covering dishes and wrapping foods for storage.
• Serving spoons or ladles: Large serving spoons help storing your food and clean up go by a lot faster. If you plan on meal prepping, you might even want to find options that dish up a specific amount, such as a 1-cup ladle, so that you get the same portion in each serving in your stored containers.
• Zip-top bags: Useful for marinating meats or storing chopped or prepped ingredients in the fridge or freezer.
• Mason jars: Perfect for storing homemade sauces, dressings, or pantry staples.

About the Experts

Caroline Thomason, RD LDN, CDCES is a dietitian and diabetes educator combining her love of nutrition with the power of making better health easy to understand. With 12 years in the industry, she’s published in 40+ publications, a CPG consultant and advisor, a speaker, broadcast spokesperson, and recipe developer. 

Stephanie Nelson, MS, RD, is a dietitian and is MyFitnessPal’s in-house nutrition expert and nutrition scientist. Passionate for promoting healthy lifestyles, Stephanie graduated from San Diego State University with a focus on research and disease prevention.

Basic Cooking Techniques Everyone Should Know

If you’ve ever felt lost in the kitchen, you’re not alone. Many people grow up without learning basic cooking skills, which can make getting started feel intimidating. But cooking doesn’t have to be complicated—mastering just a few simple techniques can make a big difference.

By learning foundational skills like chopping, sautéing, and baking, you’ll gain the confidence to prepare meals without stress. With a little practice, cooking at home can become easier, more enjoyable, and a great way to support your health.

Here are a few essential kitchen techniques you can practice to boost your confidence and set yourself up for delicious, nutritious meals. 

Chopping

Whether you’re dicing onions, slicing fruit, or cubing chicken breast, knowing how to chop is a basic skill that you’ll use over and over again. Good knife skills make cooking faster and safer. 

Our tip? Keep your fingertips tucked under (also known as the “claw grip”) and let the knife do the work. Start slow and practice often—chopping a bunch of veggies is a great way to build muscle memory!

Sautéing

This technique is perfect for adding flavor in a flash. Heat a bit of oil in a pan, toss in your ingredients, and keep them moving. Think of it as giving your veggies or proteins a quick browning in the pan to bring out their best flavor. Sauteing is perfect when you want a little caramelization in your dish. Whether you’re cooking onions or browning protein like steak or chicken, sauteing is a great option for flavor and quick cooking. 

Boiling

Boiling is your go-to technique for cooking pasta, beans, potatoes, grains, or blanching veggies. You can also boil proteins like hard-boiled eggs or chicken breast if you’re going to shred it or add more seasoning later.

Baking

Baking can be a science, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Simple sheet pan dinners are baked, and you just throw everything on a large baking sheet and bake until done.

Cooking on a Budget: Affordable Meal Ideas

With a little planning and some smart shopping, you can create balanced, nutritious meals that are easy on your wallet. 

Here are some simple tips and delicious meal ideas to get you started.

1. Baked Ziti Casserole: A comforting classic that won’t break the bank! This casserole combines whole-wheat pasta, marinara sauce, and a blend of ricotta and mozzarella cheeses for a protein-packed, hearty dish. Add some chopped spinach for extra nutrients and bake until bubbly for a crowd-pleasing meal.
2. Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup: This classic tortilla soup is a budget-friendly, one-pot wonder. It features chicken, vegetables, and a flavorful blend of spices for a filling and nutritious meal. Top with a dollop of Greek yogurt, Mexican cheese, or a sprinkle of fresh herbs for extra flavor.
3. Chickpea Tuna Salad Sandwich: A delicious twist on a classic tuna salad, this version adds mashed chickpeas for extra fiber and bulk. Mix with a light dressing of Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and your favorite seasonings, then serve on whole-grain bread with crisp lettuce and sliced tomatoes.
4. Sweet and Spicy Chicken Meatballs: These flavorful meatballs are made with lean ground chicken, breadcrumbs, and a sweet and spicy glaze. They’re easy to make and pair perfectly with brown rice or a simple side salad.
5. Cashew Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry: A quick and affordable stir-fry made with tender strips of beef, crunchy broccoli, and a savory sauce with a hint of sweetness from hoisin and a crunch from cashews. Serve over brown rice or quinoa for a balanced, high-protein dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes.

Want more tips on how to cook delicious meals without breaking the bank? We’ve got you covered with our Dietitian-Reviewed Recipes You Can Make For Less Than $5 Per Serving.

Cook Healthy, Balanced Meals At Home

Cooking healthy food at home doesn’t have to be boring or complicated—in fact, it can be a creative adventure. With a few smart swaps and easy tips, you can whip up meals that are both tasty and nutritious. 

Here are some of my favorite tips:

• Focus on whole food ingredients: Use minimally processed foods like whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables to create balanced meals.
• Swap white for whole grains: Use brown rice instead of white. Try whole grain pasta instead of traditional. Trade a white flour bread for a 100% whole grain loaf.
• Lighten it up: When you can, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and milk instead of cream for a lower calorie recipe without sacrificing flavor.
• Add flavor without extra calories: Use herbs, spices, and citrus to add flavor to your dishes instead of relying on heavy sauces or added oils.
• Try batch cooking: Meal prep healthy ingredients like roasted veggies, grilled chicken, or cooked grains to make assembling balanced meals throughout the week a breeze.
• Add fruits and veggies: Add spinach to smoothies, zucchini to pasta dishes, or extra veggies to soups and stews. Serve cut fruit on the side of your meals for a fiber and nutrient boost.

How to Find Recipes on the MyFitnessPal App

Use Recipe Discovery in the MyFitnessPal app to make planning a week of homemade meals quick and easy. From breakfast options to meal prep-worthy dinners, the MyFitnessPal recipe collections covers a variety of recipe territory.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you explore recipe ideas for your meals:

1. Open the MyFitnessPal App: Launch the app on your phone, and tap the “more” menu. From there, choose “recipe discovery.”
2. Browse Recipes: Explore categories like breakfast, lunch, or dinner to narrow down your options. You can also choose to see recipes based on pantry staples, dishes that are great post-workout, and more.
3. Review Recipe Options: Scroll through the list of curated recipes and click on any meal to view the full recipe, complete with ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and nutrition information.
4. Save and Log Recipes: Once you find a recipe you love, tap “Save” to add it to your favorites. You can also log the meal directly into your food diary for seamless nutrition tracking.

Pro tip: Add your own most-frequently-cooked recipes to the app! “MyFitnessPal really opens up the opportunity to get the most out of home cooking for your health journey because it helps you become empowered with knowledge,” says Nelson. 

She suggests importing recipes that you make and analyzing the nutrition, so you can learn if the recipe helps you reach goals critical to success like protein or fiber. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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