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So, looking back on my first few years really trying to get into cooking, there are definitely some things I wish I'd understood going in. It's way more than just following recipes, and I think a lot of beginners underestimate that. I wish I’d focused more on basic techniques early on.Things like truly mastering knife skills – different cuts and how they affect cooking times – would have saved me so much frustration. Watching endless cooking shows didn't prepare me for the reality of repetitive motion and the importance of properly holding a knife to avoid fatigue.
Also, understanding food science fundamentals would have been a game changer. Why certain ingredients react the way they do, the impact of heat on proteins and starches… Instead of blindly following instructions, I could have actually understood what was happening and been able to troubleshoot when things went wrong (and they always go wrong at some point!).Anyone else feel like they spent too long just mimicking recipes before actually understanding the "why" behind them? Are there any particular science resources or techniques people starting out should prioritize?