Building competent cooking techniques
Good cooking is a set of reliable, repeatable skills. Master a handful of techniques and you can adapt almost any recipe safely and confidently.
Part of your national curriculum
- Cooking and nutrition: Become competent in a range of cooking techniques, including selecting and preparing ingredients and using a range of equipment safely
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Become competent in a range of cooking techniques, including selecting and preparing ingredients and using a range of equipment safely
Key learning points
- • Selecting and preparing ingredients
- • Core techniques
- • Using equipment safely
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Building competent cooking techniques
Good cooking is a set of reliable, repeatable skills. Master a handful of techniques and you can adapt almost any recipe safely and confidently.
In a nutshell
Become competent in a range of cooking techniques, including selecting and preparing ingredients and using a range of equipment safely
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Selecting and preparing ingredients
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Selecting and preparing ingredients
Choosing fresh, in-season ingredients improves flavour and nutrition. Preparation skills — washing, peeling, chopping to an even size, and following the 'use by' dates — set up a dish for success and reduce food waste.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Core techniques
Techniques such as sautéing, simmering, baking and grilling each use heat differently. Sautéing uses quick, high heat with little fat; simmering gently cooks food in liquid just below boiling, keeping delicate ingredients intact.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Using equipment safely
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
Using equipment safely
Knives should be sharp (a sharp knife is safer than a blunt one, as less force is needed) and held with a claw grip on the guiding hand. Hobs, ovens and blenders each need specific safe handling, such as turning pan handles inward and letting blades stop before removing a lid.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
____ such as sautéing, simmering, baking and grilling each use heat differently.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
Why is a sharp knife generally safer than a blunt one?
Card 1 of 3
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Building competent cooking techniques
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Why is a sharp knife generally safer than a blunt one?
2. Which technique cooks food gently in liquid just below boiling?
3. Why turn pan handles inward on a hob?
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Ask LunaPart 1 of 17 · Watch & discover
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Become competent in a range of cooking techniques, including selecting and preparing ingredients and using a range of equipment safely