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After being stuck in lockdown for well over a year, many of us used the new confinement to our own homes as an opportunity to brush up on our culinary skills.

According to The Independent, more than a fifth of people were cooking every meal from scratch due to coronavirus lockdown. It also emerged that one in five have widened their repertoire of recipes since lockdown began, with 35% of Brits becoming better at using leftovers to avoid food waste.

With the nation arming themselves with wooden spoons and spatulas alike to take on the heat of their own kitchens at teatime, we wanted to share some top tips on how to perfect your home cooking and become the ultimate culinary king or queen in your household.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

One of the biggest fears when it comes to cooking is it all going wrong. But guess what? That’s exactly what needs to happen sometimes in order for us to learn! Cooking shouldn’t always be about abiding by a strict rule book – this can take all the joy out of it. Instead, trust your instincts and follow your nose (literally!) Let the smell and taste of your food guide you as you go along. Break the rules! If there’s a whacky concoction of ingredients that isn’t the norm (but you feel would go superbly together) chuck it in there! No famous chef ever got to where they are now by playing it safe. Go wild!

Fail To Prepare… Prepare To Fail

Cooking is all about timing and one thing that can have a huge knock-on effect on this, is forgetting to do the prep work. Whether it’s chopping onions, herbs, boiling the water, preparing the marinade, whatever it may be – ensure you do every bit of prep you need to before the real cookery begins. That way nothing can delay your culinary process and your dish will be cooked to perfection, every single time.

Invest In Good Equipment

You’ve heard of the old saying “a bad workman blames his tools” – when it comes to being a top home cook, inadequate equipment really will hold you back and can affect the outcome of your dishes. We realise that culinary pieces can get pretty pricey, so we advise gathering the essentials first, which you’re bound to use with every meal. From brilliantly sharp knife sets that glide through your vegetables making chopping feel like a dream, to stylish, robust non-stick pans that are sure to stand the test of time – these items are an investment which will become a critical part of your cookery collection, that you will undoubtedly put to use every time you rustle up a dish in the kitchen.