Cooking 101

A series on kitchen fundamentals

The New York Times

Welcome to our series on foundational cooking skills that will help you level up in the kitchen. View all recipes in Cooking 101.


Season Two

Every episode covers a different technique, with tips and recipes from guest hosts who are experts to set you up for success.

A side-by-side image of a stacked burger next to a man in a yellow apron at a kitchen counter. The bottom left of the image reads “101 Burgers.”
The New York Times

Episode TWO

Burgers 101 with Kenji López-Alt: Watch the Video

What You’ll Learn

How to buy the best ground beef for your burgers; how to handle it to correctly shape patties; when and how to season burgers; the cooking methods for different burger styles; all about condiments, buns and more.

Recipes In this episode


The New York Times

Episode ONE

Salad Dressing 101 with Samin Nosrat: Watch the Video

What You’ll Learn

How to make a classic vinaigrette; all about emulsions and emulsifiers, and why they are important; how to properly whisk to emulsify; the secret ingredient that elevates any salad dressing; three recipes you’ll want to memorize and more.

Recipes In this episode


Season One

Hosted by the chef and cookbook author Sohla El-Waylly, the first season of Cooking 101 teaches you how to buy and cook various ingredients.

An image of a woman in glasses standing before a background of steaks. The bottom of the frame reads “Beef 101.”
The New York Times

Episode Seven

Beef 101: Watch the Video

What You’ll Learn

What to look for when buying steak; all about labeling, like what fat percentages mean and how you can use them to your advantage; how to cook tough cuts; how to test for doneness and more.

Recipes In this episode


A woman in glasses and a yellow dress stands in front of an image of a plate of spaghetti. The words “Spaghetti 101” are at the bottom of the frame.
The New York Times

Episode Six

Spaghetti 101: Watch the Video

What You’ll Learn

How to correctly boil your pasta; how to easily measure 12 ounces of pasta; what to do if you accidentally threw out your pasta water; why you generally shouldn’t rinse your pasta and more.

RECIPES IN THIS EPISODE


A woman in a striped button-down shirt stands in front of an image of roasted broccoli on a sheet pan.
The New York Times

Episode Five

Broccoli 101: Watch the Video

What You’ll Learn

How to buy the freshest heads of broccoli; how to slice and chop it perfectly; how to cook it to bring out maximum flavor and more.

Recipes In This Episode


A woman in glasses stands in front of a fillet of salmon on a sheet pan.
The New York Times

Episode FOUR

Fish 101: Watch the Video

What You’ll Learn

How to shop for fish; the difference between farm-raised and wild-caught; how to get crispy skin; how and why to dry brine fish; how to braise frozen fish; how to shallow fry and more.

Recipes in This Episode


A woman with dark hair and glasses bites into a piece of chicken stands in front of an image of a spatchcocked chicken on a sheet pan.
The New York Times

Episode THREE

Chicken 101: Watch the Video

What You’ll Learn

How to handle raw chicken safely; how to spatchcock a whole bird; how to ensure your chicken doesn’t become dry; how to braise and more.

Recipes in This Episode


A woman in glasses and a button down stands in front of an image of a bowl of rice.
The New York Times

Episode TWO

Rice 101: Watch the Video

What You’ll Learn

How to shop for rice; the differences between short-, medium- and long-grain rice, brown rice and white rice; how to make a perfect pot and rescue a failed one; and how to cook pilaf, fried rice and more.

Recipes in This Episode


A woman in glasses stands in front of an image of a fried egg in a skillet. The bottom of the frame reads “Eggs 101.”
The New York Times

Episode OnE

Eggs 101: Watch the Video

What You’ll Learn

How to shop for eggs and expert tips for all the ways to cook them: scrambled, fried, over easy, over hard, sunny-side up, hard-boiled, soft-boiled, poached and more.

Recipe in This Episode


INTRODUCTION

These 11 Tips Will Make You a Better Cook

A picture of a woman with bangs and glasses standing at a kitchen counter. She is holding a whisk above a bowl of eggs.
“Properly equipping yourself in the kitchen is crucial to not only making good food,” Sohla El-Waylly writes, “but also having a good time while you do it.”NYTCooking

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