Cooking Confidence Scale

Not all recipes are possible for all cooks. It takes time to be confident in the kitchen, and everybody starts out knowing nothing.

The scale below is loosely-based on a Tumblr poll on the same subject, and is intended to help people identify what kind of cooking they are comfortable with so that they can choose Recipes that will suit their skill level.

This is not meant as a judgement! All of us started from zero! If you are at skill level zero that is not a problem as long as you are able to eat a sufficient amount of food. If you are having trouble feeding yourself at any skill level, here are tips on How to improve as a Cook.

The Scale

Level Zero

I do not know how to cook anything; I am uncertain about the rules for using microwaves or how to handle kitchen appliances. I do not know how to heat water and someone else prepares my food.

Skills

• None

Level One

I can heat water in an electric kettle or microwave and I can combine pre-prepared ingredients. I am able to make cold sandwiches and may be comfortable making instant oatmeal, ReadyMac, or Cup-of-Noodles with hot water. I can heat food in the microwave, make toast, spread food with a butter knife.

Skills

• Stirring with a dining spoon
• Using a can opener
• Turning on simple appliances
• Spreading with a butter knife
• Using a knife and fork to cut food into bite-sized pieces
• Opening and re-sealing packages (i.e., lunch meat; a jam jar)

Level Two

I can heat water on the stove, and set the oven to heat pre-made foods. I can use sharp knives well enough to cut up carrots or apples, but I would struggle with cutting a pineapple or finely dicing anything. I can make pasta on the stove and heat pre-made sauce, I can make boxed mac and cheese and may be able to hard boil eggs. I can bake a cake from a mix but it takes effort.

Skills

• Boiling liquids
• Coarse chopping
• Preparation of basic fruits and vegetables
• Combining pre-made food or ingredients
• Following preparation instructions on packages
• Whisking
• Use of some small kitchen appliances (hand mixer, immersion blender, toaster oven)
• Basics of oven use