How to Help Your Kids’ Culinary Skills Become Worthy of MasterChef Junior {Guest Post}

Guest Post By Hannah Whittenly

Some of the greatest bonds between parents and their children can be forged in the kitchen. You don’t have to be a world-class chef to know this. However, you can certainly inspire passion within your little chef just like those on “MasterChef Junior”, a kids’ version of the cooking competition “MasterChef”, where talented young chefs compete against each other. The following tips will help your children reach those levels through cooking.

Know the Fundamentals

You have to know the rules before you can break them. Experimentation is wonderful, but it needs to come after the basics. Your children should know how to cook an egg, dice vegetables, and season a piece of meat. They should be able to tell when something is overcooked, undercooked, or improperly seasoned. When going out to eat, have them note the taste of their food and what does and doesn’t work.

Emphasize Quality

To compete on a show like “MasterChef Junior,” one needs to be dedicated to every bit of their craft. Something that isn’t made correctly can still be palatable, but the bar is raised in this context. With every chop of the knife and every stir of the ladle, your children should be focused. They can’t expect to compete on a high level if they are being slipshod at all. Plus, it makes the food taste all the better to know it was made with love.

Get Good Equipment

Are your pots and pans rusted, dented, and leaking? That won’t cut it. Good dishes can’t create good food, but bad ones will have a negative effect. Premium equipment, like Brooklyn copper cookware, is just what you need. It has a great and durable design to make your meals all the better.

Try Different Types of Food

A chef who only knows one kind of food is like a musician who only knows one genre. You might have a specialty, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try new things. Every week, you and your children should try cooking an unfamiliar dish. It could be from another country, contain unique ingredients, or have a distinct taste.

Everyone needs to know how to cook at least a bit. With these tips, your children will be able to take their cooking to the next level. For a show as prestigious as “MasterChef Junior”, that could be a dream come true for them. Embrace the time you spend with them in the kitchen, one ingredient a time.

About the Author

Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She enjoys kayaking and reading books by the lake.

*Photo courtesy of Hannah Whittenly