Grocery store employees see it all. They can tell a lot about a person’s life just by looking at the contents of their shopping cart. They can also easily spot a novice cook. There is a specific set of “convenience” food items that are almost exclusively purchased by people who have very little experience or confidence in the kitchen. For a seasoned chef or a grocery store worker, these seven items are a dead giveaway that you have no idea how to cook.
1. Jarred Minced Garlic
Fresh garlic is a fundamental ingredient in countless recipes. It is cheap, flavorful, and easy to prepare with a simple knife or a garlic press. The pre-minced garlic that is sold in a jar is a completely different product. It is often packed in acid, which gives it a harsh, slightly chemical taste. It is a clear sign that a person is intimidated by the simple act of chopping a fresh clove of garlic.
2. Pre-Made “Stir-Fry” Sauces
A good stir-fry sauce is a simple balance of a few key ingredients, like soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. The pre-made, bottled stir-fry sauces that are sold in the international aisle are often a gloopy mess of corn syrup, cornstarch, and artificial flavorings. A person who buys one of these is showing that they do not yet understand the basic building blocks of flavor.
3. “Cooking Wine”
The “cooking wine” that is sold on the regular grocery shelf is a terrible product. It is loaded with a huge amount of salt and other preservatives to make it shelf-stable. These additives give it a harsh, unpleasant taste that can ruin a dish. Any experienced cook knows the golden rule: if you would not drink the wine, you should not cook with it.
4. Instant Mashed Potatoes
Making real mashed potatoes is one of the simplest and most rewarding kitchen tasks. It requires only a few basic ingredients: potatoes, milk, and butter. The dehydrated potato flakes that are sold as “instant” mashed potatoes are a poor substitute. They have a gummy, artificial texture that instantly tells a food professional that the person who made them does not know a kitchen basic.
5. Microwaveable Rice Pouches
Cooking rice on the stovetop or in a rice cooker is a fundamental kitchen skill. The microwaveable pouches of pre-cooked rice are a very expensive and often texturally inferior alternative. While they offer convenience, they are a sign that a person has not yet mastered one of the most basic and essential cooking techniques.
6. Bottled Lemon and Lime Juice
A fresh lemon or lime is a vibrant, flavorful, and versatile ingredient. The bottled juice that sells in a plastic squeezer is a pale imitation. It often contains preservatives that give it a dull, slightly chemical taste. Relying on this product is a clear sign that a person does not appreciate the massive flavor difference that a little bit of fresh citrus can make in a dish.
7. Powdered “Parmesan” Cheese
The powdered “Parmesan” cheese that is sold in a green shaker can is a classic sign of a beginner cook. This product often contains a large amount of anti-caking agents, like cellulose. It has a salty, dusty flavor that is nothing like the rich, nutty taste of a real block of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
The Building Blocks of a Good Meal
These convenience products exist for a reason. They help people who are new to cooking or short on time. However, they are also a crutch. They prevent a new cook from learning the basic skills and flavor combinations that are the foundation of all good food. By learning to move past these beginner items, you can dramatically improve the quality of your meals and become a more confident and capable home chef.
Are you guilty of buying any of these beginner cooking items? What is the one convenience food you cannot live without? Let us know in the comments!
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