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Home cook levels -- where do you put yourself?

Posted on 9/23/24 at 10:51 pm
Posted by mmmmmbeeer
ATL
Member since Nov 2014
9740 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 10:51 pm
This is clearly subjective, but below are the descriptors I'd use to describe the 5 levels of a home cook. Like most who have a passion for cooking, I started as a kid. I didn't start because I wanted to, but because I had to. Having 'The Frugal Gourmet (pedophile)' and Justin Wilson on TV growing up, and often having to cook for my family, certainly gave me an appreciation for providing both happiness and a damn tasty meal for my people.

So where do you think you are based on these criteria? I'm a light 4, I think. Let's just say I get pissed when friends and family tell me something is good when I KNOW for a FACT that I screwed something up and it doesn't taste right. I'm very critical of myself, which I think is necessary at level 3 and definitely level 4.

Level 1 -- Can cook meat but inconsistent temps, under-seasoned food, very basic recipes often in the vein of whatever nasty shite is popular on Pinterest at the time, gives no thought to plating. Watching a level 1 work with a knife leads you to believe you're likely to witness an unplanned amputation.

Level 2 -- Owns a meat thermometer so gets protein temps right most of the time. Inconsistent with heat, experimentation often goes wrong.
Embracing interest in cooking and becomes a bit more epicurious. Knife skills slow and not always proper cuts, but safety is solid.

Level 3 -- Can competently make a recipe taste good. Protein temps are consistently correct, cooking methods are competently met, advanced methods are still a bit of a struggle. Experimentation is a 50/50 endeavor. Knife skills are solid, safe, but a bit slow. Confident and looking to improve. Go to a restaurant and start to recognize flavors, strategies, textures, cooks, etc.

Level 4 -- Recipe limitations are due to time or tools...can competently cook most any recipe. Experimentation is 75% successful. Knife skills are on point. Understands and strives to leverage things like the maillard reaction, acid/fat/salt balance. Seasoning is on point as tasting becomes a thing. Notice you've become incredibly critical at restaurants, often eating dishes you feel you could make better at home.

Level 5 -- Friends and family tell you to open a restaurant. You have dishes you came up with and execute flawlessly. Experimentation works out 90+% of the time. Get upset at the smallest of flaws in a dish/cook.
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
56883 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 11:14 pm to
High 3, that ventures into level 4 sometimes. Also depends on the meal. I brew beer as well and I’ve caught myself recognizing/utilizing some brewing techniques on food.
This post was edited on 9/23/24 at 11:15 pm
Posted by Rize
Spring Texas
Member since Sep 2011
18667 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 11:17 pm to
Level 1 on almost anything.

I can cook some Nilgai or deer pretty good but that’s about it.
Posted by Sus-Scrofa
Member since Feb 2013
10428 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 6:03 am to
2 and occasionally 3
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
15649 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 6:45 am to
What number would "meh" get?
Posted by CptEllerby277
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2009
685 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 6:50 am to
Solid 4 here.
Posted by Trout Bandit
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2012
14837 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 6:59 am to
4-1/2
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
19345 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 7:38 am to
Level 4+ but I've been at it for half a century now.

Yes, I've had more than a few folks suggest I should open a restaurant and actually had someone who was willing to back me if I moved to Dallas in the early 80's, but I know enough about that business to realize if you have a restaurant, it owns you and your time to make it successful.

I think that would take some of the joy of cooking away from me under those conditions.
Posted by jmon
Loisiana
Member since Oct 2010
9941 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:24 am to
High 3 / Low 4.
Limitations are my "time" and desire to cook a complicated item and meal.

Friends do say I should sell my Gumbo, smoked turkey, pulled pork, briskets, etc., but I feel anyone that spends enough time around fire cooking can get really good at these things.
Posted by hoopsgalore
Chicago, IL
Member since Nov 2013
9031 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:46 am to
I'll give myself a 3. I know my limitations in the kitchen and stick to what I know, which usually turns out great. My wife is much closer to a 4. We live in Chicago and aim to try a new restaurant each week, fine dining or not, which has really guided her on some dishes at home that I wouldn't be able to make.
Posted by Carson123987
Middle Court at the Rec
Member since Jul 2011
67788 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:50 am to
Firm Level 3. Lot of improvement potential with knife speed and experimenting


Level 10 for cajun stuff like rice and gravies though
Posted by Antib551
Houma, LA
Member since Dec 2018
1359 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:50 am to
quote:

High 3 / Low 4.
Limitations are my "time" and desire to cook a complicated item and meal.

Friends do say I should sell my Gumbo, smoked turkey, pulled pork, briskets, etc., but I feel anyone that spends enough time around fire cooking can get really good at these things.
Same here. The floor is 3.5. Most meals are bragged on by friends later on at other functions to other people. Knife skills are immaculate. Tastebuds and technical cooking skills are my limitations, along with time and kitchen limitations. Experiments are 60/40. Hardly ever anything "bad" (I do too much research ahead of time to raise the floor) but sometimes turn out just meh. Others are good, some are great.

My problem is that I tinker too much and it pisses my wife off. Rarely am I satisfied with a recipes perfection. Each time I make a recipe slightly different, and sometimes I screw it up. lol Consistency, or lack thereof, in my historical recipes is what pisses off my wife. Nothing wrong with getting better
Posted by tonydtigr
Beautiful Downtown Glenn Springs,Tx
Member since Nov 2011
6418 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:56 am to
Same on all counts, but the last one. It would really not work out well in my situation.

It would take most, if not all of the joy of cooking away from me.

I have seen firsthand the endless hours of dedication it takes from my friends who are successful chefs, particularly during holidays and football season to know it's not for me.

I love to cook, and it's a fun thing. Not a job. Thank God.
This post was edited on 9/24/24 at 9:03 am
Posted by GEAUXT
Member since Nov 2007
30405 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:11 am to
I would say a 4.
Posted by AbitaFan08
Boston, MA
Member since Apr 2008
27888 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:22 am to
3.5 (not an OT tree fiddy joke, an honest assessment).

I’d say my cooking abilities align most with Level 3, but my knife skills align most with Level 4. Hence the score of 3.5.
Posted by L Boogie
Texas
Member since Jul 2009
5212 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:32 am to
This is a fun topic!

I'd say I'm a high 3. I do 90% of the cooking at my house (partner is also a great cook but he works a lot so dinner mostly falls to me), so I just keep improving because I do so much of it. Plus, I just really enjoy the process.

I get a lot of pride and excitement out of watching others enjoy a meal I made.

My mom isn't much of a cook and doesn't really like doing it, so my stepdad is always really excited when we visit because I make sure he's well-fed
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
86410 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:44 am to
Can't answer because I have no idea how to judge knife skills. The whole concept is foreign to me. If things need to be smaller, I use a knife to make them smaller.
Posted by juice4lsu
Member since Dec 2007
3739 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 10:22 am to
4 - 4+

I would say + because 90%+ of my experimentation comes out well. I don't really ever follow a recipe. I don't think I could ever say 5. There is always room for improvement, and I never finish cooking something without thinking what I might modify next time.

I grew up in a food family... caterers, head chef of the Senators dining hall in the State Capital, and a Culinary Institute of America graduate. Every holiday had an official menu that was set out months before. It's all I've ever known, and I've loved to cook for as long as I can remember.

One possible addition to Level 5 - Friends or family call or text you for advice before or even mid-cooking something. That happens to me fairly often.
Posted by LSUGUMBO
Shreveport, LA
Member since Sep 2005
9493 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 10:25 am to
Seems like most of us are in the same realm- about a 3.5. I'd say 90% of my prepared meals are above average. My knife skills are probably below average, but I make it work.

People often tell me that I'm a great chef, and I always tell them that I just know how to cook, I'm not refined enough to be called 'chef'
Posted by BMoney
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
16753 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 10:31 am to
I'd say a 3.5, but knife skills probably take it back to a 3. I've never cut a finger off and manage to get everything cut into the size pieces I want, but not terribly efficient doing so.

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