A level season is fully upon us. Year books and proms are being planned, and Y13s are juggling revision timetables with Uni offers (and rejections), hunts for student accommodation, student finance applications and the prospect of leaving home for the first time in just a few months.
As a parent this is no less daunting - many of us will remember being 18 (all that that lay ahead) and look at our babies with disbelief. Where did the last 18 years go?
And without a doubt, the next few months will disappear in the blink of an eye, punctuated by the worries we all have as to whether we’ve prepared them for leaving home.
Laundry? Will they keep on top of it?
Money? Will they manage or run out in the first few weeks?
Food? Will they eat properly?
Lectures? Will they get there on time?
Will they make friends?
Will they enjoy their chosen studies?
Are they ready???
As a teacher of student cookery skills and owner of a not for profit community cookery school, I have seen first-hand that some young people are definitely better prepared than others when it comes to kitchen skills, money management and cooking for themselves. It’s never too young to start increasing your child’s independence in the kitchen, and by the time they reach their early teens I would argue that they should be able to shop, cook a meal and clear up independently.
However life gets in the way, and for this reason (and a million others), there are tens of thousands of UK teens who haven’t yet acquired these skills.
That said, it’s never too late to learn, and in a climate where we are surrounded by convenience with a Costa, Greggs and Starbucks on every street corner, as well as rising food and energy costs, it’s more important than ever to give young people these essential life skills.
Cooking for yourself, (and later on your friends and family) is a wonderful gift. We all love that friend or family member who can whip up a quick delicious meal, or bake something mouth-watering for someone’s birthday.
And in an economic climate where some families are choosing between food and essential utilities, we owe our young people kitchen know how to be able to eat well on a limited budget.
With this in mind, here’s my take on the top twenty kitchen and cookery skills every student needs before they fly the nest.
Grocery shopping - most young people I know are more than capable of shopping (and spending!), but can they plan their food for the week ahead, write a list and stick to a budget? Will they use fresh produce before it’s use by date? Do they understand best before dates and know when to use their judgement? Do they know what foods are in season (and at their best/cheapest) and when? Websites like Eat the Seasons (UK) update weekly and are a great resource for making the most of British seasonal produce.
Food safety basics - does your teen know how to prepare, store and reheat food safely, and clean up after they’ve cooked? If they’ve always used a dishwasher, can they wash up by hand? (daft as it sounds, I’ve taught many adults who never seem to wash anything by hand).
Knife skills - can they use a vegetable knife, a chef’s knife or a serrated knife safely? Are they confident preparing fruit and veg (if not they won’t eat them!)? Can they handle garlic, root veg, meat, fish confidently?
How to cook pasta and grains - pasta, noodles, rice, couscous, quinoa - all cheap staples which will form the basis of many a budget student meal. Mastering the basics of how much water and how long to cook first. Then add in simple recipes which bring them to life - pesto, arrabiata, bolognese, carbonara, baked pasta dishes, fried rice and noodles, ramen, pho. Try our Magic Tomato Sauce as a base for bolognaise, chilli, lasagne, or as a simple pasta/pizza sauce.
How to cook potatoes and root veg - another budget friendly staple for many meals - whether steamed, boiled, baked, mashed or roasted, can your teen base a meal around the good old British spud, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips or butternut squash? Can they make a tray bake with roasted root veg, chicken, fish or other protein source?
How to get the most out of meat (assuming not veggie) - can your teen bulk out a simple bolognese, Mexican chilli, or curry with extra veg, lentils or beans? Do they know which cuts of meat are best value (eg thighs over breast, braising steak, turkey or pork mince over beef).
How to cook eggs - whether scrambled, fried, boiled or as omelettes, eggs are a great foundation for cheap tasty meals.
How to make a meal out of a salad - a brilliant way to pack in the veggies, salad can be much more than a limp garnish on the side of a plate, and a great way to use up leftovers. Think tasty leaves, crunchy veggies, with added carbs, protein, dressing and optional extras like seeds and homemade croutons.
How to use up leftovers/short date foods - Is your teen get confident with leftovers? Having the skills to make something delicious from leftovers will cut down on time spent shopping and cooking, as well as saving money and minimising food waste. Yellow sticker supermarket hauls can save over 80% on food costs - but they only work if you know what to cook with them!
How to use spices, herbs and condiments - often the key to great tasting food is the seasoning, spicing or marinating that goes on first. Bland veg and cheaper cuts of meat can be transformed with the right spices, a squeeze of lemon and some herbs. A basic spice kit (and some practice using it) is just as important as a good set of knives in my opinion! Mint is the winning ingredient in our beautiful Summertime Soup , which uses store cupboard stock cubes and is ready in less than half an hour.
How to use the oven, hob, grill, microwave - honestly this is a real gap for some young people! Learning at home, in the family kitchen will pay dividends when they are thrown into a shared uni kitchen (with unfamiliar appliances).
How to double/halve a recipe - adapting family recipes to cooking for one is a real skill, as well as doubling up for batch-cooking later on in life.
How to freeze/defrost food - freezer space can be minimal/non-existent in shared halls, but for students living out in private rented accommodation, a freezer can save ££££ and time in the kitchen. Does your teen know how to reheat a portion of frozen lasagne, curry or chilli, how to defrost frozen meat or fish safely, or how long things can be frozen for?
Time management - is your teen confident preparing ingredients which have different cooking times, so they are already at the same time? This is definitely a skill that comes with practice - a first step being understanding the importance of ‘mise en place’ (getting everything out and prepped before you start to cook) as well as reading through instructions from start to finish in advance.
How to cook a roast - a good one for practising those time management skills (and impressing friends), a delicious roast with all the sides is a great weekend dish, which can provide leftovers for the beginning of the week.
How to make a great vegetarian main - whether your teen is a meat-eater or not, plant-based recipes will save them money, increase their five a day intake and are essential when catering for veggie friends. Everyone should know a few fantastic vegetarian dishes. Our budget-friendly vegetarian lentil shepherd’s pie when Winter nights start drawing in.
Basic baking - possibly not an essential, but who doesn’t love that friend who can knock up a delicious chocolate cake, banana loaf or batch of muffins? Baking can be a great stress-reliever and another way to use up leftover fruit, veg and bread (our Bread and Butter pudding muffins are a perfect way to use up leftover bread and packed with dried fruits and warming spices).
Embrace mistakes - we all slip up from time to time in the kitchen - we all burn ourselves (or our food), knick our fingers with a sharp knife, and sometimes dishes just don’t turn out how we expect. It’s how we learn (and sometimes the most delicious meals are complete food accidents!).
Have the confidence to ask - great cooks learn all the time, gathering tips and recipes from friends, family, as well as established experts. I learned my kitchen skills watching at a young age (and then helping) my mum, and even after years of cooking for my family and eighteen years running a cookery school, I still read recipe books, go to demos and ask if I’m not sure.
Finally, remember to have fun! You are going to spend a lot of time on food related activities in your life - an estimated four and a half years on eating alone (nevermind cooking!), so you may as well find the recipes and meals that fill your soul with happiness and learn how to cook them well.
Looking for inspiration? Need some help guidance on getting your teen ready for kitchen indelendence? Our Student Foodie Summer Bootcamp is a four week home study Student Cookery Survival course which equips students with the skills and know-how to save money, reduce waste and eat well on a budget at university. It’s suitable for students aged 16 and over (Y11-13 inc), gap year and university students, and young people doing apprenticeships.
The Organic Cookery School is a not for profit community cookery school which delivers community based and shome study cookery and nutrition courses to children, families and young people across the UK. Bursary assistance may be available for lower income families.
Interested in finding out more? Send us a message below…