As Seen on TV:

If you love cooking but are hesitant about your skills, it’s time to start building your confidence. You can take your cooking level from “good” to “Master Chef” by using these 6 secrets:

• Use only the best ingredients

• Don’t leave flavor behind

• Prep your dish

• Measure by weight

• Beware of flavor killers

• Taste everything

Use Only the Best Ingredients

All of the competitive cooking shows have their own pantry and high-end cookware. When interviewed, a contestant never complains that their dish failed due to low-quality ingredients or the wrong style of pan. This is because the shows understand that the best dishes only result from using fresh, high-quality ingredients and the best cookware sets. The same is true at home. If you want to create incredible food, you must use the best quality you can afford.

Don’t Leave Flavor Behind

Have you ever cooked a dish that smelled terrific but didn’t taste the same way? Chances are that you may have left some of the best flavors in the pan without even realizing it. Look for different ways to capture all of the flavors in a sauce by deglazing your cookware with liquids such as wine or chicken stock.

Prep Your Dish

If you’ve ever struggled to keep up with a cooking video or demonstration, you’re not alone. Chances are good that unlike the chef you’re following, you did’nt prepare all of your ingredients in advance, cutting and measuring them into the correct amounts before cooking. Preparation is essential to maximize your time in the kitchen and to stay on top of the times provided in recipes. To get you ready for your next recipe, check out these tips on how to prepare and store vegetables.

Measure by Weight

Your recipe may call for a cup of flour, but that may not be the correct measurement. Professional bakers measure their ingredients with a scale. Some bags of flour can be more compressed than others, making one cup more densely packed than another. If you want to improve your baking game, you need to begin weighing out your ingredients instead of relying on your measuring cup.

Beware of Flavor Killers

Flour and butter can make things creamier, but they don’t always make them better. If you’ve invested a significant amount of time in developing the flavor of a dish, don't deaden or mute those incredible flavors by dousing them in butter. There are other options to add creaminess if it’s needed—a cheese that complements the flavors, for example. Google alternatives the next time you’re cooking to see how you can get the desired texture without sacrificing flavor.

Taste Everything

If the idea of dipping a spoon in whatever you’re cooking disgusts you, but your dishes are not turning out the way you hoped, it may be time to change your ways. The most common refrain you’ll hear on any cooking or baking show is “Taste everything!” because tasting along the way allows you to ensure that your flavors are on point. How can you know if a dish needs salt if you haven’t tried it?

That’s it! You’re ready to impress with your cooking skills, master chef style.  Set yourself up for success by using only the best ingredients, prepping your dishes before you begin cooking, and measuring ingredients by weight. As you cook, taste everything to be sure you capture all the flavor of a dish, you don’t mute it to make it creamy.