Start scratch cooking in 5 easy steps

Step 1: Choose a food

Don’t try to overhaul your entire kitchen and diet overnight. The key to sustainable scratch cooking, especially for busy lives, is to start small and build momentum.

Make ONE food from scratch you eat ALL the time!

• Cook a meal from scratch: Start with a simple dinner like homemade tacos, a basic pasta with sauce, or a casserole dish. Start small and make one item from scratch – e.g. make the taco seasoning blend instead, a homemade cream of mushroom soup for the casserole, simple marinara sauce.
• Make a fridge staple from scratch: Make your own salad dressing instead of buying a bottle, a homemade pesto, or make a batch of hummus.
• DIY a pantry item: Bake a simple loaf of bread, make homemade granola, or simmer your own vegetable broth.

Remember, start small! Choose something with fewer ingredients and straightforward steps, like a homemade taco spice blend instead of buying a pre-made sachet. Don’t feel like you have to make homemade tortillas straight away. Quick and easy scratch cooking wins will be the best motivator.

Step 2: Make the recipe

Don’t overthink it, gather the ingredients and get started.

1. Follow the recipe: For your first few attempts, stick closely to the instructions. It builds confidence if you’re successfully make a food from scratch that’s similar to the store-bought version.
2. Focus on technique, not perfection: Learn how to sauté vegetables, make a roux, or season to taste. The small but important scratch cooking skills make a big difference over time.
3. Embrace the “good enough”: It won’t be perfect, and that’s okay! The goal is to cook more from scratch, not to achieve culinary awards. Every homemade meal is a win.

Step 3: Reflect and repeat

You’ve had your first scratch cooking success! Now it’s time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t, adjust, and expand your recipe repertoire.

With a win under your belt I bet you have tons of ideas of what to make next but you’re also starting to feel overwhelmed. Time to make a list!

Build on your win: Did you love making salad dressing? Try a new flavor! Did those tacos disappear? Master a homemade tortilla!

Frequency: Consider how often you eat and therefore buy an item. Single-serve porridge sachets are a good example. If that’s your go-to breakfast and you don’t like the sound of refined sugar, flavor enhancers, and anti-caking agents, plain oats are a great alternative. They’re cheap in bulk and portioning them off into single serves for the week with some spices and dried fruit won’t take you very long.

Cost of goods: Consider the cost of store-bought foods and for how much you can make it yourself. Bread is a winner but here are 35 other ways you can save money by scratch cooking.

Skills: Depending on where you’re at in your cooking journey make sure the recipes match your skill level to ensure success. A homemade pesto might be a better first step than sourdough. Keep it simple at the start.

By cooking from scratch you’re effectively trading convenience and often money for time. Time spent on gaining new skills and connecting with the food you’re eating. There are many benefits and reasons to start scratch cooking depending on your situation.

Step 4: Get into a routine