13 best cookbooks for beginners to build confidence in the kitchen

If the enforced lockdown has exposed your kitchen skills for what they really are (ie below par), now might feel like a good time to address that. With all of us spending more time at home, there has definitely been less opportunity to hide behind ready meals, takeaways and restaurants. But with a few simple tips and tricks, you’ll be able to get a tasty plate of food on the table, fast. Yes, even you.

We’ve rounded up a selection of brand new releases as well as some older titles that have stood the test of time, all of which will have you cooking up a storm (even if you’re a complete beginner). Whether you’re cooking for yourself or need to feed a whole family, we’ve got the books to help you on your culinary journey.

We’ve turned to the queen of the kitchen, Delia Smith, to teach us the absolute kitchen basics – such as how to make the perfect omelette, while Jamie Oliver shows us the ropes when it comes to making the everyday favourites we should all have in our arsenal. Whether you’re looking to eat less meat, sticking to a budget or simply want to make the delicious dishes you enjoy elsewhere, all by yourself, these books will show you how, leaving you with a newfound confidence you can’t beat.

The benefits of learning to cook are endless, including mental clarity, having a creative outlet, not to mention the joy it brings seeing loved ones tuck into a dish you’ve created.

Of course, not everyone will enjoy the act of cooking (and for those, I’d focus on some of the speedy, one-tray books below), but learning this life skill is one of the greatest gifts you can yourself.

The ultimate act of self-love, not only does food sustain us each and every day but with a little know-how, you’ll no longer look into that pantry with trepidation but with excitement. We’ll set the table, while you choose the best books for you.

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