Professional Chef Tips: 3 Easy Ways to Improve Your Home Cooking
by Kevin Devine
You’ve seen the endless TikTok hacks, Pinterest boards, YouTube cooking channels, and maybe even tried that one “life-changing” tip your friend swore by. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t—but more often than not, they leave you wondering why your kitchen doesn’t feel any less stressful. As someone who cooks for a living and manages a busy household, I’m here to tell you: better home cooking doesn’t require expensive tools, hours of free time, or a full recipe binder. All it really takes are a few simple shifts in how you approach meals—nothing overwhelming, just thoughtful steps you can repeat every week without stress. These aren’t trends. They’re tried-and-true practices that make your food taste better and your kitchen feel more manageable. First, start with seasoning. Sounds basic, right? But here’s the trick: season your food before it even hits the pan. Salt and pepper aren't just table toppers—they should be your first step. When you season things like chicken, vegetables, or even pasta water early, you allow the flavor to penetrate all the way through. This is why food at restaurants often tastes more balanced—it’s been seasoned in layers, not just sprinkled at the end. If you’ve ever marinated something overnight, you’ve already used this method. Think about doing a mini version of that every time you cook. Even salting your chicken when you get home from the grocery store can make a big difference. Next, take a few minutes to plan ahead. I know how busy life gets—work, school, sports, the never-ending calendar. But even a loose idea of what you’re going to cook during the week can make a huge difference. It doesn’t have to be perfect or detailed. Maybe you jot down that you’ll do tacos on Tuesday and pasta on Thursday. A little bit of foresight gives you time to prepare when you’re not in a rush. You’ll have the chance to thaw meat, throw together a marinade, or chop vegetables a day early when things are calmer. That
Chef and Owner of Crave Catering Co., Kevin Devine, poses for a photo. Photo credit: Danielle Lawrance of DANIE Photography
means when dinnertime rolls around, you’re not staring into the fridge with zero inspiration and hungry people waiting. And finally—my favorite—prep ahead. At my catering company, we serve events with well over a hundred people. If we showed up the day of and tried to wing it, the food wouldn’t be our best, and the stress would be off the charts. Instead, we prep. A couple of days before, we cut the vegetables, portion the meat, and have sauces ready. That way, cooking in the moment is actually easy, even fun. You can apply the same principle at home. Let’s say you want spaghetti on Monday. Cook the noodles on Sunday and keep them in the fridge. Planning fajitas for Thursday? Slice those peppers and onions on Tuesday night when things are quieter. Maybe even go ahead and season the chicken while you’re at it. You’d be surprised how much time you’ll save with just a few small steps. Good home cooking doesn’t mean slaving over the stove every night. It’s about being just a little more intentional so that when life gets chaotic, dinner isn’t. With a few tweaks—season early, think ahead, and prep what you can—you’ll start to enjoy cooking more, your food will taste better, and you’ll feel more confident in the kitchen. No hacks, no gimmicks, just simple habits that work. So the next time you’re faced with making dinner, give one of these a try. Your future self will thank you—and your family probably will too.
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