When people think of traveling and exploring different countries, they usually don’t think about learning how to cook or even using their cooking skills at all. After all, people that travel want to experience different food cultures and sample lots of unique things, so there’s a very small chance that they’re actually going to cook anything themselves while they travel.
At least, that was how things were in the past.
These days, there’s a growing group of people who advocate for travelers to know how to cook, or at least pick up some general cooking skills. In this post, we’re going to explore why knowing how to cook is a great travel skill to have.
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Knowing how to cook can help you appreciate new foods
Most people can appreciate the taste, texture, smell, and even the appearance of food. You try something new and if it suits your tastes, then you’ll probably want to try it again at some point. But when you pick up a few cooking skills and really start to understand how food is made, you’ll start having a much deeper appreciation for different kinds of foods. You’ll start to admire how chefs make certain types of foods and how they’re prepared, or you might fall in love with cheaper local eats because of how simple yet delicious they are.
There are some unforgettable foods out there that you really just have to try, and knowing how to cook will help boost your appreciation for those foods.
You’ll learn new cooking skills and ingredient combinations
Knowing how to cook also means that you can pick up skills and knowledge during your travels. You might fall in love with a new kind of meat or vegetable that you’ve previously never eaten, or you might try different preparation methods for food when you arrive back home. Being able to cook means that you can replicate some of the food that you had when you traveled, or you can incorporate those ideas into your own recipes to create wonderful fusion foods that will spice up your dishes.
This homemade tostone recipe is a great example of a simple yet delicious food that you might learn about when traveling to Latin America or the Caribbean. It’s a fantastic snack to have, it’s easy to make, and it uses simple ingredients. If you know how to cook, then you can replicate this snack at home and try to get it to the exact same consistency and taste that you had when you were traveling. It’ll remind you of those travels, it’ll give you a sense of nostalgia in the future, and the delicious flavors will put a smile on your face.
It helps to keep others in your group satisfied
This is a bit of a niche benefit, but if you ever travel in a group then knowing how to cook can help keep others satisfied. Not everyone is adventurous with their food, especially younger children. You might find yourself cooking a meal in your accommodation because your kids don’t enjoy certain kinds of foods, or maybe someone in your group has a craving for something from back home. In these situations, knowing how to cook when you travel can help you satisfy those needs and will make everyone in your group a lot happier.
You get to explore the local produce as well
People get excited when they arrive in a new city or country because they get to try out so many different kinds of foods. However, when a chef arrives somewhere new, they also get the urge to try out all of the different ingredients, spices, seasonings, and so on. This just adds more excitement and value to all of your travels since you’re not just excited for the food, but also for how the food is made and what ingredients are used. Taking a local cooking class will also introduce you to recipes to make at home.
This excitement also translates to bringing back ingredients, cooking techniques, and other various products from the country that you visited. You can learn how to incorporate those new flavors and techniques into your current cooking skills, and it makes your entire journey a lot more fulfilling and interesting.
That’s A Wrap!
Knowing how to cook when you travel is fantastic because it opens up many more possibilities and opportunities. It helps you appreciate the different styles of cuisine more, and it also gives you new techniques, ingredients, and foods to try in the kitchen when you get back home! Don’t underestimate how much your cooking skills can transform your travels.
Disclaimer: Links in this page are meant to help you find relevant information and book attractions easier by linking directly to specific pages on partner websites (i.e. TripAdvisor, Vegas.com). If you click a link, we may earn a small commission on transactions. This helps support the cost of running our website, and it adds absolutely no extra cost to you as the consumer. Thank you, we appreciate your support! You can read more on our disclosure policy.
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