Why Cooking Shows Are Hard to Follow (and How to Fix It)
Ask the chef
Cooking along with your favorite cooking shows can feel overwhelming. Between fast-paced edits and professional techniques, it’s easy to fall behind. We asked a Lowcountry chef for practical tips on following recipes, prepping ingredients and cooking with confidence at home.
Question
Dear Chef,
I’ve tried recreating dishes while watching my favorite cooking shows, but I struggle to keep up. Do you have any tips or advice for following along?
— Simmering near South Beach
Answer
Dear Simmering,
Benjamin Harris, executive chef at The Sea Pines Resort, suggests taking the pressure off and shifting your mindset. Instead of trying to cook in real time, use what you see on screen as inspiration, not instruction.
“You are correct, it’s very challenging to watch a recipe and cook it at the same time,” he said. “If I see a video or recipe that interests me, I like to use it as inspiration. That is the fun thing about cooking. The exact amount of, say, celery in a stock you are making is how much you prefer to put in it — tasting throughout the process and adjusting.”
Part of that ease comes from preparing like a pro. Cooking shows rarely show the prep, but every chef relies on it. Chop, measure and organize everything before you turn on the stove. That behind-the-scenes step, known as mise en place, makes the actual cooking calmer and far more enjoyable.
Harris also encourages home cooks to focus less on timing and more on what’s happening in the pan. Television edits out waiting, so don’t cook to the clock. Cook to the moment. Look for visual cues, aromas and texture to tell you when something is ready.
That flexibility is the point, Harris says. Recipes are road maps, not rules. “Use the recipe to guide you, but really make it your own. Cooking can also be a shared experience — include children and family members in the process.”
The takeaway? Watch first, cook second. Prep ahead. Trust your senses. Adjust as you go. Even the chefs on TV aren’t chasing perfection. They’re chasing flavor, connection and a little joy along the way.
