Basic Cooking Skills Courses

Basic cooking skills courses are designed to help you feel confident and capable in your own kitchen. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to brush up on essential techniques, these classes offer hands-on instruction that makes learning approachable and enjoyable. Discover how simple it can be to master the fundamentals, from knife skills to everyday meal prep, and build a solid foundation for all your future cooking adventures.

  • Teens 4-Day Summer Series: Technique & Taste Mastery
    $300

    Cooking Class Description: Designed for ages 12 and older, this series combines creativity with essential culinary skills as teens explore the techniques that form the backbone of great cooking. Throughout the week, they’ll master mother sauces, hand-rolled...

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  • Knife Skills
    $79
    (203)

    We love Sur La Table...Always a great time with chef Joy. We have donec4 classes with her and have enjoyed them all....I would love for him to teach another/next level knife skills class.

    Pros: fun, informative, knowledgeable instructor

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  • Cut Like a Pro
    $49

    Cooking Class Description: Take your kitchen confidence to the next level with this 1-hour hands-on knife skills workshop. In a small group of just four guests, you’ll get personalized coaching from a Sur La Table chef as you learn to chop, slice, dice,...

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  • Cut Like a Pro
    $49

    Collin and Chef David were great, they answered all our questions and really taught us soo much....Chef David and Collin are great! Take this class!...Such a great hands on class!

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  • Date Night: Evening in Paris
    $99
    (125)

    went with friends who had been to multiple classes at Sur la Table, and they said this was one of the best...Great class, and the instructor is highly recommended....Great!...Great experience!

    Pros: delicious meal, great experience, fun

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  • Online Pan-Seared Salmon & Sides (Eastern Time)
    $39

    Cooking Class Description: Ease into spring with this menu of seasonal flavors. You’ll learn to pan-sear salmon, sauté asparagus, create a tasty sauce and whip potatoes to perfection.



    • To get fully prepared for class, download our prep packet filled with...

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  • Online Date Night: Fresh Pasta & Salad (Eastern Time)
    $39

    Cooking Class Description: The perfect meal for two! Join this fun class and learn how to make fresh pasta dough for a spring-inspired main course and finish by assembling a light, flavorful salad.



    • To get fully prepared for class, download our prep packet...

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  • Online Knife Skills (Eastern Time)
    $39

    Cooking Class Description: Sharpen your knife knowledge in this knife skills class! Our chef instructor will teach you about the different types of knives, their construction and proper handling techniques for ultimate safety. You’ll get hands-on experience...

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  • Private Event
    $2000

    Cooking Class Description: For more information on Private Events, or to schedule your own, please contact your local Sur La Table store, or visit our Private Events page.


    What To Expect: In our classes you'll work together with other students (in groups...


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  • Date Night: The Perfect Steak Dinner
    $99

    Cooking Class Description: Get cozy in the kitchen as you prepare a French-inspired steak dinner pour deux. We’ll cover essential French techniques—from emulsifying vinaigrette and reducing pan sauce to searing beef and cooking starches. Then we’ll whip...

    Pros: chef was nice, delicious food, salad

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  • Kids 5-Day Summer Series: Great Kids Bake Week
    $349

    Cooking Class Description: Designed for ages 7–11, this series combines creativity with essential kitchen skills as young bakers explore everything from muffins and popovers to pizza pinwheels and fruit galettes. Guided by a professional chef instructor,...

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  • Date Night: Sushi Bar
    $99

    Cooking Class Description: What’s more fun than eating sushi? Learning to make it with your special someone! Brush up on knife skills and get plenty of practice with rolling techniques as you and your partner work alongside classmates to create three...

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  • Kids 5-Day Spring Series: Chef 101
    $349

    Cooking Class Description: Treat your budding chef to five days full of hands-on cooking fun! In our all-new Spring Series designed for ages 7-11, your child will learn to become more creative and confident in the kitchen. As they chop veggies, knead...

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  • Teens 5-Day Summer Series: Technique & Taste Mastery
    $349

    Cooking Class Description: Designed for ages 12 and older, this series combines creativity with essential culinary skills as teens explore the techniques that form the backbone of great cooking. Throughout the week, they’ll build toward true culinary...

    Add to Bag

Basic Cooking Skills Courses

Mastering basic cooking skills is one of the most rewarding investments you can make in yourself or someone you care about. Whether you’re just starting out in your first apartment, looking to brush up on the fundamentals, or searching for a thoughtful gift for a college student, newlywed, or recent retiree, these courses offer a strong foundation for any culinary journey. In the winter months, there’s a special comfort in learning how to simmer a homemade stock, bake a simple loaf of bread, or roast vegetables to golden perfection. The kitchen becomes a place of warmth and creativity, where even the most basic techniques—like chopping an onion efficiently or searing a chicken breast for maximum flavor—can turn everyday meals into something memorable. For anyone eager to feel more at home in the kitchen, basic cooking classes are a welcoming introduction, focused on essential skills like knife safety, proper measuring, and the building blocks of classic recipes. These lessons are designed to build confidence, so you can approach everything from a quick weeknight stir-fry to a slow-simmered Sunday sauce with a sense of ease and accomplishment.

Choosing a basic cooking skills course is about more than learning recipes; it’s about understanding the “why” behind each method. Students gain hands-on experience in sautéing, roasting, poaching, and even baking the simplest pastries, all while learning to navigate the kitchen safely and efficiently. The best courses provide a balance of instruction and practice, often including video demonstrations, downloadable guides, and opportunities to ask questions or share results. For families, these classes can be a way to spend quality time together, teaching children the basics of kitchen hygiene or the joy of making pancakes from scratch on a chilly morning. For busy professionals, they offer practical shortcuts and meal prep strategies that make home cooking less intimidating. And for anyone who’s ever hesitated at a recipe calling for “julienned carrots” or “deglazing a pan,” these lessons demystify the terminology and put you in control. As you build your skills, you’ll find that the kitchen becomes less about following instructions and more about expressing your own taste and creativity, one meal at a time.

If you’ve already started to feel comfortable with the basics and are eager to take your cooking to the next level, there are plenty of opportunities to expand your repertoire. Many students find that after mastering foundational techniques, they’re ready to explore more advanced methods, experiment with new cuisines, or tackle ambitious dishes they once thought were out of reach. For those interested in continuing their culinary education, our Intermediate Cooking Lessons offer a natural next step, building on the skills developed in basic courses and opening up a world of new flavors and techniques. No matter where you are on your cooking journey, the right class can inspire confidence, spark curiosity, and help you create delicious meals to share with family and friends, season after season.

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