the Price of a Basic Cooking Class

This was a 6 week course that met once a week for three hours per session. The cost was $220.00, was paid in advance in one lump sum, and included the cost of food and the other materials that were used during the class.

The class was intended as an introduction to basic cooking skills and techniques for people who had very little or no experience with real cooking. I actually know how to cook but took the class with a friend who claims she "can't boil water" because she didn't want to go alone. We both enjoyed the class, although she found it overwhelming and I actually learned more than I expected to. However, we also both thought that it was overpriced for what it was. We had thought the class was expensive when we registered for it and the actual experience did nothing to change our minds. We simply didn't receive $220 worth of instruction. It wasn't much different than watching a mediocre cooking show. The class was more about learning how to make a few select things instead of how to gain confidence to really COOK, which would allow someone to apply those skills to other recipes and give them the inspiration to explore.

If you are taking a cooking class, especially one that purports to be "basic," make sure you know in advance what you will be making in the class. Ask: Will the class focus on a few particular recipes? What are they? Will there be an emphasis on techniques that can be applied elsewhere?

Look for reviews about the class before you take it.

Shop around! Don't sign up for the first class you see and don't pick one just because it is the most convenient.