What does it mean to "Know how to cook?"

Question

Well, I started thinking about it when someone told me "I don't know how to cook hehe"

So what does that REALLY mean? When do you consider that you know how to cook? I mean, I know how to pan fry some chicken, prepare some rice and vegetables. I can cook eggs, bake a turkey, microwave some soup lol or just boil it, boil some noodles and make spaghetti or pasta. But most of the stuff I make is simple, I usually eat complex carbs, fry some steak/chicken/fish and eat some olive oil or peanuts.

Would I consider myself knowing how to cook and when would you consider someone who doesn't? What is the line to draw where you "do know how"?

Answer 1

I don't think knowing how to cook means you can make any recipe at the drop of a hat. A French chef can probably out creme bru le a fry cook. But, I'll stick with the fry cook when it comes to eggs over easy and hash browns. Cooking is an art and not everyone paints the same picture.

Answer 2

For some people, to know how to cook comes naturally.

Others, you can become self-taught by reading and learning from many detailed cookbooks, by experimenting(trial and error), or by enrolling in a Chef's School.

Cooking for yourself and being satisfied,  and cooking for others and satisfying them could be 2 different things.  

Answer 3

Knowing how to cook means that if I asked you to cook Burgundy Beef Tips w/ Burgundy Cream Sauce your better know just exactly how to prepare and cook this meal without asking 100 questions about this or that. Your confidence level with cooking and preparing food should be as normal as doing your favorite thing in the world without messing up. Keep your head high and when asked to do something, reply" Yes Chef " and get the **** done to order.