The Before You Cook Book
If you get your forks from Chipotle, you need this book.
The basic principles of cooking aren't complicated, and your kitchen shouldn't be a scary place — you've just never been shown the basics in a way that actually makes sense. This book is a straightforward guide to getting comfortable in your kitchen without overthinking it or wasting money on things you don't need (yes, personal anecdotes are included). It covers the essential tools, when to use different types of cookware, the core rules that make everything easier, and simple suggestions that actually make the food you cook taste good, even great. If you've been relying on takeout, guessing your way around the kitchen, or avoiding cooking altogether like it's some kind of personality trait, this gives you a simple place to start. The goal isn't to turn you into a chef — it's to help you build a foundation so you can cook solid meals, feel more confident in the kitchen, and eventually maybe even motivate you to learn more. Stop spending $26 on DoorDash every time you're hungry and make the $7.99 investment in this book instead. It'll pay off.
The basic principles of cooking aren't complicated, and your kitchen shouldn't be a scary place — you've just never been shown the basics in a way that actually makes sense. This book is a straightforward guide to getting comfortable in your kitchen without overthinking it or wasting money on things you don't need (yes, personal anecdotes are included). It covers the essential tools, when to use different types of cookware, the core rules that make everything easier, and simple suggestions that actually make the food you cook taste good, even great. If you've been relying on takeout, guessing your way around the kitchen, or avoiding cooking altogether like it's some kind of personality trait, this gives you a simple place to start. The goal isn't to turn you into a chef — it's to help you build a foundation so you can cook solid meals, feel more confident in the kitchen, and eventually maybe even motivate you to learn more. Stop spending $26 on DoorDash every time you're hungry and make the $7.99 investment in this book instead. It'll pay off.
Why This Book Exists & Why I Wrote It
My name is Nick, and I'm the author of The Before You Cook Book. I didn't go to culinary school, I'm not a chef, and I don't even work in food. In fact, I work in advertising and live a pretty normal life — probably a lot like yours. And that's the whole point. I learned the basics from my Mom, but most of it, I learned by doing. You don't need a formal education or a decade of summers spent with an iron-chef grandmother to figure this out. You just need a little clarity and some practical guidance. That's what this book is. No recipes. No “easy meals for one”. Just simple information and suggestions to help you achieve kitchen independence. We all have our “Somedays” — the things we swear we'll figure out eventually. Cooking doesn't need to be one of them. Learning new things is hard. Trust me, I know. That's why I wrote this book: to give you one less thing to worry about learning. And hey, you might even impress yourself along the way. Happy Cooking.
What readers say
“I'm not afraid to cook my own chicken anymore.”
— Maddie M. “My girlfriend actually lets me cook for her now.”
— Mike D. “No joke. The money I saved by not using DoorDash covered my car payment.”
— Jon O. “I cook a lot already, but this book evolved the way I use spices.”
— Grant M. “Why don't they teach us this in school??”
— Kat A. “I can finally execute the recipes I see on Instagram.”
— Pat G.
Bi-weekly kitchen notes
Short emails on equipment, technique, and the stuff cookbooks skip. Twice a month, no spam.