Exploring Cooking Methods

Success Story

Research shows that people who prepare and cook meals at home are more likely to eat the recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains needed in a balanced diet. Building skills and cooking knowledge increases the likelihood that people choose to prepare home-cooked meals.

To encourage more home-prepared meals, the Fort Harrod Area FCS Agents hosted the workshop Savor the Flavor: Exploring Cooking Methods was led by Mercer County Extension Agent, Tara Duty. This lesson focused on various types of cooking methods and flavoring techniques. Extension developed it as a way to teach people how to make home-prepared meals that are flavorful and exciting. These methods are basic and easy to incorporate into home cooking, yet people commonly say they are unsure or intimidated by cooking and don’t always know how to expand their skills in the kitchen to create flavorful meals. The goal of this program is to increase knowledge about various types of cooking methods and ways to add flavor to food. 70 people participated in the workshop at the Boyle County Extension Office and 52 people completed the post-evaluation survey.

Of those surveyed, 73% (n=38) and 83% (n=43) indicated they better understood different types of cooking methods and flavoring techniques, respectively, and 83% (n=42) stated they increased their level of understanding regarding ways to incorporate different cooking methods and flavoring techniques into food preparation and cooking. Further, 96% (n=50) expressed the intention to try a new cooking method and/or flavoring technique as a way to prepare or add flavor to foods, while 98% (n=51) expressed the intention to incorporate more variety in cooking methods and flavoring techniques into cooking to increase their number of home-prepared meals. Finally, 98% (n=51) reported that the program was timely, practical, and educational.

Participants shared they were interested in trying cooking methods they had never used before with specific interest in marinating meat and vegetables, cooking vegetables in new ways, and learning more about using these cooking methods to reduce salt in the diet.