30 People Who Cook Smarter, Not Harder, Share Their Favorite Kitchen Cheats

Bintu, who shares easy yet exciting recipes on her cooking blog Recipes From A Pantry, acknowledges that applying what you see online may seem daunting at first. "While I absolutely love how cooking is getting its social media due, the downside is that it can intimidate those who are just starting out," she told Bored Panda.

"Viewing a 3-second TikTok video that makes a fairly complex recipe look easy can lead to frustration when the version you make at home doesn’t turn out the same way."

However, as Chris, the man behind the food blog Don't Go Bacon My Heart, explained, if you want to be better, you need to "experiment, be fearless, and break the rules. You'll make many, many mistakes along the way, but we all do. And when that poached egg overcooks or that cheesecake doesn't set, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep on cooking!"

"One of the most important factors in creating great food is balancing the flavors," said Chris, a finalist in Netflix's Crazy Delicious and the author of Comfy: Next-level comfort food you’ll actually want to cook.

It doesn't have to be very fancy, either. "A squeeze of lemon juice, a pinch of salt, or a drizzle of honey can be the difference between a good and a great dish."

Of course, you shouldn't feel bad if at times you just don't feel like cooking and order delivery instead. Maybe it's not in your genes.

According to data compiled by Gallup, the global average of cooking and eating-at-home frequencies mask interesting regional differences.

Northern, Southern, and Western European regions have the most prolific chefs, with locals cooking an average of 7.8 meals per week. The Latin American and Caribbean regions, as well as the Southeast Asian and Pacific regions share second place, with both cooking 7.2 meals per week.

On the other hand, the Arabic States cook the least, with people there preparing an average of 4.6 weekly meals at home.

Cooking at home is a great way not just to save money, but also to create a memorable date night experience, as it allows you and your significant other to bond, be creative together, and enjoy a personal, intimate atmosphere. But if you're inviting someone over, you might have to pay more attention to the presentation, too.

"I'd say visuals are really important when serving a dish. How a dish looks will set the tone of your overall experience," said Chris of Don't Go Bacon My Heart. "If your taste buds aren't tingling before you've started eating you're already on the back foot. You do eat with your eyes after all!"

But whether you've prepared a lazy one-potter or a fancy dinner, once it gets into your belly, the effort feels worth it.

"Cooking your own meals is incredibly satisfying, and it’s also a great way to let your creativity shine!" Bintu of Recipes From A Pantry added.

"Don't be afraid of trying new things and failing. Some of my most popular recipes are the result of a good deal of trial and error... Emphasis on the error side!" the chef added, laughing.