Forks Over Knives Online Cooking Course
Pros
- Go At Your Own Pace
- Lifetime Access
- Abundance of Delicious Recipes
- Online Community
- Valuable Feedback by Professional Chefs
Cons
- Price Point Can Be Considered High for Some
In the summer of 2019, I stepped out of my comfort zone and into a 90-day immersive online cooking course with the Forks Over Knives Cooking Class.
While I was a little nervous—since I’m not the primary cook in the house (and for good reason!)—I knew I needed to improve my core culinary skills so that Larissa wasn’t stuck with all the cooking.
After all, it’s so easy to get into a cooking rut, making the same recipes over and over (especially when your cooking techniques are limited). Not only is the lack of variety boring, it means that we rely more on processed foods which we don’t want to do.
Although neither Larissa nor I follow a strict whole-food, plant-based diet, we firmly believe that animal-based and processed food diets contribute to many chronic diseases and a range of health conditions these days. We also think a balanced plant-focused diet can help reverse these conditions, so I was even more motivated to start the course.
Time to POWER UP my cooking game!
Here’s my review and key takeaways from the Rouxbe Forks Over Knives Cooking Class.
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Forks Over Knives Cooking Course Syllabus
The course is set up in nine units and covers everything from the basics of cooking to advanced techniques.
- Getting set up Preparing the kitchen for success.
- Knives and Knife Cuts Learning a variety of knife skills and knife cuts.
- Moist-Heat Cooking Methods Cooking in water, steaming, and preserving vegetables.
- Dry-Heat Cooking Methods Mastering sautéing, roasting, combo cooking methods, and more.
- Batch Cooking Learning principles of batch cooking for plant-based staples like grains, legumes, and vegetables.
- Flavor Balancing and Seasoning Understanding the key principles of flavor balancing and earthy flavor profiles.
- Shopping List Essentials Stocking up on ingredients for 100 whole-food, plant-based recipes.
- Daily Meal Inspiration Ideas for daily meals to keep things fresh and exciting.
- Final Assessment Wrapping up with an exam and loads of resources.
My 5 Big Takeaways
1. The Forks Over Knives Mindset
The course emphasizes a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle that meets all nutrient needs except B12. It teaches students to see food as a full package of nutrients.
2. Good Kitchen Equipment Can Make a HUGE Difference!
We did a “kitchen reset” and learned about the importance of having quality equipment, like reliable knives. I ended up investing in the Top Chef 9-Piece Knife Set, which is perfect for practicing different knife cuts. The importance of taking care of knives was another valuable lesson that helped me appreciate how good tools can enhance cooking.
- Set includes: 8" chef knife, 8" bread knife, 7" santoku knife, 4.5" utility knife, 3" paring knife, shears, sharpening rod, and knife block
- Durable: Made from ice-tempered 4116 high carbon german stainless steel for an exceptional degree of corrosion resistance and peak edge retention
- Professional grade: 15-degree edge sharpness for precision cutting and hand finished with Japanese ultra-fine polishing wheel
- Balanced: Full tang construction for balance, durability, and ease of use
3. Mise en Place: The French Culinary Term for “Setting in Place”
The concept of mise en place—prepping everything ahead of time—was a huge game-changer. It helped me stay organized andreduced the risk of cross-contamination. This skill-based lesson is a must for confident cooks.
After taking this course, Larissa and I devoted an entire podcast episode to the concept of mise en place because it was a HUGE takeaway for me. Listen to it here.
4. Cooking Without Oil. Yes, It’s Possible!
At first, I was skeptical about oil-free cooking, but I learned that with constant movement and high heat, it’s totally doable! A good quality pan, like the Emeril Lagasse Stainless Steel Fry Pan, also made a difference.
This was the concept that I was probably the most skeptical about, but now I believe that cooking without oil is possible!
5. Welcome to Flavor Country!
Plant-based foods don’t have to be bland. I discovered how umami-rich ingredients can add depth to plant-based dishes.
Plant-based sources of umami include:
- soy sauce
- tamari
- Braggs Aminos
- nutritional yeast
- mushrooms
- olives
- seaweed
- tomatoes
- fermented foods like kimchi or sauerkraut
- Umeboshi plums
The course taught me how to bring out exciting flavor profiles and balance sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami for delicious meals.
Some More Cool Things About Taking The Course
Here are a few other cool things you get when you take the course:
- lifetime access to all course content
- quizzes and virtual Q & A’s
- progress tracking
- 30 credits from the American Culinary Federation (you are LEGIT!). A bonus for those looking to build professional culinary skills!
Would I Take the Forks Over Knives Course Again?
I’d definitely take this online cooking course again. It’s well-structured, with hours of step-by-step instructions instruction from world-renowned chefs.
If you’re considering an online cooking school to master plant-based cooking techniques, I highly recommend it. Whether you’re looking to boost your culinary skills or want to explore delicious plant-based dishes, this course covers it all—from vegan recipes to time-saving batch cooking strategies.
If you’re ready to up your plant-based cooking game, check out the Forks Over Knives Cooking Courses through Rouxbe Cooking School. It could be the perfect gift for yourself or someone else!
- Learn to master knife skills
- Cooking without oil and creating healthy stocks/ sauces
- Time-Saving cooking strategies
- Virtual Q&A's and instructor support
Not ready to jump into the full course just yet? Try a monthly membership for only $9.99/ month to see if Rouxbe online courses are right for you!
You can also try their smaller less expensive course to start with, Culinary Rx. Read my review of that course here.
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Recipe of the Week (Yes! It’s a Forks Over Knives Recipe!)
Related Posts
- How Culinary Rx Can Boost Your Plant-Based Cooking Skills
- Episode 265 – Forks Over Knives Update (July 15, 2018)
Listen here to hear us discuss my top takeaways or read on for a quick summary:
