Cookbooks vs. Cooking Books: What's the Difference?
Learning to cook for yourself is one of those things that can be really beneficial for a number of reasons, but many people just don’t do it. Not only can it save you money and be a nice shared experience, but it can also be a fun and interesting way to experience new things.
When you’re just starting out, it can seem tough to make food beyond a few basic recipes. So, how do you get better at cooking? You could take classes, but this may feel unnecessary and expensive if you’re only planning to cook at home for friends and family. One of the most straightforward ways you can learn to cook is by working with good food books — both cookbooks and cooking books. Yes, there is a bit of a difference between the two, which we’ll get into.
Cookbooks
The ones you’re most likely familiar with are cookbooks. For beginner home cooks, a cookbook is an invaluable guide because it’s a step-by-step recipe for making delicious dishes. Following the recipes can be great ways to get a feel for cooking and learning different techniques in a safe, guided environment. Most cookbooks focus on a specific cuisine, usually the specialty of the author. Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook’s Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking is a snapshot of the food you’d get at his award-winning Zahav restaurant in Philadelphia. Some cookbooks aren’t focused on the type of cuisine, but instead the form it takes, like Serena Cosmo’s gigantic The Ultimate Pasta and Noodle Cookbook.
Following recipes can be a great way to get a feel for cooking and learning different techniques in a safe, guided environment.
Others’ cookbooks don’t fit into a specific theme or cuisine and instead are more generalized. This is especially true when they’re written by a famous chef or food-interested celebrity. The excellent Gordon Ramsay’s Home Cooking and the Cravings series (Cravings and Cravings: Hungry for More) by Chrissy Teigen fit this mold well.
Some cookbooks even include sections that explain and cover different ingredients, techniques, and cooking knowledge so you understand the how and why behind certain recipes. Some excellent examples of this are Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, Recipes, and Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking (which has roughly 40 pages outlining cooking strategies, techniques, and styles used at the now closed Les Halles bistro in NYC) or Jacques Pepin’s Essential Pépin: More Than 700 All-Time Favorites form My Life in Food, which comes with a free DVD of techniques to go along with the recipes.
Cooking Books
The other type of book may be for the home cook that’s ready to take the next step — from replicating recipes in a book to creating or elevating dishes. These books can be called cooking books, and they essentially flip the equation from the books we mentioned earlier.
Instead of focusing on direct recipes, cooking books are more devoted to techniques or even the science of cooking and flavor. These books aren’t ones we’d suggest for beginners because while both types teach you how to cook, the difference is like the difference between a beautiful adult coloring book and a book on art theory. One shows you how to make a specific picture (or recipe in this case) and the other teaches you how to make your own masterpiece painting (or dish). That isn’t to say that cookbooks are less useful, it’s just a different way of learning that may not be suitable for people who are new to cooking.
Instead of focusing on direct recipes, cooking books are more devoted to techniques or even the science of cooking and flavor.
Each cooking book isn’t a carbon copy of the other, though. They all teach a deeper understanding of cooking a little differently, so each is helpful in their own way. For example, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat (a book we’ve referenced a few times) delves into the science of different flavors and why things taste the way they do. This covers flavor combinations and cooking methods, which can improve your cooking intuition and knowledge of taste.
Alternatively, books like The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg and Ingredienti by Marcella Hazan and Victor Hazan break down individual ingredients so you can learn how best to use them. While Ingredienti is more centered on key ingredients of Italian cuisine, The Flavor Bible is mostly focused on handy charts that list the ingredients, the best ways to cook them, and the other ingredients they pair well with. Finally, you have books like Martha Stewart’s Cooking School, which is more focused on the techniques of cooking and illustrates them with recipes you can follow. Of course, there are other books that fit well into these categories, so don’t hesitate to check out a bunch.
● ● ●
Cooking is a skill we feel everyone should have somewhat of a grasp on. Even if you’re not throwing out dishes that can wow your friends or making fresh pasta every night of the week, having a few reliable recipes that you know by heart can ensure you’re not relying on fast food or heavily processed ready-made meals from the grocery store. Books can be an excellent resource to have in your kitchen, no matter what your current cooking skill level is. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to start creating your own recipes from scratch, there’s a book out there that can help take your cooking abilities to the next level.
Featured Blogs
- Learning to Ski
- The Stories Behind Classic Christmas Carols
- 4 More Tips to Make Christmas Tree Hunt Less Stressful
- Why Do We Celebrate That? Other Festive Holidays
- A Senior Guide to Boston
- A Senior Guide to Edinburgh
- How Does Medicare Cover Osteoporosis?
- What are Ulcers?
- Medicare's Coverage of Parkinson's Disease
- What is a Cognitive Screening?
- Spooky Spots for Halloween 2023
- 4 Ways to Keep Trick-or-Treating Safe
- 10 Classic Horror Books for Halloween
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2024
- 10 Safety Rules for Seniors Who Enjoy Hunting
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- A Senior Guide to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- A Senior Guide to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- All About Enrolling in Social Security
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Madrid
- Does Medicare Cover Open-Heart Surgery?
- Exercise Tips for Summer
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lisbon
- Hosting a Safe Summer Barbecue
- Senior Summer Barbecue Tips
- Does Medicare Cover Biopsies?
- 5 Foods to Avoid if You Have High Blood Pressure
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Finger Lakes
- Does Medicare Cover Endoscopies?
- Ways Seniors Can Recover from a Workout
- Is Chocolate Healthy for You?
- Understanding Adult ADHD
- How Does Medicare Cover Hypertension?
- The Symptoms and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
- How to Determine What Temperature to Use When Cooking
- Eating Healthy on a Budget
- Keeping Fit on Vacation
- Is Your Tonsillectomy Covered by Medicare?
- Tips for the Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Kitchen First Aid Tips
- What Does FDA-Approved Mean?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Guide to New York City
- How to Caramelize Onions
- Why Do We Celebrate That? April Fools’ Day
- Medicare and Powers of Attorney
- The Essential Role of Eggs in Cooking
- What are Different Types of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine? - Tips for Remembering to Take Your Medicine
- What is Medicare Part E?
- Building Your Basic At-Home Senior Gym
- How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to New Orleans
- How to Navigate & Read Academic Articles
- Phytonutrients: What Plant Color Says About Nutrition
- How to Prevent or Reduce Inflammation
- Osteoporosis: Risk Factors, Signs, and Treatment
- How to Make Homemade Pretzels
- Researching Your Ancestry and Family Tree
- How Medicare and Social Security Work Together
- What is Nordic Walking?
- Food Questions You've Been Embarrassed to Ask
- How Medicare Changed for 2023 and Beyond
- Tips for Using a Microwave
- How to Clean Your Ears Safely
- Skiing as a Healthy Hobby for Seniors
- 3 More Great Places to Celebrate New Year's Eve
- Why Do We Celebrate That? More New Year's Eve Traditions
- Panettone, the Italian Christmas Dessert
- A Simple Homemade Gingerbread Recipe
- How to Make Christmas Decorating Jollier
- The Science of Winter Weight Gain
- Seasonal Picks: 3 Foods You Should Try This Winter
- 5 Tips to Make Getting Your Christmas Tree Stress-Free
- Show-Stopping Potato Side Dishes for Thanksgiving
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Boeuf Bourguignon
- Holiday Travel Tips to Reduce Stress
- Does Medicare Cover Pain Management?
- Is Hunting a Healthy Senior Hobby?
- Ways You Can Get More Politically Involved
- What are Medicare's Lifetime Reserve Days?
- Spooky Spots for Seniors Halloween 2022
- How to Make Soul Cakes for Halloween
- Jack O' Lantern Carving Tips for Halloween
- Easy Ways to Peel a Potato
- 2023 Social Security COLA Largest in Decades
- Exercise Tips for Autumn
- How to Make Candy Apples at Home
- Why are Medicare Insurance Sales Calls Recorded?
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2023
- CMS Updates Medicare Enrollment Rules for 2023
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to London
- Does Medicare Cover Insomnia Treatment?
- Healthy and Easy Homemade Dog Treats
- The FDA Finalizes Ruling to Increase Access to Hearing Aids
- What the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Means for Medicare
- Tips to Make Flying and Airports Less Stressful
- CMS Projects Lower 2023 Part D Average Costs
- The 15 Golden Rules of Airplane Etiquette
- How Often Should You Shower?
- What are Medicare Pilot Programs?
- How to Care for Your Cast Iron Cookware
- Confronting a Loved One About Hurtful Behavior
- What Does Creditable Coverage Mean for Medicare?
- Using Za'atar in Your Cooking
- Dealing with Canceled Flights
- Protecting Your Vacation from Flight Disruptions
- Do Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Medicare Coverage?
- Which is Better: A Bath or Shower?
- Are Weight Loss Medications Healthy?
- Healthy Strategies for Anger Management
- The Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- The Difference Between Common Cooking Papers and Foils
- What are Medicare I-SNPs?
- Identifying Toxic Relationships in Your Life
- Healthy Ways to Spice Up Your Water
- All About Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans
- Medicareful Travels: A Senior Guide to All-Inclusive Resorts
- Does Medicare Cover Occupational Therapy?
- Lower 2023 Medicare Part B Premium Could Be on the Way
- Which is Better: Natural or Artificial Sweeteners?
- Tips for Vacationing with Pets
- Is It Better to Work Out Harder or Longer?
- Tips for Traveling with Your Pet
- Are Medicare Part B Giveback Plans Worth It?
- Introducing the Medicareful Living Family Cookbook!
- Medicare Coverage for Treatment of PTSD
- The Causes and Treatments of Nasal Congestion
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Spring Rolls
- Medicare Freezes Late Enrollment Penalties for Qualifying Enrollees
- What is a 5-Star Medicare Plan?
- What is PTSD?
- What is Inflammation?
- What is Medicare's Secondary Payer Program?
- What You Should Know When Buying Cast Iron Cookware
- What Does MACRA Mean for You?
- What to Do If You Receive a Terminal Diagnosis
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Homemade Lobster Ravioli
- Reading and Understanding Your Blood Pressure
- How to Be a Snowbird in Retirement (18 Questions to Ask!)