Can you cook without the use of cookbook?

Though I do use cookbooks for new recipes, I can cook without using a cookbook and do it almost everyday. Even when I refer to a cookbook, I usually make some little changes to suit our taste.

I used to go religiously by a recipe or by cookbooks. Now I do the same as a lot of the others. I get the ideas and then add or subtract items from the recipes. That way you're not copying the recipe. A lot of times it's basic techniques and once you know them, it's easy! Some people like things like Hamburger/Tuna helper(s) and consider that cooking. To me, that's not cooking. It's a cop out for cooking. Yes, you do have to cook the noodles, or rice or whatever but all the spices are premeasured out so there's no thinking to it. Plus they add additional salt which is unhealthy. When you create your own recipes you control the amount of salt that's being used. I personally like it that way. I try to cook as healthy as possible. So, to answer the question, yes, I can cook without the use of a cookbook. All a cookbook is a guideline and once you've learned that, the world is your oyster!!

yaa i can but for bakingn recipess i need to refer to a book ..i dont knw why csnt i do it wid out a book

I use a cookbook about half the time. Normally once I make something once I do not need to look at the recipe ever again. I sometimes use a cookbook just to give me an idea for something and then I do not follow the recipe.

I do not have a cookbook in my house. I do not follow recipes either unless it's for a cake or cookies and even then, those recipes are from my mum via email or text Most of our meals are simple or traditional anyway but it is something to definitely look into to try something different I guess as we do get quite bored with our usual meals sometimes.

I have been cooking for many years but I still use the cook book for any new thing or even for things that I have cooked before but it's been a long time. Most of the time I change the recipe in some manner. Don't feel badly about cooking from the book, there are a lot of things that can go wrong if you don't. LOL

Once you learn how to use certain basic ingredients you can use them any way you want. It come naturally after a while and you can then experiment and make up dishes at will. Its all a matter of learning and practice.

oddly .. i cant cook WITH a cookbook. even if i have a recipe given to me, i vary it all over the place and change it so much its no longer the original recipe anyways LOL

If you mean "create" a new recipe - no. My mother could, but I can't. But, I can cook without a cookbook making things I'm familiar with or by using recipes I know to expand on. I just don't know what seasonings go with what ingredients to be creating my own recipe. I just use known recipes as a foundation.

sure "but" i have been cooking for 50 years+. you'll get where u can to. i'm so proud of you for trying. so many young people don't even want to try to learn.it's not good to eat junk food all the time. now i like it every once in awhile but don't think it's healthy for u or your children if u have it all the time. congrats! on trying & keep up the good work.

hey,actually i am not good at cooking and this summer i go lazier than last summer. i've never cooked one dish in my family,it is always cooked by my farther or my uncle.and the dishes made by them are really delicious and i'll never forget the varieties of taste. last summer vacation,i always cooked because my parents were busy and of course the duty fell on my shoulder. i can cook a few dishes without reading the cookbook,and also they are delicious. never mind,practice makes perfect.come on. take care.

yes i can cook without using cook books. im not a cook by profession but i can cook . i know some of the menus that my daughter like to eat. pasta, heavy and light meal. sandwiches and soups, so on and so forth.

I can without cookbook which dishes are familiar with me, but when I steps to try a new one, I must hv the help from a good cookbook.

Ofcourse. I am a good cook and have learnt most of my recipes from my mom. Never had top refer cook books under her guidance. But thats only upto the traditional indian dishes. When it comes to baking and using microwave oven I have had to refer cook books. But even thats for the first time. Now that I have learnt to do those recipes on my own I hardly ever refer to a cookbook. ALso I have a liking to expriment with my recipes and also try new things especially considering that my hubby loves eating. he is always appreciative of my efforts in the kitchen. this really gives a big motivation to keep trying and experimenting. I must admit I have couple of cook books that I refer to from time to time to see what innovations I can make to my already tested recipes.

I hardly ever use a cookbook or a recipe unless it's something I'm not familiar with. I have several good cookbooks, but hardly ever take them off the shelf! The longer you cook, the less you'll rely on one.

It depends on what I'm making. If it's something I've made a hundred times like baked chicken or scalloped potatoes, I dont use a cookbook. If I have a new recipie or something I'm not familiar with I will use a cookbook. I've been cooking for a long time, so alot of it is pretty second nature to me.

If I had to I could more than likely just about get along without a cookbook,but I would prefer to use one,I could do all of the basic recipes without one im sure,but lol ive been doing them for years so thats no great suprise!but all in all if the recipe was a special one and I wanted it to turn out well,then id rather have a cook book!

I usually do a quick internet search for recipes before cooking just so I get a refresher on proportions and commonly forgotten ingredients. If I follow the recipe exactly, I usually end up putting in 1/4 cup of salt rather than 1/4 tsp of salt and that sort of thing.

Yes i can cook, most of the food we cook at home are recipe from my grandmom, so i know them by heart. I only consult the internet/recipe book if i want to cook or try a new recipe that was suggested by friends or sometimes food from television shows.

the regular dishes what i prepare daily, i have no need for them to view its recipes but if i want to try something new i need to view its recipe n then cook n also if i m cooking a dish after a long time, i view its recipe n then start cooking so that i dont make any mistakes. usually i´ll try my best to remember n not use the recipe book while cooking