For many Singaporeans, cooking at home is a luxury that not everyone can afford. A recent survey of how Singaporeans use their time revealed that up to 60% of a Singaporean’s day is spent on work-related activities, and only 27% is spent on leisure. Another survey showed that only 22% of Singaporean households cook at home, a low percentage compared to people living in other major cities, like Shanghai and London.

Amid these, there is a strong resurgence of people signing up for a cooking course in Singapore. The push could partly have come from the Singapore Tourism Board’s 2021 campaign, ‘Singapore Reimagined.” In preparation for revenge travelers from Southeast Asian countries, STB anchored its campaign on Zi Char, a lesser-known Singaporean cooking technique that is “influenced by home-cooked food.”

Zi Char is a cooking style inspired by cooking for the family. The servings are bigger and the price is made easier for the pocket. Zi Char cooking has given birth to many Singaporean favourites including Bee Hoon, Cereal Prawns, Pork Ribs, Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, and Curry Fish Head.

Another reason culinary courses in Singapore are getting more attention is that Singaporeans are starting to choose healthier ways to eat. As early as 2015, a Statista report showed that about 25% of Singaporeans cook at home for health-related reasons.  During the pandemic, when many people were forced to dabao due to community lockdowns, many Singaporeans started firing up their stoves to cook to give themselves a break from take-away food.

Still many others who quit or lost their brick-and-mortar jobs turned to cooking or baking during the pandemic, signing up for culinary courses offered in Singapore to widen their culinary and baking skills. Many have transformed their hobby into a home-based business.

There are a plethora of cooking courses in Singapore that offer ways for people to improve their culinary skills. Here are some of them:

Types of cooking courses in Singapore

There are plenty of cooking courses available in Singapore for all levels of experience and expertise. Let’s take a look at some popular types of cooking courses offered in Singapore.

Cooking courses in Singapore offered by professional culinary schools

If you are serious about making a career out of cooking, then professional culinary courses are the way to go. These courses will teach you the fundamental techniques and skills required to become a professional chef, including knife skills, basic plating techniques, food safety guidelines, sanitation procedures, and more. Professional culinary courses usually last between six months and two years, depending on the specialisation that you choose.

Baking courses

 For those who are passionate about baking cakes, breads, pastries, pies, cookies and other baked goods, there are plenty of baking classes in Singapore that offer step-by-step guidance on creating delicious treats from scratch. You can learn how to make everything from traditional French macarons to classic American cupcakes in these classes. Many baking classes also offer advanced topics such as cake decoration or chocolate tempering for experienced bakers who want to refine their skills even further.

Cooking courses in Singapore for the home gourmands

These days it’s becoming increasingly popular for people to stay home and cook rather than go out for dinner every night. If you want to learn how to create restaurant-quality meals at home without breaking the bank then home gourmet courses might be just what you need! Home gourmet courses focus on teaching students how to make simple yet impressive dishes using everyday ingredients from the pantry or supermarket. For example, one lesson might teach you how to prepare a five-star steak dinner using just three ingredients.

Benefits of Taking a Cooking Course in Singapore

Singapore’s food culture offers a melting pot of flavours and aromas that attract many people from all over the world. Singapore is renowned for its diverse array of culinary delights. From hawker centers to Michelin-star restaurants, the city-state has something for every palate. A great way to experience the full range of flavours the Little Red Dot offers is by taking a cooking course in this East Asian metropolis that assembles the best of Chinese, Indonesian, Malaysian, and French cuisines. Here are a few benefits of taking a cooking course in Singapore.

Improve Your Culinary Technique

Cooking courses provide students with an opportunity to hone their skills in the kitchen. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook, there’s always something new to learn and perfect. A cooking class can help you master the basics of knife handling and food preparation as well as introduce you to more complex techniques like sous vide or molecular gastronomy. Many courses also include hands-on demonstrations that allow you to practice your technique under the guidance of a professional chef.

Experiment With New Cuisines

Singapore is home to some of the most unique and delicious cuisines from around the world. Taking a cooking course in Singapore gives you access to recipes and ingredients that may not be easily available at your local grocery store or market. This is especially beneficial if you want to explore different flavours from around Southeast Asia but don’t have access to them otherwise. You might even find yourself inspired by traditional recipes and techniques, allowing you to add unexpected flavour combinations into your own dishes back at home!

Discover Local Flavors

Every region has its own set of flavours and ingredients that are unique to it alone, so why not take full advantage while enrolled in a Singaporean cooking course? You can learn about local spices, herbs, condiments, fruits and vegetables used in traditional dishes—all while being guided by experienced chefs who know these flavours inside out. This will open up your culinary horizons and expand your knowledge of regional specialities that could potentially make their way into your own creations down the line!                                                                                                                                                                       

Choosing the right cooking course in Singapore

Another good thing about learning to cook in Singapore is that there are a lot of culinary schools that offer quality instruction. So how can you choose the right cooking course and school for you?

Here’s our guide:

1. Know your objective.

What is your goal for signing up for a cooking course? Do you want to improve your skills, and bridge the gap between being a home gourmand and a professional chef? Do you want a certification that you could use to professionalise your learning and be recognised for it? Or do you want to gain experience so you can operate your own café or start your own business? Depending on your desired outcome, there is cooking course and culinary school in Singapore that is a good match for you.

2. Check the availability of the cooking course against your work schedule.

The flexibility of the course schedule is important so that you can make sure to attend and finish your course. Remember, there is joy in cooking especially when you dedicate time to it. There can be a disaster in the kitchen if everything is rushed about. Just like any field of study, learning to cook requires an investment of time. So choose a culinary school in Singapore that offers courses you could attend after work or during the weekends.

While learning to cook is an investment that pays huge dividends, choosing a cooking course that suits your budget is the best way to go. Watch out for promos and discounts.

4. A supportive community.

Above all, have fun being a part of a supportive culinary community. Together with fellow cooking enthusiasts, you can learn so much more and find joy in cooking.

A cooking course in Singapore is an excellent way for aspiring cooks or chefs looking to broaden their knowledge base and gain a mastery of various culinary techniques. From learning about local spices and herbs used in regional dishes, experimenting with new cuisines from other parts of Southeast Asia, all while being guided by experienced professionals—the possibilities are endless! With all these benefits combined, there's no doubt that taking a cooking course in Singapore will be an enriching experience!

Looking for a cooking course in Singapore? Check out Palate Sensations Culinary School, Singapore’s market leader for leisure culinary learning. We look forward to welcoming you to class today.

By: Ping Manongdo