Top 5 Kitchen Skills Every DofE Cook Should Master
- Susannah Anderson
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
A practical guide for building confidence in the kitchen – and ticking off your DofE Skills section
Completing your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an exciting journey, and choosing cookery as your Skills section is not only rewarding, it’s delicious too! At Egg & Soldiers, we believe every young person can feel confident in the kitchen, and our online cookery course is designed to help you build real-world culinary skills that will last a lifetime.
Whether you’re tackling your Bronze, Silver, or Gold DofE, here are the top 5 essential kitchen skills you’ll develop on our course — and why they matter.
1. Knife Skills: The Foundation of Every Great Meal
Learning how to safely and efficiently use a knife is one of the most valuable things a young cook can master.
You’ll build confidence in:
Understanding knife safety and handling, practising the ‘bridge’ and ‘claw’ method
Chopping vegetables evenly (great for stews, stir-fries, and roasts)
Slicing meat safely and cleanly
2. Seasoning & Taste: Learning to Cook by Senses
Cooking isn’t just following a recipe — it’s learning to trust your nose and taste buds.
Through dishes like pasta bakes, curries, and sauces, we teach:
When to add salt, spices, or acidity
How to balance sweet and savoury flavours
Taste-testing and adjusting
Why it matters: Good seasoning is the difference between bland and brilliant. It’s also where personal creativity shines!
3. Baking Basics: From Bread to Brownies
Baking teaches precision, patience, and a bit of magic. In our DofE course, you’ll:
Learn to bake simple cakes, biscuits, pastry and bread
Understand rising agents, mixing methods, and oven timing
Explore sweet and savoury baking (like scones, flastbread, or traybakes)
4. Cooking on the Hob: Confidence with Heat
Knowing how to cook on the hob opens up a whole world of meals. We’ll walk you through:
Pan-frying (for curries, chillies, and pasta sauces)
Simmering soups and stews
Managing heat levels and avoiding burnt food
5. Meal Planning & Prep: The Real-Life Superpower
It’s not just about cooking — it’s about planning, and timing. You’ll learn how to:
Planning ahead, reading recipes before you get started for an organised approach
Prep ingredients in advance
Minimise food waste and shop smart
Bonus Skill: Perfect for future uni life or helping out at home.
Why These Skills Matter for DofE
Each of these skills shows progress over time, which is exactly what the DofE Skills section requires.
On our course, you’ll:
Get weekly recipes and feedback
Build a portfolio of evidence
Finish with an Assessor’s Report we submit directly to eDofE
And best of all? You’ll be able to cook meals you’re proud of — for yourself, your family, and maybe one day for your friends and flatmates too.
Ready to Get Cooking?
Our online DofE cookery course is fully approved for Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. It’s flexible, fun, and designed to fit around school and other commitments.
Or contact us to find the right course for your level susannah@eggandsoldiers.co.uk
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