5 tips I wish I knew before culinary school

Here are 5 tips I wish I knew: 1️⃣ Get experience in a professional kitchen outside of class — Ask local restaurants if you can stage on the weekends. Several of my classmates did this to get extra reps and apply what we were learning in real time. School is invaluable, but nothing replaces hands-on experience in a professional kitchen. 2️⃣ Come with a “skills wishlist”— Be clear with your chef about the techniques or dishes you want to learn. They’ll often find ways to work in additional coaching or lessons beyond the standard syllabus. 3️⃣ Rushing and fatigue can lead to injuries — Culinary school is intense and fast-paced. Injuries can easily happen when you’re tired, rushing, or distracted. Slow down and stay focused. 4️⃣ Map out each recipe step-by-step before exams — Writing everything out in advance (e.g., timing, order of operations, key techniques, etc.) helps prevent small but costly mistakes when the pressure is on. 5️⃣ Volunteer for extra tasks to get more reps — The chef may ask one person to prepare a component of the recipe for the entire class. Take advantage of these opportunities to build skills and stronger relationships with your instructors. Bonus tip: arrive ~15-30 minutes early to change, set up your station, and sharpen your knives before class starts. Curious to hear from others! If you’ve been to culinary school, what’s one thing you wish you knew before starting? #Culinaryschool #chef #tips #cooking #food