Easy Peas Recipes

In our last post, “Cooking or Baking? Is There Really a Difference?” I suggested that the difference between cooking and baking is like the difference between a Type A and Type B personality. That is just an analogy, and of course there are many facets to someone’s personality – people are just complex. Our personalities affect every part of our lives – so how do our personalities affect our work in the kitchen? Let’s take a look at just the Type A and Type B approaches to cooking.

Type A

• Organized and methodical
  As a cook, being organized and having a plan is helpful, and even essential (eg. baking that requires precise measurements and step order). Organization and preparation bolsters confidence in the kitchen and cuts down stress which leads more often to a predictable, successful result. Type A’s thrive on research and understanding so they can better control the outcome of a recipe.
• Competitive and ambitious
  Type A people strive to do the best that they can at what they do. They challenge themselves and strive toward set goals. In the kitchen, Type A people tend to be critical of their cooking. The expect the result of their work to be excellent and would like others to feel the same. They tend to be the most disappointed with unexpected results.
• Type A cooks strive in organized kitchens and like to work with specific, detailed plans and with deadlines. They like to “keep busy” – but can be easily stressed if their workflow is interrupted or their recipe isn’t going the way they intended.

Type B

• Creative and flexible
  Type B people are more relaxed in the kitchen. They like to try new ingredients and experiment with existing recipes. If they are creating a meal but are missing an ingredient, Type B cooks will be more apt to adapt, substitute or “wing it.” The saucepan is their palette, and the dining table is their canvas.
• Enjoyment over Competition
  Type B people don’t usually have the sense of urgency and drive that Type A’s have. They love being imaginative, so they enjoy the process of cooking. Although proper timing is important for many recipes, the Type B cook doesn’t get stressed over this. These cooks are also more likely than Type A’s to stay calm when recipes don’t have an expected result.
• Type B cooks strive in casual, low-stress kitchens where they have time to savor the process of cooking. Their calm attitude deflects disappointment, but if they are nonchalant to important details, the result of their recipe could be less than delicious.

Is there a Type A/B cook?

Of course, as we stated earlier, people are complex and most of us exhibit a mix of personality types. That being said, I believe that it is beneficial to have a variety of skills, methods, and attitudes in the kitchen, as in life in general. Here is my take on tips for a “Type A/B” cook:

• Organization: Do you have all of the information you need? The tools? The ingredients? Even experienced cooks who have memorized a recipe benefit from having a forethought out plan. This keeps a cook grounded but also confident in the kitchen. Research if needed, especially if you’re using a new recipe or an ingredient that you’re not familiar with.
• Methods: Acknowledge when a method is necessary versus optional. Understand why a specific tool, ingredient or measurement is called for so you will know how to substitute (if you can). The more experience you have in the kitchen, the more you will be able to predict outcomes so. you will also be able to adapt, if needed, without sacrificing a successful result.
• Attitude: It is good to be relaxed but always be aware. Pay attention to details, but don’t expect that everything will be “perfect.” Perfection is an ideology, not a reality. Enjoy the process, whatever process that is that you thrive in.

There is no one personality in the kitchen that is “better” than another. Whatever your cooking personality, cooking and baking are not just jobs that create body-fuel. Cooking is an art, a science, a service, an act of love, an expression of compassion and a gift. Whether you are cooking for others or just for yourself, a healthy balance of personality in the kitchen will help ensure a delectable meal and build kitchen confidence.