Here’s something we prepared earlier: where to learn how to cook in Manchester

With our ever increasing workloads and social media commitments, many of us spend less and less time in the kitchen, finding it all too easy to grab a takeaway, dial Deliveroo, or even chuck a ready meal in the microwave.

When convenience and speed are the key, how many of us actually bother to cook on a regular basis? And more importantly, how many of us can actually cook?

We’ve compiled a list of Manchester cookery schools from the best the city has to offer where anyone can learn to cook.

So if you’re fed up of serving up the same old meals in your kitchen, why not give them a try?

Chaophraya Cooking School

An exciting and fun opportunity for guests to create their own three course Thai meal under the guidance of Chaophraya’s expert chefs. Classes are most Sunday mornings and it’s one of the best value classes we’ve come across at only £60 per person. There’s a drinks reception on arrival to break the ice where you get to meet the other participants and don funny hats. Following a full demonstration, everyone cooks their own dishes at their own cooking stations (a bit like Masterchef but without the pressure or Gregg Wallace calling you ‘mate’ every few minutes). Not only do you get to eat the lot but you get to take a goody bag and ingredients home. A winning recipe.

chaophraya.co.uk

Zouk Cookery School

Curry lovers will delight in the very best in Indian and Pakistani cuisine taught over a series of masterclasses taking place every month at this award-winning restaurant. Choose from seafood, tikka, BBQ, Punjabi, vegetarian and healthy eating courses, each taking half a day with prices around £80 per person. Each masterclass teaches you to prepare and cook two starters, two main courses, a rice side dish, and either a naan or roti bread. As well as learning a thing or two from the masters here, if you book in advance you can ask how to prepare one of your favourite dishes from the Zouk main menu. So put away that ready meal and get yourself down to Zouk.

zoukteabar.co.uk

Food Sorcery

Food Sorcery fiercely believe that everyone can cook, from novice to expert, from healthy to gourmet, they’ve got cookery classes to suit them all. Set in the beautiful Waterside Hotel & Leisure Club in Didsbury, choose from Back to Basics, Asian & World Food, Fish & Shellfish, Meat & Poultry, Baking, Chocolate, Speciality Health, as well as Friday Nights cooking together with your partner for an alternative date night.  Most courses range from 3-6 hours and start at £75. And why not try their classes and holiday schools for kids, inspiring and giving confidence to our next generation of Nigellas and Jamies.

foodsorcery.co.uk

Yang Sing Cantonese Cookery Class

Learn from the legend that is Yang Sing’s chef patron Harry Yeung who trains students in three disciplines of a Cantonese kitchen; dim sum, roasting, and wok cooking. Small groups gather once a month to learn how to create a mini Yang Sing in their own home. The classes feature product sourcing trips in local Chinatown with plenty of one-to-one tuition hosted in the restaurants working kitchen. Prices start from £80, with private classes and corporate bookings available.

yangsing.com

Vegetarian Society Cookery School

These amazing life-skill building courses come in all shapes, sizes and prices just like their locally sourced and carbon-neutral produce. From seasonal courses celebrating the bounty of goodies we can find foraging on our doorsteps, to an introduction to modern vegetarian cooking, and speciality vegetarian party food for festive feasts. There’s also Italian, French, Spanish, Mexican, Indian, North African, and a whole load more. Let’s just say they’ve got it all covered here, as well as their charitable work with local community groups. Healthy and ethical.

vegsoccookeryschool.org

Slattery’s School of Excellence

One of the UK’s finest patissiers and chocolatiers are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. This third generation family run business in Whitefield comprises a ground floor shop selling the most luxurious cakes and chocolate, a middle floor dining room serving all forms of sweet treats and afternoon tea, and the Slattery School of Excellence on the third floor where you can master the arts of sugar craft, chocolate and baking. From one day to whole week courses throughout the year, the most popular is the two day course Essential Skills for Working with Chocolate priced at an impressive £345 per person.

slattery.co.uk

Cracking Good Food

This not-for-profit social enterprise and community outreach project brings an extensive programme of classes, courses, workshops, and demos to venues across the city to promote cooking skills in local communities. Cracking Good Food is also part of a wider campaign for affordable, sustainable and healthier food for all, with a particular emphasis on raising awareness about food waste. The fully trained cracking cooks are supported by over 100 volunteers as they dish up courses in bread, Cantonese, Japanese, Nepalese, North Indian, pasta, South Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and vegan fine dining. Classes take place throughout the week and start at £70.

crackinggoodfood.org