How to Win Cooking Contests

Entering cooking contests is a hobby for some and a career for others. Whether you are in it for the recognition of a blue ribbon at the state fair, or a $10,000 or more cash prize, cooking contests have become big business. Follow the steps below to win cooking contests.

Things You'll Need

• Ingredients for your cooking contest winning dish

Instructions

1. Find a cooking contest that is sponsored by a company wanting you to utilize their product in the dish you prepare. These contests, such as Pillsbury Bake-Off have large cash prizes and the judges seem to like the simple recipes that are entered.

2. Know the rules. Too many cooks have been disqualified from cooking contests because they didn't pay attention to the rules of the game. Sometimes even the most minor goof-up will get you booted from competition.

3. Practice, practice, practice. Make that recipe that you have come up with over and over to perfect it. Repetition will pay off in the end when you can create the dish perfectly every time you make it.

4. Ask yourself whether you have hit on the most important aspects of a good cooking contest dish. Those would be taste, aroma, presentation and ease of preparation. If your dish measures up in all categories, you are close to having a winner.

5. Garnish your dish in the most pleasing way that you can. Since we eat with our eyes first, you want to incorporate a beautiful garnish in the presentation of your creation.

6. Be original with your recipe. You need to submit a dish that you have created and not copied from a cookbook or other source. Let those creative juices go wild and come up with a cooking contest winner.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your eye on different food trends. Use up-to-the minute techniques and ingredients.

• Using a creative name for your dish will make it stick in the minds of the judges.

• Don't use ingredients that are difficult to find in an average grocery store.

• Don't create a recipe that is difficult to duplicate at home. Keep it simple.

Resources

• Website will direct you to information about cooking contests