You might think that you’d like to study culinary arts because you’re planning to become a chef. Or, you might think that you don’t need to study cooking at all, because you’re expecting to get those same skills by going straight into a restaurant career. The truth is that the culinary arts involve much more than just learning cooking skills or kitchen safety.

Culinary arts brings together cooking, science, art, and culture all in one field. When you pursue formal education through culinary school, you’ll receive knowledge and skills that will be with you for life. Wondering why you should pursue culinary arts after high school? Here are just a few of the many benefits that you’ll receive:

You’ll Be More Culturally Aware

Food is more than just something that we eat to survive. The experience of eating is also deeply social and cultural. When you study culinary arts, you’ll learn how different cultures prepare food, cook, use ingredients, and share meals. You might be able to use some of the techniques that you learn in your own cooking, which will increase the cultural awareness of the people who enjoy your own food. Plus, you’ll be a more knowledgeable, empathetic person by learning about other cultural traditions. This will be especially helpful if you choose to travel, which many chefs do in their careers.

You’ll Learn the Art and Science of Cooking

You might be surprised to learn that cooking is extremely artistic. You can craft beautiful dishes, learn how to plate for aesthetics, and use your own creativity to invent new meals and recipes. The skills you learn in culinary school will allow you to successfully express your artistic side as a cook.

Cooking is also scientific. In fact, the chemistry and physics of cooking is frequently taught to students as a course on college campuses. In culinary school, you’ll have firsthand experience with cooking science as you explore everything from caramelization to fermentation.

You’ll Understand Nutrition

The depth of knowledge that you’ll learn in culinary school will make you more aware of appropriate nutrition choices, and will help you expand your palate to foods that you may not have even tried. You’ll learn about different restaurant trends, like the growing interest in plant-based foods or sustainable seafood. This level of knowledge will make you a pro at understanding how to prepare healthy meals for yourself and for others.

You’ll Learn from a Variety of Teachers

Culinary school gives you the unique opportunity for real, hands-on experience through a variety of teachers from different backgrounds and with different techniques. You’ll be able to see different ways of gaining and using skills in the kitchen. The more people that you can learn from in culinary school, the better your own skills will be in the future.

Exploring Your Passion for the Culinary Arts

The KLG Culinary Arts Foundation mentors and sponsors underprivileged young women who have a passion for the culinary arts. We provide resources, grants, and scholarships based on submitted essays. Contact us today for more information on our culinary arts assistance programs.