Most of the food subscriptions we cover at MSA are of the edible variety, and— sure— there are plenty of boxes that will send delicious consumables to your front door, but if you’re a dedicated foodie, there’s another way to indulge your epicurean passion and subscription addiction: virtual cooking classes.
Whether you’re still trying to master cooking basics or you’re a culinary professional working in a professional kitchen, there’s sure to be a cooking subscription that’s right for you. Want to boost your culinary know how from the comfort of your own home? Check out this list of the best online cooking classes!
Masterclass
One of the most exciting virtual subscription hubs is Masterclass, a site that offers all kinds of classes taught by the best of the best. Browsing through the available courses in any given category is a who's who of the industry, and it's hard not to get star-struck when browsing the catalog. You can learn photography from Annie Leibovitz, songwriting from Alicia Keys, and magic from Penn & Teller.
Image via Masterclass.
The selection of food classes is shockingly impressive. You can learn restaurant cooking techniques with Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller, and Wolfgang Puck. More interested in pastry? Try French Pastry Fundamentals with Dominique Ansel, father of the cronut. There are also classes on mixology, wine, BBQ, and a variety of different world cuisines.
Subscriptions start at $15.00 per month (billed annually) and grant access to the full range of 100+ masterclasses.
Rouxbe
If you're ready to get serious about cooking, check out Rouxbe, an online cooking academy that trains professional chefs and home cooks alike. Aspiring professionals can sign up for culinary school programs like the 6-month Professional Cooking Certification or the 90-day Essential Vegan Desserts Course. Hobbyists might prefer online courses like the 12-hour Cooking Rx class, which combines cooking and nutrition in a program you can complete in a single weekend.
Professional courses and certifications cost upwards of $1,000, but curious home cooks can sign up for a membership that includes a wide range of classes designed for the casual learner. With over 75 individual lessons and 12 full courses to choose from, members can learn everything from knife skills to how to make pasta from scratch. A Rouxbe membership costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 for a full year, but you can try the service free for the first 30 days.
Craftsy
Craftsy isn't just about food; the site offers classes on everything from knitting to quilting. If you can shop for it at the craft store, you can learn how to do it on Craftsy. While there are classes available that tackle everything from canning to learning how to use a pressure cooker, Craftsy's selection of cake decorating classes sets it apart from the competition.
There are 201 different decorating classes available, and you can learn how to make decorative succulents out of frosting, create sugar flowers, and grow your own cake business. The list price of a Craftsy annual membership, which grants unlimited access to over 1,500 crafting classes, is $79.99; however, new members can join for only $3.00. Just make sure to set a reminder so you're not surprised by an autorenewal at the full retail cost!
America's Test Kitchen Cooking School
Few names in the culinary education world have the cachet of America's Test Kitchen, and it's no surprise that their Cooking School takes the same methodical and straightforward approach you'll find in their cooking shows and cookbooks. You can start with the basics (like learning how to make chocolate chip cookies), do a deep dive on a single ingredient (like winter squash), and perfect advanced recipes (like authentic ciabatta).
Image via America's Test Kitchen Cooking School.
When you sign up for an America's Test Kitchen Cooking School membership, you'll gain access to the full assortment of 320+ classes and tutorials, and you're welcome to learn at your own pace. Start with a 2-week free trial, and if you like the program you can continue your self-guided membership at a cost of $19.95 per month or $179.95 anually.
Udemy
Udemy is best known for its business development courses, but the company offers classes in a lot more than just Python, Photoshop, and web development. There are over 2,000 different cooking courses available, and you can choose from a wide selection of topics like "Italian for Beginners," "How to Bake Real Artisan Bread," "Sourdough Bread Baking 101," "Get Out of the Gluten Glut," and "Thai Cooking Master Class."
Image via Udemy.
Classes on Udemy are all priced individually, and rates are set by the instructor. As such, prices for cooking classes vary from $35.99 all the way up to $99.99. Some are even free.
Top Chef University
If you're a fan of Bravo's Top Chef, Top Chef University allows you to brush up on your cooking skills and try new recipes with some of the series' best chef-testants. Shopping lists are provided, and step-by-step lessons are developed for those with varying skill levels. You can start with basic skills and work your way up to difficult recipes that incorporate advanced techniques. Learn "All About Herbs" with Carla Hall, make "Sous Vide Scrambled Eggs" with Richard Blais, and prepare "Grilled Quail with Caramelized Honey Glaze" with Kevin Gillespie.
Image via Top Chef University.
Purchase a single class each month for $24.95, or pay an annual membership fee of $199.95 for immediate access to the full Top Chef University curriculum.
Goldbelly Live
Goldbelly Live doesn't offer classes via a subscription model, but the service is too darn neat to not include in this round-up. You can sign up for live cooking classes with one of your favorite celebrity chefs, and before the date of the class, Goldbelly will send you a kit filled with the ingredients you'll need to cook along at home via Zoom with your instructor in your own kitchen.
Images via Goldbelly Live.
Decorate a cake with Carlo of Carlo's Bakery fame, make lunch for your momma with chef Marcus Samuelsson, or bake a pizza with Emmy Squared. Kits + classes start at $109.00, and prices vary depending on the featured recipe and cost of ingredients.
Have you tried any of these culinary subscription services? Or have you signed up for a cooking class we didn't mention? Head to the comments section and let us know!
Learn About Other Subscriptions That Help Get Dinner on the Table
Want to find out about other meal subscription options? Check out these additional pages to learn more:
- Our Meal Kit Subscriptions Page
- The 14 Best Meal Kit Boxes of 2021 – Readers’ Choice Awards
- 13 Best Vegan Meal Kits & Vegan Snack Subscription Boxes
You can also check out our weekly menu post to see what Home Chef, HelloFresh, Blue Apron, Sun Basket, Green Chef, Purple Carrot, Marley Spoon, and EveryPlate are cooking up next week:
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