Cooking Tips From the Amazing Kids of 'MasterChef Junior'

MasterChef Jr Addison
Fox
Fox

Plenty of people love Gordon Ramsay's home-chef battle royale, MasterChef , but for our money, nothing beats watching pint-sized chefs on MasterChef Junior make better-looking eats than anything ever featured on Bizarre Foods. To help get you inspired to cook at home more often, two of MasterChef Junior's champions, 14-year-old Nathan (Season 3) and 10-year-old Addison (Season 4), are here to provide you with helpful home-cooking tips fit for a champion. And a grown-up.

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Addison on MasterChef Junior

Get to the supermarket more often

"Always use the freshest ingredients possible, especially fresh herbs." -- Addison

Take care of your knives

"Always use a sharp knife. Dull knives are more dangerous, as they can slip easily." -- Nathan

Don't be afraid to try

"Take risks. And believe in the risks you take." -- Addison

Make sure your oven isn't lying to you

"Buy an oven thermometer to make sure your oven is actually at the temperature you set it to." -- Nathan

Use what's in your spice rack

"Always season your food generously." -- Addison

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Nathan on MasterChef Junior

Buy a scale

"When baking complicated pastries, consider using a scale to weigh your ingredients instead. Weighing your ingredients in grams can provide much more accurate measurements." -- Nathan

Don't take cooking too seriously

"Never let cooking become a chore. If you ever feel like you're forcing yourself to cook, don't be afraid to take a break." -- Nathan

"Always have fun, even if things don't turn out the way you planned." -- Addison

You're not going to be Gordon Ramsay right away

"Don't be afraid to start small. Doing something as simple as cooking eggs can build helpful skills that can be applied to future dishes." -- Nathan

Cook what tastes good to you

"Make foods that you enjoy eating, and put your own spin on them." -- Addison

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Lee Breslouer is a senior writer for Thrillist, and wishes he could cook like Nate or Addison. Follow him to sharp knives: @LeeBreslouer.