If you are looking to get better as a chef and want your cooking skills to get better, one of the best things you can do to put this goal into action is to invest in a cooking course.
If you live in quite a remote area or if you do not have easy transport options, doing an online cooking course is a more viable option than ever.
Luckily, there is a massive variety of online culinary and cooking courses and schools which you can choose from to help you reach your goal to improve your cooking, perhaps too many options.
Because of the massive variety of options that are available, we have narrowed down the choices to our seven favorite options.
We have made sure to cover the best online culinary schools, so there will be something for everyone.
We have included affordable options if you are working with a strict budget, more comprehensive courses if that is what you are looking for, or specialized training if there is a specific area you are looking to go into.
Whatever you are looking for, you should get help from reading the options we have gathered in this list.
One of the best things about online cooking classes is that you are able to take classes from wherever you are in the world, so you do not have to worry about having access to the course.
One of the best things you can do before going into this list is to consider what you are looking for and what you want to get out of the course you plan to do.
If you know what you want to get out of the course, choosing an appropriate course will be a lot easier for you.
However, if you need further guidance on how to pick a perfect course from this list, we have gathered some great ideas to help guide your decision after the list, so make sure to look out for this!
So, if you are looking to improve your cooking skills, or want to take a specific culinary course, keep reading to get our favorite option explained.
The Best Online Culinary Schools
These schools cover a wide variety of culinary styles when it comes to teaching and the kind of food which you will be making, so make sure you carefully consider all of the choices we have given so you can be confident in the choice which you are making!
Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts – Online Culinary Arts Programs
Online Culinary Course Overview
If you want to do an online culinary course that will be able to elevate your cooking skills and culinary career, the Auguste Escoffier School is going to be the right choice for you.
This is an online culinary arts diploma course and it was designed for professionals who are looking to advance their skill set and improve their careers.
In this interactive course, you will be instructed by professional chefs who will have live discussions with the classroom.
You will be given information on the business side of the industry in these online culinary programs, as well which is an oversight of many of the other courses.
You will of course also refine your knowledge and cooking techniques, all from your own home.
This is also one of the more flexible online courses and it lets you complete the course at a pace that you set making it a more accessible choice.
There is a catch, however, while all the teaching and discussion is done online, if you want to graduate from the course, you will need to do an industry externship which takes place in a professional kitchen. You will get advice on how to organize this, but, for everyone, this is not going to be an option.
What We Liked About This Online Culinary Course
- Amazing interactive learning tools
- Good level of feedback from culinary professionals
- 100s of videos on techniques
- Reputable school which gives diploma value
- Balanced curriculum which also includes business knowledge
- Great for career advancement
Who Is This Online Culinary Course Best For?
If you are a professional chef you have the freedom to be able to complete the internship. But if you want to learn some amazing skills at your own pace, this culinary program is perhaps the best option on the list.
The Culinary Institute Of America – ProChef Remote Culinary Training
Online Culinary Course Overview
The landscape for training in culinary fields has changed quite a lot in recent years, and a lot of this is because of the changes made by programs like the CIA’s ProChef course.
The ProChef course has now got online options which makes it more convenient to partake in and accessible for a lot more people.
The program itself is made up of 20 separate courses with over 150 lessons within them. These lessons go from fundamental skills to more advanced techniques.
The technology of Lobster Ink powers the platform making it more enhanced and providing a better interactive learning experience for chefs everywhere.
What We Liked About This Online Culinary Course
- Course made by the reputable Culinary Institute of America
- The certificate from the course is universally recognized
- The Lobster Ink technology makes learning much more engaging
- The modular design of the course means you can select the lessons which are most appropriate for your skill set
- You can access a preview selection of 3 different courses
Who Is This Online Culinary Course Best For?
If you still want to be able to enhance your culinary skills but you do not have the time for a more dedicated course, this one gives you a massive range of skills and will leave you with an impressive certification.
Le Cordon Bleu Online Learning
Online Culinary Course Overview
The Le Cordon Bleu online cooking classes have been made to replicate the experience of being in a classroom into your own house.
You will be provided with a unique set of instructions and goals for you to learn weekly and this also includes video lectures from instructors who are experienced in their fields as well as industry experts.
You will get readings as well as assignments, but you have the option to tailor the course to fit your schedule.
Every week you have the option for live learning which includes a discussion with the teacher which is great for answering any potential questions about certain skills or set content during the week.
A great feature of these sessions is that they are recorded and you can view them later on and repeat sections that you may have struggled with.
Another unique feature that certain cooking classes do not offer is the focus on feedback personalized to you and your assignments as well as peer discussions which will help you gain shared experience.
What We Liked About This Online Culinary Course
- Another world-famous and internationally known course for training
- Lets you network with experts in the industry
- Focus on collaborative experiences and learning
- Gives you personalized feedback
- Participate in live learning and the related discussions
- Support provided by instructors
Who Is This Online Culinary Course Best For?
If you want an online culinary course that will net you a reputable certificate, but also has a focus on making connections and learning from shared experiences, this is the best bet.
Leiths School Of Food And Wine – Online Cookery School
Online Culinary Course Overview
Leiths School is perhaps one of the best cookery schools in the UK and they have now introduced an online course to make their teaching much more accessible to a wider audience.
The strength of this school is that they offer both professional courses as well as an entry-level course, so whatever level you are at, there is a course which will benefit you!
The online Chef’s Skills course lasts for 24 weeks and the certificate you get from it will display a level of competency which will be useful for professionals and home chefs alike.
If you have been able to complete the Essential Online Certificate you will be able to move on to the chef training course offered which will help you become an even more experienced chef.
The different options offered by this course are what make it stand out, and mean that you will be theoretically able to progress from beginner to experienced chef without having to switch schools as well as stay online.
What We Liked About This Online Culinary Course
- Certification from a well-known and traditional school
- You have the option to do an in-person exam to get the certification
- Good level of feedback from mentors on your dishes
- Useful community network accessibility
- Different skill-level options make this one of the most accessible options
Who Is This Online Culinary Course Best For?
If you are looking for an online culinary course that will be able to accommodate you at any skill level and will also get you a certification from a well-known school, this is a great option.
Rouxbe – Professional Cook Certification Course
Online Culinary Course Overview
This is one of the top online culinary schools and their cooking certification courses have so far been given to over 600,000 students who have accessed the online classes from all over the world.
This is another option that will offer cooking classes based on skill level, so if you are a pro who wants to refine your skills or a beginner who wants to pick up some professional tips, you will be able to get both here.
This is also another self-paced option that uses virtual classes which are taught by chefs from the industry.
If you want an accessible option, this is one of the best available!
What We Liked About This Online Culinary Course
- Certification is recognized by both WorldChefs and ACFEF
- Course has a multilingual option
- More than 300 technique videos
- Lets you create your own learning path
Who Is This Online Culinary Course Best For?
For an accessible choice that can be used at any skill level, this is one of the best options!
Worldchefs Academy – Free Online Pre-Commis Chef Training Program
Online Culinary Course Overview
If you are on a budget, this course is completely free and Worldchefs have their free Pre-Commis training course which can be done in under 3 months.
If you are aiming to be a professional cook, this is one of the best options and will help kickstart your education in the subject.
The course is designed to be simple to follow and you can even access lessons using a compatible mobile app that has lessons and training videos that have transcripts attached as well.
There will also be a final assessment and once you have completed this successfully you will even be able to get a certificate to show off your culinary education.
You will be able to access all of the training resources whenever you want to be able to test your knowledge and take the assessment.
What We Liked About This Online Culinary Course
- Completely free
- Lets you download the program and run it on your phone
- You will get a certificate
Who Is This Online Culinary Course Best For?
If you are a beginner who is looking to become a professional chef, this incredibly accessible option should definitely be considered.
MasterClass – World Famous Chefs Teaches Cooking
Online Culinary Course Overview
If you want to be taught by a world-famous teacher,
You can get courses that are taught by celebrity chefs which will give you insights and techniques which will not be available elsewhere!
What We Liked About This Online Culinary Course
- Videos are well-produced
- Gives you a range of cuisine options
- Lessons on a variety of subjects
How To Choose The Best Online Culinary School For You?
When you are looking for the best online culinary schools or lessons, there are a few specific factors that you should consider to make the best choice possible.
If you have read through the list and you are still unsure which course will be best for you, if you go back through the list after reading these factors, you will be able to make a much better decision.
Program Length
When doing a course like this, especially if you are part of a group, you will have to keep to a specific pre-assigned schedule, so knowing how much of your time you are willing to commit will help you massively in making a decision.
For example, some people are just looking for a one-off lesson, while some people are looking for a permanent class they want to do weekly, and there are plenty of options between these.
So knowing how much time you have to spare, how flexible your schedule is, and how dedicated you are to learning will massively help in making your choice.
Topic Of The Course
This is perhaps going to be the most influential choice you will have to make and this is knowing what the topic of the course you want to learn is.
Of course, it is a nice sentiment to go in wanting to improve your cooking skills, but if you aim to specialize in a certain cuisine or style of food, you will end up learning much more useful skills, especially if you would not classify yourself as a beginner.
Knowing what area you want to specialize in will narrow your choice and give you an easier decision in the end.
The Difficulty Level
This is also going to be an important part of your decision, as this will ensure that you are getting your money’s worth.
If you are experienced and take a course meant for beginners, you will be bored and feel like you are wasting your time, and if you are a beginner taking a course for more experienced chefs, you will quickly fall behind waste ingredients, and likely get demoralized.
If you are aware of your skill level, you will be able to make an informed decision on which course will be the best choice for you!
The Cost Of Participation
This is the most practical choice to make and is quite simple. If you give yourself a budget to work with, you will be able to cut down a lot of the choices.
This should also be considered if you are giving someone a course, for example, if you give some starter lessons in an expensive course, will the person you are buying for be able to afford to continue.
This is not a difficult consideration, but it is one that should not be overlooked.
Takeaway
Hopefully, this list has given you some great inspiration and has helped you find a culinary course that you are interested in pursuing.
There are so many skills that you are able to improve by attending a culinary course online, and they are often significantly cheaper than an in-person class so if you are working on a tighter budget, you will have many more choices than you usually would.
If you have struggled to make a decision reading the list the first time, go back through after reading our guide on how to choose the best course for you and this should make the decision a lot more simple to make.
