culinary arts courses online free

Basically, Culinary is related to cooking. It refers to the art of creating, cooking, presenting, garnishing, and plating. Culinary has different types and every culinary have specific styles of cooking and culinary tools.

Right here on College Learners, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on best online culinary schools, free online cooking courses with certificate, arts management courses and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics.

free online cooking courses with certificate

So, here I listed some best online culinary courses, these culinary courses are enough to teach you every cooking or culinary skill basic to advanced level, which is required for every chef.

From these professional online cooking courses, you will also learn about every culinary ingredient which is used in cooking. Cooking is a great art and also very old. But the main part of cooking or culinary is practice. An everyday practice can make you a successful and professional Chef or a Cookery.

7 BEST FREE ONLINE CULINARY COURSES WITH CERTIFICATE

Here’s a list of free online cooking courses with certificates:

1. THE COOK’S ROADMAP

Provided by: Rouxbe

The Cook’s Roadmap” is an online chef course from Rouxbe, which is a leading online culinary school.

This online free chef course is a roadmap of cooking for beginners, which helps to learn about the cooking skills from basic to advance level step by step.

This course will also help you to learn the skills of handling chef’s knives like an expert with a basic macro and micro-nutrient guide. Through this course, you will learn how to perfectly roast chicken as well as vegetables and also learn about pan-frying, roasting, steaming, and sweating.

What You’ll Learn from this Course:

  • How to handle knives like a pro.
  • Learn about nutritional aspects of foods.
  • How to cook perfect grains and legumes.
  • How to apply dry heat cooking and moist-heat cooking methods.
  • How to prepare stocks and how to use them to enhance flavor.
  • How to prepare salad and salad dressing.
  • Learn about Pasta.
  • Learn about Wheat and Gluten.

Course Enrollment: Free

Certificate of Completion: No

Course Duration: Approx. 6 hours

2. THINK LIKE A CHEF: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COOKING WITH CONFIDENCE

Provided by: Skillshare

This is a beginner-level free online course about cooking, from which you will learn the basic knowledge of cooking and learn the proper techniques of preparing healthy and tasty foods.

From this course, you’ll also learn to choose the right products and where to find the best ingredients and also learn to use different varieties of kitchen tools properly. This online short cooking course will also teach you about flavor and how flavors can play a vital role in cooking.

What You’ll Learn from this Course:

  • You will learn the basic knowledge of cooking.
  • You learn the exact cooking techniques and how to cook tasty and healthy foods.
  • Learn about kitchen tools and how to use them properly.
  • You know about flavors and how the flavors can play a vital role in cooking.

Course Enrollment: Free

Certificate of Completion: Yes (Paid)

Course Duration: Approx. 38 minutes

3. ONLINE COOKING & BAKING CLASSES

Provided by: ShawAcademy

This is an online cooking and baking course which contents 4 different video modules, from where you can learn different types of knife skills which are very useful while cooking. You also learn basic to advance cooking skills and how to read recipes and weigh ingredients the right way.

This course will also help you to learn how to cut different types of fish and meats as well as vegetables and you can understand the principles of baking and cooking methods with procedures.

And from here you can learn the step-by-step guidelines of cooking which are useful in hotel or hospitality kitchens. This free video cooking certification online course makes you ready to begin a career in any commercial hospitality kitchen, catering company, or bakery company.

What You’ll Learn from this Course:

  • You learn different types of knife skills.
  • Basic to advance level of cooking.
  • Basic principles of cooking and baking.
  • The exact kitchen method, useful in hotels, catering, and bakery companies.

Course Enrollment: Free

Certificate of Completion: Yes (Free)

Course Duration: 4 Weeks

4. THE COOKING- INTRODUCTION TO CULINARY SKILLS

Provided by: OnlineDegree.com

Do you have a passion for cooking? And want to build up your kitchen skills quickly. Then this online beginner-friendly chef course is absolutely perfect for you.

Because from this online chef course you will learn how to cook or prepare meals and the combination of flavors. This course also offers complete cooking guidelines with professional skills which are very helpful for beginners to advance their level of training.

You will learn the different methods of cooking, like Sauteing, Frying, Poaching, and others. And you’ll also get to know about the important essentials for cooking like the mixes of herbs and spices, sauces, and salads, etc.

Through this course, students can also learn about how to care for their kitchen tools properly and how they can be used in kitchen operations.

Lastly, you gain some knowledge from the bonus part of this course, which is Wine training. From this bonus module, you can learn the basic to advance level of Wine techniques or processes which are very useful or must be known in the hospitality or food and beverage industry.

What You’ll Learn from this Course:

  • You learn how to cook properly and what is the combination of flavors.
  • Learn the different cooking methods.
  • You will learn which are important essentials for cooking.
  • Complete guidelines for beginners to advanced levels of cooking.
  • Learn about Wines from basic to advance levels.

Course Enrollment: Free

Certificate of Completion: Yes

Course Duration: 24 online video lessons

5. DIPLOMA IN FOOD SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

Provided by: Alison

Through this online cooking certificate program, you will learn an overview of various cooking skills and some advanced techniques of cooking. It will also teach you the nutritional aspects of foods and how to prepare stocks and sauces.

From this online cooking class, you get to know about all types of meat and fish and how to cut them properly. And also learn about Pasta and how to combine flavor and eggs or water to create it.

Lastly, you’ll get a deep knowledge about desserts, different types of desserts, and how to make desserts properly.

What You’ll Learn from this Course:

  • You will learn an overview of cooking techniques.
  • You learn how to make Stock and Sauce.
  • All types of meat, fish, and how to cut the meat properly.
  • Learn all about desserts and processes to prepare them.

Course Enrollment: Free

Certificate of Completion: Yes (Paid)

Course Duration: 6-10 Hours

6. EASY TECHNIQUES FOR MASTERING CLASSIC INDIAN COOKING

Provided by: SkillShare

Through this online Indian cooking course, you’ll learn the five cooking techniques specific to Indian cooking and different vegetarian culinary skills.

This course is really very helpful, those who have like to cook and want to make authentic Indian food at home. You will learn the different types of herbs and spices and also learn about the tempering of whole spices which is called “Tarka”, a lesson on “Chutney”, and the process of grinding different spices, etc.

What You’ll Learn from this Course:

  • Introduction of Indian cooking.
  • Toasting and Grinding Spices and What Does “Masala” Mean?
  • Key Ingredient: Ginger-Garlic Paste and What is a Curry.
  • Tarka: Tempering Spices.
  • Chutneys: What and Where it is used in Indian Cooking.

Course Enrollment: Free

Certificate of Completion: Yes (Paid)

Course Duration: 46 minutes

7. COOKING 101: EXPLORING VEGETARIAN MEALS

Provided by: Eventbrite

This course is a 9-week free zoom cooking class, helpful for those who are leaving home and setting up their kitchen. In this course, you’ll get a new topic each and every week.

This free online cookery course offers Kitchen equipment training, meal planning, grocery shopping, snacks, and others. This is a totally vegetarian cooking course which will teach you how to cook balanced diet foods and how to maintain the perfect nutrition in each and every food.

Course Enrollment: Free

Certificate of Completion: Yes (Paid)

Course Duration: 46 minutes

Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

IS ONLINE CULINARY SCHOOL WORTH IT?

Absolutely, because all culinary schools provide both classroom learning and a real-world industry externship through their online classes. For this reason, students get both practical and theoretical knowledge from a culinary school properly.

CAN YOU TAKE CULINARY SCHOOL ONLINE?

Yes, online culinary school is absolutely worth taking for your time, money, and efforts which you’ll put into it.

best online culinary schools

In developing this list, OnlineSchoolsCenter.com chose to list the schools in random order and highlighted three of America’s Top Online Culinary Schools, all of which have their own unique strengths. These schools were chosen for several factors that put them ahead of other online programs due to its:

  • Nature of coursework, including a comprehensive program, focused on Culinary Arts, 
  • Offered 100% Online or Hybrid format availability; providing a convenient and flexible schedule, 
  • Provides sufficient financial aid availability,
  • Taught by experts in the field of Culinary Arts, 
  • Offers an education that gives students more than just a classroom experience. 

NEW ENGLAND CULINARY INSTITUTE

ONLINE BA IN CULINARY ARTS, BAKING & PASTRY ARTS, OR FOOD & BEVERAGE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

best online culinary schools

Program Standouts:
NECI offers three exciting bachelors of arts degree programs that are taught by superbly dedicated professors who are readily available to online students. This online culinary school supplies its students with state-of-the-art virtual resources to assist them along their academic path. Coursework at NECI has been meticulously designed to adapt to an online format, giving distance education students the same high-quality instruction that on-campus students receive.

Campus Location: Montpelier, VT

Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges; Vermont Department of Education

Tuition and Fees:

  • $21,000 per academic year—tuition
  • $400 per academic year—technology fee
  • $150 one time—program deposit
  • $35 one time—application fee

Types of Aid: Numerous institutional, private, alternative, competition, and online scholarship opportunities; federal and alternative loans; state grants.

Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed online application, official high school/GED transcripts, official transcripts from an accredited academic institution representing at least 60 completed credit hours of coursework, and a current resumé showing current and active employment and/or prior employment in a food and beverage industry-related position.

Program Options:

  • BA in Culinary Arts
  • BA in Baking and Pastry Arts
  • BA in Food and Beverage Business Management

Degree Outcomes:
These exciting degree programs open up life-changing opportunities in the culinary arts. Depending on the pathway an individual may take, students graduate with finely sharpened skills in management and leadership, baking arts, or culinary arts. NECI’s Career Services Department connects students with beneficial internship opportunities and networking connections.

PENN FOSTER CAREER SCHOOL

ONLINE CATERER CAREER OR HOTEL/RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT CAREER DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

best online culinary schools

Program Standouts:
PFCS is the school of choice for a student population numbering over 150,000! In the school’s online Gourmet Cooking Certificate, students will learn to prepare complex and exquisite meals from the comfort of their own kitchen. The Hotel/Restaurant Management Diploma program immerses students in coursework that will challenge them to enhance their skills in marketing, finance, accounting, management, leadership, and more.

Campus Location: Scranton, PA

Accreditation: Penn Foster Career School is regionally accredited by The Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.  Penn Foster Career School is also accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and licenses by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools

Tuition and Fees: Penn Foster offers a quality education at an affordable price. They offer flexible monthly payment plans with 0% interest! Penn Foster is also approved for veteran’s education benefits!

Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed online application and official high school/GED transcripts.

Program Options:

  • Caterer Career Diploma
  • Hotel/Restaurant Management Career Diploma

Outcomes:
Penn Foster students will have access to Penn Foster’s career services platform, Career Link. Students will find helpful resources they can use to their advantage and stand out in the crowd! Career Link is a one-stop-shop for how to build a resume, job searches, and much more.

ESCOFFIER ONLINE INTERNATIONAL CULINARY ACADEMY

ONLINE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IN BAKING & PASTRY OR CULINARY ARTS

best online culinary schools

Program Standouts:
This international school offers two first-class certificate programs in the culinary discipline: an online Pastry Certificate and an online Culinary Arts Certificate. More cooking focused, the Pastry program gives students numerous hands-on projects with an emphasis on specialty diets like gluten-free and vegan baking. The Culinary Arts programs “lays the foundation for a comprehensive knowledge of technique fundamentals and business skills.”

Campus Location: Boulder, CO; Austin, TX

Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training; Colorado Department of Higher Education

Tuition and Fees:

  • $17,770 full program—tuition
  • $49 one time—registration fee

Types of Aid: Institutional benefits; various 0% interest monthly payment plans; low tuition costs.

Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed online application, official high school or GED transcripts; SAT/ACT scores (not required but highly encouraged).

Program Options:

  • Certificate in Baking and Pastry
  • Certificate in Escoffier Online Culinary Arts

Degree Outcomes:
Depending on which area of the field individuals are trying to enter into, this online school gives students bountiful resources, and a thorough, yet fast-paced, education. The Culinary Arts program includes a real-world industry externship that establishes new connections. The Pastry curriculum includes opportunities for students to network within a culinary community of master chefs.

WHAT TYPE OF EDUCATION DO I NEED TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL CHEF?

There are several roads that lead to becoming a professional chef. How’s the best way to begin, you ask? Typically, it’s best to start at the bottom and work your way up the ranks. By following that advice, you will learn everything there is to know about the restaurant business; anything from bussing tables to becoming a head chef and everything in between.

As you continue up the rung of the ladder, you can become a kitchen assistant or commis chef. There, you will begin your culinary career. This entry-level position will teach you, under careful guidance, the correct and safe way to prepare foods and the proper way to present them in an appetizing manner. When you are ready, you can expect career advancement opportunities such as line cook, sous chef, and then finally, executive chef.

Typically, at the assistant or commis chef (or junior chef, as it is often called) level, students are often enrolled in culinary arts classes if they are serious about pursuing a career as a professional executive chef. Here again, there’s a fork in the road… Should you pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree or only obtain a certificate in culinary arts? Well of course, the choice is up to you; however, there are a few questions up for consideration before making your final decision.

First, decide on your end goal… What type of education will serve you best? In addition, research on the type of education is required for your desired position. Second, consider the yearly salary you would like to earn? Which degree will help you receive the promotions and money you need? Also, which type of program will get you the best return on your money? Consider the cost of your college education compared to that of a certificate program. Third, what are your personal goals? If earning a college degree is important to your personal growth and desires, then go for it!

A 2-year associate program or 4-year bachelor program will give you the training you need to become an excellent chef. In addition, an internship program will most likely be required giving you additional hands-on training that is most valuable. 

If you decide on a certification program from a reputable school, rest assured you will receive exceptional training there as well. The American Culinary Federation (ACF) offers volunteer certifications that are also available for additional training for chefs. It keeps them updated on the latest cooking techniques and trends and must be renewed every five years with continued education. 

CAN I RECEIVE CULINARY TRAINING THROUGH AN ONLINE FORMAT?

Learning how to cook seems like one of those trades where hands-on learning is essential… and it is to some degree. Culinary arts training through a 100% online format is hard to find; however, most coursework is considered to be administered through a hybrid format. This means that hands-on lab work would need to be done on campus, but general coursework can be completed through a distance-learning format. Also, internships are often required. 

As usual, you will need a dependable computer and high-speed internet. In addition, you will need the capability to take quality photos to send, a webcam, and perhaps Microsoft Word. Through online learning, you can complete your assignments, view videos, and lectures, as well as interact with faculty and students.

In fact, if you are enrolling in an associate or bachelor’s degree program, schools often will require that you have previously acquired the hands-on portion of your degree through a certificate program before beginning.

What will you learn? A degree program will teach you all aspects of the restaurant business, such as menu planning, nutrition, culture and cuisine, facilities management, and cost control, in addition to marketing and advertising. 

By earning an online degree in culinary arts, you can specialize in the type of cuisine you prefer to prepare, learn the business side of running your own catering or restaurant business, become a food service manager, or obtain your dream position as an executive chef. The possibilities are endless.

WHAT TYPE OF CULINARY ARTS TRAINING SHOULD I CONSIDER FOR A CAREER?

Let’s begin by answering the question, “What are the culinary arts?” Simply put, the term refers to anything related to food and cooking. That answer casts a broad net over a wide array of topics, doesn’t it? And, that is the beauty of earning a certificate diploma or degree in the field of culinary arts… there is so much to learn!

Culinary careers are so plentiful and the choices are so extensive that your best bet in deciding on your training should be based on the following questions:

  • Where does your true passion lie?
  • Is there a particular type of food you like to prepare, such as baked goods and pastries, nutritional treats, or cultural dishes?
  • Are you an entrepreneur? Would you like to someday own your own restaurant?
  • Do you like a hands-on approach to actually preparing food or are you more business-minded and would like to manage a restaurant?
  • Where would you like to work? Fast-food, a five-star restaurant, a resort, food truck, within a healthcare or school system, tourist attraction, or country club or casino, and the list goes on… 

The point is, you should focus on what you love to do the most! Fortunately for you, careers in the culinary arts are plentiful and rank up there among the top three employers in the United States. For job security, you’ve made a wise choice.  

In general, you will need to earn a certificate or degree dependent upon your end career goal. Let’s take a look at a few careers you may want to consider:

  • Dining Room Manager
  • Food and Beverage Sales Manager
  • Banquet Chef
  • Professional Executive Chef
  • Sous Chef 
  • Catering Director
  • Pastry Chef
  • Head Cook
  • Commis Chef
  • Kitchen Assistant
  • Baker
  • Institutional Food Service Manager
  • Hotel Restaurant Management
  • Restaurant, Bar, or Cafe Owner
  • Private Club Manager
  • Dietitian
  • Contract & Production Food Manager
  • Plus many others!

As you can see, there are many choices. Choose a beginning or entry-level position and work your way up to expand your knowledge while attending culinary school. 

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