When you’re cooking for yourself, it can be hard to stay inspired in the kitchen. You might find yourself turning to the same few recipes time and time again. But with a little bit of creativity, you can add some variety to your cooking routine—and who knows, you might even come up with a new favorite dish! To help get you started, we’ve compiled some of our favorite cooking quotes. From inspiring words of wisdom to funny one-liners, these quotes will help keep you motivated in the kitchen.

The best cooking quotes

1. When people compliment my cooking, it’s like somebody telling me that they like my music. And it’s great to be known for something else. — Trisha Yearwood

2. It takes a little time, but the pleasures of cooking begin before the pleasures of the palate, and preparing means anticipating. — Umberto Eco

3. All the men I know add that ‘hands that prepared it’ line. They must know it’s right complimentary, an incentive to keep the women cooking. — Vicki Covington, Bird of Paradise

4. It’s funny, the whole cooking thing came out of just a random thought of writing a cookbook with my mom and my sister for fun. — Trisha Yearwood

5. For me, cooking is very connected to my family and friends. — Trisha Yearwood

6. It takes a little time, but the pleasures of cooking begin before the pleasures of the palate, and preparing means anticipating. — Umberto Eco

7. Avoid stress, the doctor had said. Eat lots of good food and enjoy this little mysterious bun cooking in the oven. Ha! — Thea Harrison, Pia Does Hollywood

8. I write for film or, in this case, television when I haven’t got a play cooking. — Tom Stoppard

9. What my mother believed about cooking is that if you worked hard and prospered, someone else would do it for you. — Nora Ephron

10. I believe it’s a cook’s moral obligation to add more butter given the chance. — Michael Ruhlman, Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking

11. My mom is a really good cook. I didn’t get the cooking gene, but she cooks this really amazing dinner every Christmas, and that’s always really fun. — Miranda Cosgrove

12. I am the MacGyver of cooking. If you bring me a piece of bread, cabbage, coconut, mustard greens, pigs feet, pine cones…and a woodpecker, I’ll make you a good chicken pot pie. — Si Robertson

13. I decided I would teach Mrs. P. a lesson by cooking my own meal. — Paul Murray

14. Writing’s a lot like cooking. Sometimes the cake won’t rise, no matter what you do, and every now and again the cake tastes better than you ever could have dreamed it would. — Neil Gaiman

15. When it was availed to me that I had free time, I chose to go to cooking school every day, six hours a day, like a diploma program. I wanted to learn something new. — Teri Hatcher

16. I recall my mum tried to teach me how to fry chicken once, and I almost burned down half the kitchen… I don’t think I have the patience for cooking. — Ne–Yo

17. Good painting is like good cooking; it can be tasted, but not explained. — Maurice de Vlaminck

18. I’m a bit of a gourmet chef. I love cooking–mostly Thai food. — Will Ferrell

19. The stock market has spoiled more appetites than bad cooking. — Will Rogers

20. Food is what I love, and how I communicate love, and how I calm myself. — Tamar Adler, An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace

21. I don’t really time how long it steeps, but in general I don’t plan much when it comes to tea or cooking. I’m more about the feeling. — Miranda Kerr

22. If you are a chef, no matter how good a chef you are, it’s not good cooking for yourself; the joy is in cooking for others–it’s the same with music. — will.i.am

23. I eat only vegetables and fruit, and to me it’s the most aspirational diet because it’s so easy. It’s quite simple, the cooking I do. — Vivienne Westwood

24. I love cooking. I like to make lasagna–its authentic Italian–style. I also do a great chicken recipe for a barbecue. — Sullivan Stapleton

25. When I’m not at the keyboard, I’m generally reading, practicing tai chi or middle eastern dance, or cooking. — Sarah Zettel

26. The process of making music is more interesting to me than the end result. If I was a cook, I’d be more interested in cooking food than eating food. — Ryan Adams

27. I’m a bit of a gourmet chef. I love cooking–mostly Thai food. — Will Ferrell

28. Writing is what I do. It’s like breathing to me at a certain point, but if I couldn’t write, I do like cooking. — Nora Ephron

29. I took cooking classes when I was younger; girls weren’t interested in me, and I thought I may be alone for the rest of my life. — Michael Jordan

30. I believe it’s a cook’s moral obligation to add more butter given the chance. — Michael Ruhlman, Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking

31. The stock market has spoiled more appetites than bad cooking. — Will Rogers

32. I love crafting and cooking, doing all of that. — Tori Spelling

33. Writing’s a lot like cooking. Sometimes the cake won’t rise, no matter what you do, and every now and again the cake tastes better than you ever could have dreamed it would. — Neil Gaiman

34. I love making down–home Southern cooking, and just chilling out and having cakes and pies and baking stuff, you know. I’m a pretty simple girl. — Nicole Scherzinger

35. Cooking has always brought me a happiness that I didn’t think was available. I just fire up the stove, and things start to fade away. — Paula Deen

36. I think I’m pretty laid back. I like cooking, being at home, and going to concerts. And I love to shop! — Misty Copeland

37. Food is what I love, and how I communicate love, and how I calm myself. — Tamar Adler, An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace

38. For me, cooking is very connected to my family and friends. — Trisha Yearwood

39. In ’71 or ’72 I returned to New Orleans and stayed there. I started cooking Louisiana food. Of all the things I had cooked, it was the best–and it was my heritage. — Paul Prudhomme

40. I write for film or, in this case, television when I haven’t got a play cooking. — Tom Stoppard

41. When people compliment my cooking, it’s like somebody telling me that they like my music. And it’s great to be known for something else. — Trisha Yearwood

42. I have always loved food. I began cooking for my family as a young girl, and to this day, it’s one of my greatest pleasures in life. — Suzanne Somers

43. I grew up in France, my first language was French, and I tend to gravitate towards French cooking. — Robert Stack

44. Do not taste food while you’re cooking. You may lose your nerve to serve it. — Phyllis Diller

45. When you meet someone, ask about what hobby they have, not what they do. People always ask me about cooking, but I prefer to talk about tennis or boxing. — Wolfgang Puck

46. I believe it’s a cook’s moral obligation to add more butter given the chance. — Michael Ruhlman, Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking

47. I’ve always had fond memories of cooking Thanksgiving. — Wylie Dufresne

48. Computers are to design as microwaves are to cooking. — Milton Glaser

49. Leading people is like cookingDon’t stir too much
It annoys the ingredients
And spoils the food — Rick Julian

50. Writing to please all readers is like cooking without seasoning … — Nanette L. Avery

Conclusion

Cooking is an art and a passion that can bring us all together to enjoy a delicious meal. Whether you are a professional chef or a home cook, these quotes about cooking will inspire you to create something special. As the great chef Julia Child said, “Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” So get in the kitchen, be creative, and make something delicious!