Are you relatively new to cooking? Looking to master the basics in the new year? We've gathered our best tips for those just starting out in the kitchen, including the 40 most common cooking mistakes, 15 reader tips for better meal planning, and a big roundup of tips and tutorials that covers everything you ever wanted to know about meat. Read on to learn a little more and get inspired to start cooking!

TOP ROW
• 1 7 Ways to Get Your Cooking Mojo Back (These tips apply to cooks just starting out too!)
• 2 5 Basic Tips That Make Cooking Easier
• 3 The 40 Most Common Cooking Mistakes
• 4 15 Tips for Better Weekly Meal Planning
• 5 Make Small Kitchen Living Easier With This One Tip

MIDDLE ROW
• 6 6 Tips for Tasting Wine: What I Learned From Traveling With a Group of Wine Writers
• 7 What Is Sharp? Bob Kramer Has 5 Ways to Tell If Your Knife Is Sharp Enough
• 8 More Knife Sharpening Tips From Bob Kramer: How To Hone & Stone
• 9 Smart Tip: For Easier Meal Planning, Keep a Dinner Diary
• 10 Tip Roundup: A Guide to Storing Fruits and Vegetables

BOTTOM ROW
• 11 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Meat: 28 Tips & Tutorials
• 12 Tip Roundup: 25 Time-Saving Freezer Tips

(Images: See linked posts for full image credits)