Cooking is an art that comes effortlessly to some, but for others, it's a foreign language that takes time to master.

Whether you're fed up with the frozen isle or trying to impress your family, learning to cook is a beneficial skill you can pick up with practice.

After growing up on pre-packaged meals and takeout, author Jennifer Still decided to give cooking a try and relied on basic cookbooks and equipment to get her started.

Here are eight tips if you feel hopeless in the kitchen.

Growing up in a single-parent household, my mom's idea of "cooking" was throwing together a pan of Hamburger Helper, picking up fast food, or ordering takeout.

These culinary habits followed me through college and into my early 20s, when I finally decided enough was enough.

While I didn't feel completely hopeless at cooking — I believed that anyone who can read should be able to follow a recipe — I knew I had a lot to learn about mastering the art of food preparation.

After some research and a little practice, I now consider myself to be a pretty solid home chef.

Whether you're fed up with the frozen isle, trying to impress your partner, or looking to add cooking to your skillset, here are some tips for those feeling hopeless in the kitchen.