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Food & Hospitality · Certificate

Build Real Skills in the Kitchen
Cook Food You're Proud Of

This course gives you the foundation that great cooks build on. Go from following recipes nervously to understanding why they work, so you can cook with confidence for yourself, your family, or as a first step in a food career in New Zealand.

Free first lesson
Or enrol on the spot
Rated 5 by our students
From $25
Per Week
ICOES + CPD
Endorsed Certificate
14-Day
Money-Back Guarantee
100%
Online, Self-Paced
24/7
AI Tutor
Where this can take you

Upskill. Career or Business. Made for New Zealand.

And if you ever wanted to take it further, these are the kinds of roles it could lead to:

Kitchen Hand
Catering Assistant
Commis Chef
Cafe Cook
Food Preparation Assistant
Deli Assistant
Curriculum

What You’ll Learn.

5 modules · 50 lessons · Study at your own pace

01Welcome & IntroductionFree
02How a Professional Kitchen Is Organised
03Food Safety Basics: What You Need to Know Before You Cook
04Knife Types and What Each One Is For
05Knife Skills: Holding, Cutting, and Staying Safe
06Essential Kitchen Equipment and What It Does
07Measuring Ingredients: Weight vs Volume
08Reading a Recipe Like a Cook
09Mise en Place: Prepping Before You Cook
10Food Storage: Keeping Ingredients Safe and Fresh
11Putting It Together: Planning a Simple Prep Session
Included with your course

Your 24/7 AI Tutor.

It knows where you are

Your tutor sees the lesson you are on and what you have covered, so every answer fits your progress.

Explains Until You Get It

Confused by a concept? Ask for a simpler take, a real-world example, or a quick quiz to test yourself.

There at 11pm

Study when it suits you. Your tutor is available around the clock, every day of your enrolment.

Inside this course · Your tutor
I tried making a pan sauce but it ended up greasy and thin. What did I do wrong?
That's a common issue. It often happens when the sauce isn't properly emulsified, meaning the fat and liquid haven't combined. This can be caused by too much fat, not enough heat to reduce the liquid, or not whisking enough. We can walk through the steps again for a proper pan sauce. Would you like to do that?
ModernEdu
This certifies that
Charlotte Reeve
has successfully completed the
Certificate in Culinary Basics NZ
Issued by Modern Education New Zealand
Certificate No. ME-2026-04871
Verify at modernedu.co.nz/verify
Your certificate

Proof of What You Know.

Endorsed

Endorsed by ICOES, the International Council for Online Educational Standards, and CPD-eligible.

Verifiable online

Every certificate carries a unique number an employer or client can verify on our site in seconds.

Made to share

A printed hard copy is included with upfront enrolment, and a digital version for LinkedIn and your CV.

Student reviews

What People Are Saying.

5 average rating

Set up a plant styling business, and maintain it too

The content was clear and practical — including the set-up of a plant styling business, and ongoing maintenance too.

Emily P. · Verified student

The financial part of the business

Learning about the financial part of the business.

Kristine S. · Verified student

The first weeks are the foundation, not a warm-up

The first weeks in the home are not a warm-up phase, they are the foundation. The guidance we give owners during this window can prevent months of remedial work later, making early intervention one of the most powerful tools we have as trainers.

Gaylene D. · Verified student
What you get

Everything Included.

In this course

50 lessons across 5 modules, read, listen, or watch every one
Your 24/7 AI tutor, built into every lesson
Assessments and your ICOES-endorsed, CPD-eligible certificate
12 months access, with extensions available on request

As a Modern Edu student

Student discount on any additional course
Printed hard-copy edition of your course
More student extras on the way
How it works

Four Steps to Your Certificate.

01

Try It Free

Start lesson 1 right now, free. See the course and meet your tutor before paying anything.

02

Enrol Easily

Pick the option that suits you. Every option is covered by the 14-day guarantee.

03

Make Real Progress

Read, listen, or watch each lesson. Go at your own pace with your tutor beside you.

04

Get Your Certificate

Pass your assessments and receive your endorsed, verifiable certificate.

Enrolment

Easy Ways to Get Started.

Try the first lesson free. When you are ready, split it into four with Afterpay or Klarna, save $140 upfront, or take the simple weekly plan.

Start Here · No Card Needed
Free first lesson
Start lesson 1 right now and meet your AI tutor. See exactly how the course works before you decide anything.
No card. No commitment. Your progress carries over when you enrol.
When you are ready to enrol
Recommended · Split Into Four
$139.75 ×4
Afterpay or Klarna covers the $559 upfront price for you. You get every upfront bonus and the $140 saving, then repay in four fortnightly amounts. Nothing more after that.
A second course free, your choice
Printed edition of your course included
Save $140 compared with the weekly plan
Continue With Afterpay or Klarna
Four interest-free payments of $139.75 for approved applicants. Late fees may apply.
Upfront · Save $140
$559
One payment by card if you would rather settle it in one go. Same bonuses: second course free and the printed edition.
CardAfterpayKlarna
Enrol Upfront for $559
Afterpay and Klarna split $559 into 4 payments of $139.75.
Weekly Payment Plan
$25 /week
28 weekly payments · $700 total
Upfront bonuses not included.
Start the Weekly Plan
Visa · Mastercard · Amex · Afterpay · Klarna accepted.    14-day guarantee
Not sure yet?
Before you enrol

Is It Right for You?

This course is for you if

You want to become a confident, capable home cook.
You're considering a career in hospitality and need a solid starting point.
You learn best with a structured plan, not just random online videos.
You want to understand the 'why' behind cooking, not just follow recipes.
You want to build a reliable set of core skills in the kitchen.

It is probably not for you if

You're already a professional cook or chef looking for advanced training.
You need a formal, NZQA-accredited qualification. A local polytechnic is a better option for this.
You only want to learn a specific niche, like advanced pastry or a single international cuisine.
You're just looking for a collection of recipes to follow.

14-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Try the full course for two weeks. If it is not for you, we refund you in full. No questions asked, no conditions.

More from students

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Tammie O. · Verified student

“Very informative, and I like the focus on clients. It's better to give advice in small segments — just as we do with our dogs. Small steps.”

John H. · Verified student

“Real world responses — wow. The laws, and what it means to run a facility, is an eye opener. Even the less-common-pets section was eye opening — rabbits are illegal to keep as pets here in Queensland!”

Lee P. · Verified student

Start With a Free Lesson.

Start with the free first lesson, or enrol on the spot from $25 a week.

ModernEdu
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Certificate in Culinary Basics NZ
First lesson free · $25/week · 14-day guarantee