Thomas Keller Masterclass Review: Is It Worth It?

Last Updated on September 14, 2024 by Shari Mason

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In the American culinary world, Thomas Keller is highly regarded and has earned the title of having the most Michelin stars among US chefs. He currently manages two restaurants, both of which have been awarded three Michelin stars.

As a foodie and aspiring chef, I decided to subscribe to MasterClass intending to learn more from Chef Thomas Keller.

Expectations are high, so we’ll give an honest Thomas Keller MasterClass review if it’s worth your money and time.

Chef Thomas Keller Masterclass Review

Yes, attending Thomas Keller’s Masterclasses is worth every penny. 

After finishing all three courses (where Chef Thomas Keller teaches cooking techniques), what I learned from him refined my cooking skills. 

I had fun following recipes from Chef Gordon Ramsay (from Gordon Ramsay MasterClass), but I appreciate his principle-based cooking techniques more. 

“If you’re a happy person around food, you can be a professional chef. It’s fueled by passion”.

– Ranveer Brar, Indian Chef

Thomas Keller Masterclasses are subdivided into three cooking courses; 70 lessons are around 17 hours and 50 minutes to finish for as low as $15/ month. 

The fundamental cooking techniques and teaching style of the Michelin-star chef are easy to follow, and his dedication is incredibly contagious.

Read:

• What Is Thomas Keller’s Most Famous Dish?
• Is Thomas Keller A Michelin Star Chef?

The Masterclass Objectives 

• Learn the basics-choosing the essential tools in kitchen setup and give an overview on essential ingredients. 
• Focus on transferable skills rather than recipes.
• Teach the students sophisticated cooking techniques for making great food beyond the cookbooks. 
• Take time and help in learning sous vide cooking, classical French cooking, big pot blanching, and many cooking techniques a trained chef should master. 
• Challenge aspiring chefs to become aware of their capabilities and improve their cooking skills. 
• Impart Chef Keller’s philosophy about cooking.

How Much Does Thomas Keller Masterclass Cost? 

Thomas Keller’s MasterClass is part of more than 150 cooking courses that MasterClass offers, and I spent $180 for one year of subscription to their Standard Plan. 

The all-access pass from MasterClass gave me access to Chef Keller and other cooking courses from Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsay [1]. It is worth the price rather than enrolling 

in a cooking course or getting an individual plan. 

Whether you are a novice cook or a seasoned chef, learning from an award-winning chef like Thomas Keller for $15/ month is a bang for your buck. 

We also learned that you could get lifetime access and individual courses for $90 each if you want Keller’s course only, but a full subscription has a lot to offer.

Quick Preview of Keller’s Cooking Masterclass

Total Course Time	Thomas Keller’s MasterClasses is subdivided into three; total course time is 17 hours and 50 minutes.
Materials	It includes 99 pages of the workbook that is downloadable to supplement the MasterClass course.
Lessons	It includes 75 video lessons, each lasting roughly fifteen minutes. The lessons are more technique-driven, helping the students develop their skills rather than following recipes.

Line Up of Thomas Keller Masterclass 

Thomas Keller MasterClass 1

In the first installment of the MasterClass, Chef Keller teaches us the proper techniques for cooking eggs (scrambled eggs and boiled eggs), vegetables, and how to make classic pastas. 

The Cooking Techniques I comprises 36 video lessons that lasted about 6 hours and 53 minutes. 

Thomas Keller MasterClass 2

In the second course, Chef Keller teaches us the essential techniques for making sauces and stocks and cooking meats. 

The Cooking Techniques II is composed of 22 video lessons that lasted about 6 hours and 6 minutes.

Thomas Keller MasterClass 3 

In the last installment of the course, Chef Keller discusses the proper preparation of fresh seafood. 

Keller explains how sous vide cooking can enhance texture and flavor. Also, Chef Keller shows how to make classic desserts such as lemon tart and apple pie.

Cooking Techniques III is composed of 17 video lessons that lasted about 4 hours and 51 minutes.

What Is Included in Thomas Keller’s Masterclass?

Relevant Videos

The cooking lessons are in the form of videos, and I like how Chef Keller explains everything clearly and concisely, from kitchen setup to his philosophy. 

In total, I finished 75 videos, and the teaching style of Chef Keller is superb. Since the cooking lessons revolved around principles, applying them to essential ingredients was easy. 

Downloadable Cookbooks & Workbooks

The cooking class, instructed by American-born chef Thomas Keller, comes with a downloadable workbook to supplement the MasterClass. 

The workbook is well-written and contains reviews, recipes, and assignments to further your knowledge. 

The workbook also has a detailed breakdown of some essential tips that Chef Keller explains, which gives me more chances to understand his techniques fully. 

Community Forum

MasterClass offers community forums for students to interact with each other, gain further insights, post questions, and ask for feedback. 

It was previously known as “The Hub” and was replaced with “Sessions” in 2021. 

I enjoyed using the community forum because it is more interactive and helps me apply what I learned from an expert like Thomas Keller to the real world.

What Did We Learn from the Masterclass? 

Thomas Keller is the only American chef to hold multiple Michelin stars [2], and he exceeded my expectations. Chef Thomas Keller shows how every cooking technique changes everything. 

After I finished the 75 videos, I realized that it needs a lot of practice to learn Chef Keller’s technique, but at least, it’s a big step towards making Michelin-star quality dishes. 

Since the course is focused-practice, I learned that practicing the techniques is what you need to master any dish-not just the recipes. 

Throughout these three classes, Keller primarily emphasizes the “correct execution” component. He adds that execution is not just about cooking; instead, it is also about preparation. 

I absolutely adored Chef Keller’s lessons, especially his cooking philosophy. His passion and dedication to refined cuisine and high service level are contagious. I even learned how to sous vide even without restaurant equipment. 

Recipes We Tried 

Since Chef Keller showed us how to make the perfect pasta dough which he learned from his Italian grandmother, I tried making Spaghetti Aglio.

It took me five times to create the pasta dough because I am not big on classic French cuisine, but my homemade pasta was very fulfilling. 

Also, I tried baking beets and made potato gnocchi, hollandaise sauce, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs using the techniques I learned from him.

What We Like About It 

Chef Keller maintains a humble approach grounded in reality, despite the depth of his professional experience. 

I like how he explains and shows various cooking methods, from peeling to blanching to oven roasting, and how each can improve flavor and appearance.

Also, I appreciate that he teaches the recipe and techniques. His principle-based approach to cooking is helpful for beginners and aspiring chefs like me.

What Could Have Been Better?

After attending Chef Keller’s MasterClass, I observed that most recipes provided are not everyday dishes. 

It could have been better if they also provided everyday dishes and not just Michelin-star recipes (e.g., French Laundry [3] menu) to try and recreate. 

Also, lots of specialty ingredients needed are expensive. We all want to ensure that our food is made with the finest possible ingredients, but at least it should be more affordable.

Also, I noticed that it is hard to hear what Chef Thomas discusses over the sound of mixing and whisking. It would be better to have their audio team improve that part.

Pros & Cons of Thomas Keller Masterclass 

Pros

• The class emphasizes developing skills that may be used for various dishes.
• Coverage covers various cuisine categories, ranging from easy to complex.
• The inclusive workbooks are helpful.
• Culinary institute level of teaching and approach. 
• You can bookmark the recipes for later.

Cons

• Worksheets could be improved
• Recipe ingredients can be too expensive
• Video and audio need improvement
• Lack of screen graphics

Is the Thomas Keller Masterclass Worth the Money? 

YES if…	NO if…
You’re trying to hone a skill or expand your horizons in the culinary and are still a beginner.	You are not patient enough to learn new things and do not like classical French cooking.
You are a fan of Chef Keller and want to support him with his endeavor.	You are looking for a practical cooking class because it can be expensive.
You want to improve your skills and learn more techniques than the recipes.

FAQs

Final Thoughts 

Thomas Keller’s MasterClass could be a terrific subscription for you if you are interested in learning new methods, especially if you seek to take your skills to a new level. 

He is an excellent teacher. The cooking tips and techniques I learned from his MasterClass gave me more understanding and helped me improve my cooking skills.  

I enjoyed watching the master work, I’ve learned a lot, and it has exceeded my expectations. Imagine learning from America’s most decorated chef for less than $10 an hour. That’s a steal!

References:

1. https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/masterclass-review 
2. https://robbreport.com/food-drink/dining/thomas-keller-bouchon-coral-gables-1234726670/ 
3. https://www.wsj.com/articles/chef-thomas-keller-success-interview-11653667232?mod=read_more 
4. https://www.britannica.com/topic/French-cuisine