If you’ve ever flipped through the channels and watched a cooking show, you know that the presentation is just as important as the taste when it comes to food. Professional chefs take the time to arrange food in creative ways that make meals look truly mouthwatering, and you can do the same. We’ll offer some simple tips here on how to make your dishes look as attractive as they taste.

Choose Your Plate Wisely

Before you even think about arranging the food on the plate, consider the physical visual element of the plate itself. Its size, shape, color, and other features can work with or against the presentation. For example, if your food contains something with a lot of color, then a white plate will help it stand out more. Another option is a plate with multiple sections. That gives you a great way to arrange items separately.

Pick an Interesting Arrangement

This is where the real creativity comes into play. Professional chefs use a number of different arrangements, like fanning slices of meat or artfully arranging slices of vegetables around a central item. You could also arrange items so that they show movement and direction. And don’t be afraid to use smaller items like herbs, sauces, and spices to give the plate an extra pop.

Plating Finishing Touches

The devil is in the details. Take a look at the final product and ask yourself if it needs anything else. Maybe some extra spices or a drizzle of sauce on the plate. Or perhaps a bit of color in the background. All these little additions can give the dish a professional chef-worthy look.

All it takes is a few small steps and tweaks to make your dishes look as good as they taste. With a little creativity, you can start plating like a professional chef.