2021 Best Masterclass Courses Ranked: Cooking, Writing, Sports And More!

We’ve all seen Masterclass ads while scrolling through our social media feeds. It’s easy to notice especially with an industry icon telling you that he or she can give you a crash course in their respective fields.

With all the extra time brought about by stay-at-home orders and lockdowns, now is the best time to learn a new skill or two. We’ve gathered the 10 best Masterclass courses from all categories.

1. Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking

Upgrade your home cooking and basic kitchen skills with seven-star Michelin chef Gordon Ramsay. In the first of two courses, Ramsay takes you through his kitchen layout, kitchen necessities, essential kitchen skills including knife skills, breaking down chicken and fish and making pasta dough from scratch. The 20 video lessons include mastering ingredients like herbs and vegetables, fish and shellfish and beef and lamb as well as actual recipes from the chef himself. You’ll be making beef wellington and lobster ravioli in no time. Enroll here.

2. Massimo Bottura Teaches Modern Italian Cooking

Elevate your love for Italian food with three-star Michelin chef Massimo Bottura. This 14-video course shows the evolution of tradition and how you can use that in your cooking. Bottura teaches how to experiment with traditional recipes using available ingredients through dishes like pesto, tortellini, ragu and the like. He teaches techniques in making pasta dough, broth and sauces. Learn the evolution of dishes like pesto and get a modern take on the recipe when you cook it at home. Enroll here.

3. Lynnette Marrero & Ryan Chetiyawardana Teach Mixology

Recreate what you’ve been missing out on this whole pandemic: going out and having drinks with people you love. But also, discover the art of mixology. Renowned mixologists Lynnette Marrero and Ryan Chetiyawardana teach you creativity with your cocktails, using spirits that you love and which ones are the most versatile. Learn what are the home bar essentials and concoct classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Martini and Margarita while tapping into your own creativity and resourcefulness to come up with your own. Enroll here.

4. Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling

Learn to write compelling narratives with award-winning author Neil Gaiman through 19 video lessons. Gaiman teaches fiction writing in robust, actionable steps such as finding your voice, developing your story, character and dialogue, word building, and more. He shares his own ideologies of storytelling and uses study cases of his own works to dissect as part of the lesson. The course is meant not just to inspire and educate aspiring fiction writers but to also push them into actual writing with exercises and drills. You’ll never be ashamed of your stories again. Enroll here.

5. Amy Tan Teaches Fiction, Memory, and Imagination

Revisit the "Joy Luck Club" and the process of writing fiction from your own memories intertwined with your imagination. "New York Times" bestselling novelist Amy Tan teaches writing fictional narratives based on what you can remember and how to creatively and effectively piece these memories into your narrative. In the 14-video lesson course, she talks about the creation process of the novel from finding your writing voice to writing an engaging beginning, all the way to ending your story and the revision process. She even gives tips on how to handle rejection and overcoming writer’s block. You’ll be able to use your truth in writing your fictional narrative. Enroll here.

6. Matthew Walker Teaches the Science of Better Sleep

Discover the real science behind a good night’s rest with UC Berkley neuroscience and psychology professor Matthew Walker. More important than ever, we need better sleep to better cope with our current situation. In this 15-video lesson class, Walker discusses the importance of each aspect of sleep from natural sleep rhythms to dreaming. Here, he also connects why sleep is vital to your all-around health and how it can address your addiction to alcohol and caffeine. You’ll finally sleep soundly at night. Enroll here.

7. Tony Hawk Teaches Skateboarding

Rekindle your love for skateboarding or start a new sport with legendary skateboarding icon Tony Hawk. Whether you’re a frustrated skater or a total noob, Hawk provides skateboarding fundamentals for technique and skill. In this 16-video lesson class, he shows you tricks from both street and vert style skateboarding while breaking down each step and landing. Plus, if you’re a big fan of Hawk, you’ll be delighted to get some autobiographical scenes and personal stories to inspire you to finally land that ollie! Enroll here.

8. Brandon McMillan Teaches Dog Training

Teach your dog how to be a better buddy with master animal trainer Brandon McMillan in this 15-video lesson course. McMillan believes that there are no untrainable dogs, just untrained humans so he gives hope to even the most frustrated dog owner. Here, he presents foundational elements in dog training including trust and relationship-building with your dog. He also presents the seven basic commands that are used on a daily basis with your dog: sit, down, stay, no, off, come and heel. He also addresses how to overcome behavioral issues like excessive barking, door dashing and housebreaking. Have the best-trained dog in your neighborhood. Enroll here.

9. Ron Finley Teaches Gardening

Cultivate your green thumb while you spend most of your time at home with self-proclaimed “Gangster Gardener” Ron Finley. In this 10-video lesson, Finley teaches the basics of gardening and the importance of growing your own food within your own resources. He demonstrates how to upcycle common household items into beautiful planters and walks you through essential garden tools you’ll need to get started. Then he shows you how to grow your own produce from scratch, make your own compost and harvest a bounty. Never go hungry again. Enroll here.

10. Kelly Wearstler Teaches Interior Design

Redefine your notions of space and demystify interior design with award-winning designer Kelly Wearstler. In this 17-video lesson class, Wearstler takes you behind the scenes of her own works and presents the fundamentals of interior design. Here, she teaches the basics of working with space, experimenting with color, finding inspiration, discovering texture, creating balance, and so much more. She also takes you on virtual field trips to interiors she’s designed to demonstrate elements of style. You’ll finally get to redesign your own home tastefully. Enroll here.

A Masterclass subscription is priced at $180/year and allows you full access to the courses available. Subscribe here today.

Discount rates vary with the number of annual subscribers in a group but get up to 30% off for 20+ subscribers in Masterclass for Business. Subscribe here today.