Is It Too Late to Start Making Cooking Videos?

Many aspiring creators wonder whether the cooking niche on YouTube and social media is already saturated. With millions of food videos online, it can feel intimidating to start from scratch. However, real-world examples of new creators growing quickly—and even making a full-time living—prove that it is not too late.

This article breaks down real creator success stories, realistic growth expectations, and four practical tips for growing quickly if you are just starting out with cooking videos.

Real Examples of New Cooking Creators Finding Success

Lisa Nguyen (Lisa Wynn)

Lisa started her cooking channel in 2020 and has already built a massive audience:

4.2 million subscribers on YouTube

3 million followers on TikTok

178,000 followers on Instagram

She is not a professionally trained chef. Her content focuses on learning how to cook in real time. Many of the dishes she shares are her first attempts, and she openly shows mistakes. She often creates follow-up videos where she remakes recipes to improve them.

Another key element of her content is storytelling, which helps build stronger viewer connection.

Tina (Doobydobap)

Tina started her channel in early 2020, but her first long-form cooking video was posted in February 2021. Today, her growth includes:

3 million subscribers on YouTube

3.5 million followers on TikTok

Nearly 900,000 followers on Instagram

She combines home cooking with personal life updates, creating authentic food-focused vlogs. Her success has grown to the point where she is opening her own restaurant.

Daddy Lau (Made With Lau)

Daddy Lau offers a powerful example for creators who believe success is limited to younger personalities:

First video posted in September 2020

1 million subscribers on YouTube

452,000 followers on TikTok

221,000 followers on Instagram

With over 50 years of experience as a Chinese chef, Daddy Lau shares traditional recipes alongside cultural stories and family traditions.

More Realistic Growth Examples From New Creators

Many newer creators have reached 1,000 or more subscribers within a year. These creators are already earning income, proving that steady and realistic growth is still happening in the cooking niche.

Subscriber Count Is Not the Only Path to Income

More than 200 million people earn money from digital content creation today. Subscriber count alone does not define success.

The creator behind the transcript went full-time by creating cooking content for brands. These brands paid for production quality, cooking skills, and editing ability rather than follower count.

Four Tips for Growing Quickly as a New Cooking Creator

1. Focus on Short-Form Vertical Videos

Short-form content is heavily favored by YouTube’s algorithm.

Key points:

YouTube Shorts get faster reach

Shorts convert subscribers efficiently

Vertical videos can be reused on TikTok and Instagram

Example results:

One long-form video gained 40,000 views and 750 subscribers in a year

A single Short reached 10 million views and gained over 10,000 subscribers

2. Make Recipes People Are Searching For

YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world.

Effective strategy:

Create videos that solve food-related problems

Focus on searchable recipes and techniques

Understand what people are actively searching for

Tools like keyword research platforms help identify demand.

3. Nail the Thumbnail

Thumbnails directly impact click-through rate.

Best practices:

Study the top results for your recipe

Create a clearer and more appetizing visual

Improve old thumbnails to revive underperforming videos

4. Get to the Point Quickly

Retention is critical once a viewer clicks.

Best practices:

Skip long intros

Start with the recipe immediately

Keep the structure clear and focused

Common Reasons People Delay Starting (and Why They Don’t Matter)

Creators often wait due to:

Camera quality concerns

Fear of being on camera

Overthinking editing

In reality:

A smartphone is enough

You don’t need to show your face

Cooking videos can be silent or voice-over based

Improvement comes from consistency, not perfection.

How 100Viral.com Can Support Cooking Creators

What the Platform Does

100viral.com is a YouTube video promotion platform that helps creators reach real viewers using official Google Ads.

Key Benefits of 100Viral.com

No bots or fake views

Real users only

Fully compliant with YouTube and Google Ads policies

Suitable for cooking and recipe content

Realistic Results You Can Expect

Creators can expect increased visibility, authentic traffic, and real audience exposure depending on targeting and budget.

Step-by-Step: How to Use 100Viral.com

1. Visit https://100viral.com

2. Choose a YouTube promotion option

3. Submit your cooking video link

4. Select targeting preferences

5. Launch the campaign through Google Ads

6. Track performance and engagement

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too late to start a cooking channel on YouTube?

No. New creators are still growing and earning income today.

Do I need professional cooking skills?

No. Many successful creators share learning experiences.

Are short-form videos necessary?

Short-form content currently offers faster growth for new creators.

Can I earn money without a large following?

Yes. Brands often pay for content quality and skills.

Do thumbnails really matter?

Yes. Thumbnails strongly affect click-through rate.

Can I start with just my phone?

Yes. A phone is enough to get started.

Conclusion

It is not too late to start making cooking videos. Real creators are growing by focusing on searchable recipes, strong thumbnails, short-form content, and consistency. Starting now accelerates learning and long-term growth.