Even people who don’t know how to cook think about getting out the pots and pans during the holidays, when Secret Santas hand out homemade edible gifts and party tables are loaded with comfort food.

If this is the year you’ve decided it’s time to get in the kitchen yourself, or you’d simply like to polish your culinary skills, consider trying one of the many cooking classes regularly offered in Maine. Whether you have a burning desire to bake a loaf of bread or are simply looking for new ideas for the family dinner table, there’s probably something to suit your needs.

This is also a great time of year to explore classes that might appeal to family and friends who love to cook. A gift certificate to a cooking class makes a thoughtful stocking stuffer, and it’s more useful than candy or trinkets.

We sent four staffers to four cooking classes in southern Maine to test drive them for you. Here’s what they found: