David Beckham used to go to cooking school three times a week.

The retired soccer star swatted up on his culinary skills during his two loan spells with AC Milan by attending weekly classes for half a year with a top professional chef, but he admits the course also allowed him to develop a love for perfecting complicated dishes.

Speaking to The Times newspaper, he said: ''Funnily enough, when I lived in Italy, I took a six-month culinary course at a professional chef's school and learnt to make real ragu and fresh pasta. I used to go there three times a week... I was obsessed with perfecting the risotto because it is difficult.''

The 38-year-old hunk - who has sons, Brooklyn, 14, Romeo, 11, Cruz, eight, and two-year-old daughter Harper with his wife Victoria - admits he's been the main chef in the Beckham household since he quit soccer earlier this year, but he doesn't mind that he spends most evenings in the kitchen because rustling up delicious feasts allows him to unwind.

He explained: ''I do it [cooking] most of the time.''

He added: ''I love cooking. It relaxes me. The kids love it too. Particularly when I make Milanese risotto with saffron.''