There’s a reason cooking textbooks are so big. There’s so much to learn!
The world of cooking is vast (and delicious) and filled with many important fixes that will transform an “okay” cook into an “incredible” one.
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So whether you’re a talented cook or someone who burns water , here are 15 cooking mistakes we could all learn from.
You don’t practice mise en place
This is a French culinary phrase that means “putting in place.” Basically, it means that you should get your vegetables and meats chopped, your spices measures, and your kitchen in order before you start cooking. Well-organized cooking will make things much easier.
You overcrowd the pan too much
“I always cook meats one at a time in a small pan. My boyfriend wonders why mine always turn out better than his that he makes all together in one bigger pan.” – u/ Shewhoisgroovy
You add garlic and onion to a pan together
While most recipes call for the ingredients to be added separately, some people are stubborn and toss them in together.
This is a big mistake since garlic cooks a lot quicker. Do this and you’ll end up burning it.
You don’t taste as you go
“This is the key thing especially for beginners or people who cook occasionally. not all ingredients taste the same year after year. you may be using a different salt or a different type of tomato or a different oil.” – u/ pornendo
You don’t cut vegetables into uniform sizes
Wondering why some pieces of carrot are cooked and others are still raw? It’s because of their size. If you want pieces of meat and vegetables to all cook at the same time, do yourself a favor and cut them to the same size.
You don’t add some sort of acidity to your food
Once you start adding acidity to your food, you won’t be able to go back. It’s so important to the flavoring of food, as it adds a balance of bitterness and sweetness. It can even fix mistakes like adding too much salt to a dish.
You don’t clean as you go
Once you’re more comfortable in the kitchen, use the downtime while things cook to start cleaning some dishes. This means that you won’t have a pile of dishes to do after you enjoy your meal.
You overmix your cake/muffin batter
“I used to think mixing well makes it fluffier, makes it taste better as all ingredients are evenly mixed. That’s not the case, it makes gluten develop in your batter faster, which should happen in the oven and make it fluffier and less dense.” – u/ oreos_m
You don’t let the meat sit after cooking
We get it: it’s hard to let a juicy steak just sit there on the counter. It’s like having to wait for cupcakes to cool before you can eat them!
But letting the meat sit for a few minutes after cooking is important, as it will allow the juices to distribute.
You didn’t follow the recipe
“Not following the recipe and then wondering why their food isn’t as good. That step you skipped mattered. You’re not enough of an expert to know what can be substituted. Just follow the recipe.” – u/ Healer1124
You’re cooking on a high heat
More heat doesn’t always equal faster cooking. Most of the time, it means burnt food. Of course, there will be times when you need to turn the burner up to full blast. But that’s usually to create a boil before turning it down to a simmer.
You don’t know why your food tastes boring
“Learning why the food tastes boring. No depth of flavour? More browning. Tastes bland? More salt. Tastes flat? More acid. Tastes dry and unsatisfying? More fat.” -u/ almostlucid . Also, learn to season throughout.
You don’t let baked goods cool before trying to frost them
Patience is so important when cooking and baking! By adding icing to a hot baked good, the icing will melt and you’ll find yourself on the next list of “Pinterest fails.”
You don’t use enough salt
“Salt is a flavor intensifier. If you need to reduce salt in your diet, then reduce the salt in cooking and sprinkle some on top when cooking is complete. It will produce the desired effect while still maintaining most of the flavor. Just cutting the salt makes your food bland and unappetizing.” – u/ capnhist
You overcook your meat
A meat thermometer is your new best friend! This will help you safely determine when meat is done being cooked.
That way, you won’t be stuck eating dry chicken or putting your life at risk by eating meat that’s still raw.
Last Updated on August 19, 2022 by Sarah Kester
