No matter how experienced you are in the kitchen, you will probably mess up at some point. The important thing is not to panic! Here are six common cooking mistakes and how to correct them.
Bad Timing
Too often, we’ve fallen victim to not efficiently planning cook times, and what are we left with? A cold plate of what could have been a phenomenal meal. Fix this problem before it occurs by making a list of when you need to start executing each dish (and don’t forget that desserts can be made ahead of time). Remember that things can take longer than they seem, like caramelizing onions.
Let It Rest
Hey, we get it: When the food is “done,” we’re tempted to dig in immediately. But a common kitchen mistake is not letting the food rest. For example, fried foods need a few minutes after cooking to get extra crispy. Cookies and other baked goods are the same; they need a few minutes to properly set after being pulled out of the oven.
Read Your Recipes and Sharpen Your Knives
These two mistakes have simple solutions, so we’ll keep it short and sweet. If you’re using a recipe, read it all the way through so you’re aware of any time-consuming steps, such as rising, freezing, or marinating times. And while you’re in prep mode, go ahead and sharpen those kitchen knives.
Sauté the Right Way
Not all ingredients are sautéed equally. For example, onions need to sauté significantly longer than garlic, and adding them to your pan at the same time means you’ll either have perfect garlic and raw onions or perfect onions and burnt garlic. So the next time you sauté, consider how long each ingredient needs to cook and add them to your pan in that order.
Keep the Heat In
When planning the perfect meal, we often open the oven to check on the food every so often. But resist the temptation to do so, as heat flies out each time the oven opens, and you have to add cooking time because the oven has to preheat again. So, as difficult as it is to wait, open the oven sparingly and trust the process.
Know As You Go
Oftentimes, people wait until the entire meal is finished before tasting. Instead, when you’re able to, taste as you go, so there’s no shock or panic when you put the finishing touches on your meal. Remember, you can always add to a dish, but you can’t take ingredients away.