12 Ultra-Common Cooking Mistakes Americans Make
There’s a learning curve for everything, and the kitchen is no exception. Americans love trying their hand at cooking, and some succeed with flying colors. Others, not so much.
These are some simple mistakes amateurs seem to make repeatedly in the kitchen. Be honest: How many of them have you made?
1: Overcrowding
Cooking everything one time, in one pan, may be tempting. But crowding your pan is a big mistake. Whether you’re frying, sauteing, or using a different cooking technique, it’s vital to create space between each piece of meat or other food you’re cooking. Otherwise, your food will get soggy from the trapped moisture.
2: Scratch That
Non-stick cookware has come a long way since Teflon made its debut in the 1930s. Although the dangerous perfluorooctanoic acid chemical is no longer found in modern-day non-stick pots and pans, it’s still wise not to use metal utensils on them. No one enjoys having bits of black residue in their food from scratched cookware.
3: Read Thoroughly
Many amateur chefs fly by the seat of their pants, but not reading the entire recipe before starting can lead to unexpected snags. Some recipes call for freezing some of the ingredients before proceeding. Similarly, always remember to set out your butter before baking.
4: Heating Up
Not letting oil get hot enough before frying something is a classic rookie mistake. It will cause the food to soak in extra oil, creating a less crispy crunch, not to mention leading to you consuming more calories than you would have if the oil were hot enough. Careful, though. Overheat the oil, and your food will burn.
5: Prep Yourself
If you don’t know what “Mise en place” means, listen up: It’s a French term for gathering all your ingredients before beginning to cook. So, we urge you to heed this phrase when you see a recipe that recommends it. That said, gathering the ingredients isn’t enough; you need to chop and measure them, too, so they’re ready to go in the pot at the exact moment the recipe calls for.
6: Let It Be
After you cook meat, it’s best to let it rest for a bit to prevent ruining all your hard work. The reason? As the meat fibers cool, they relax, allowing the juices to distribute evenly throughout the cut.
7: Be Generous
Most of us know what it’s like to eat an oversalted meal. However, since cooking involves a learning curve, being hesitant about adding seasoning and working with the temperature can take you longer to overcome it. Be mindful of how much seasoning and heat you apply with cooking without being so nervous of messing up the meal that it takes you hours to find the right balance.
8: Watch Out
Here’s some kitchen 101 for you: Never leave a lit stove or oven unattended. Not only does that allow you to act quickly in the case of a fire, but it’s easy to let something cook a little too long if you get distracted in another part of your home.
9: Raw on the Inside
When cooking meat, be careful not to turn the heat on too high. It’s easy to do if you’re trying to rush to get a steak dinner ready for your family. However, a steak can appear burned on the outside while still having a raw interior.
10: Pasta Tips
If you’re an Italian at heart but not in the kitchen, heed this advice: Use a large enough pot with a generous amount of water when boiling pasta. Furthermore, remove the pasta from the stove just before it’s fully done cooking. The reason is that pasta will continue cooking after it comes off the stove, giving it the perfect al dente texture.
11: No Cutting Corners
When picking a recipe online, choose one with good reviews. Then follow it to a tee. For example, while you might be inclined to think butter is butter, making cookies with melted butter is bound to lead to disappointment if a recipe calls for creamed butter.
12: Give It a Try
Not cooking at all is arguably worse than any mishap you’ll come across in the kitchen. Everyone will make mistakes when they first start cooking, and errors will continue for anyone who pushes themselves out of their comfort zone to continue growing their culinary skills. If you look at cooking mistakes as growth, you’ll set yourself up for success.
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