11 Common Cooking Mistakes That Good Chefs Never Make

Ready to level up your kitchen skills? Even if you’re a beginner or feel a bit lost, there are tons of common cooking mistakes that are super easy to fix. Some can totally wreck a dish, but don’t worry! Let’s break down those pitfalls so you can avoid them and make seriously delicious food.

Not Letting the Pan Heat Up

One common cooking mistake that new cooks tend to make is not heating their pan before adding their food into it. If what you are cooking also requires fat (butter or oil) you need to heat the pan before adding the fat, then allow the fat to heat up and then add your food. 

Overcrowding The Pan 

There’s no quicker way to cool down a properly heated pan than by overcrowding it with whatever you are cooking. Overcrowding the pan also makes it more difficult to move your food around and turn it over when necessary. 

Not Reading the Recipe

Before you begin cooking a new dish it is important to read through the recipe thoroughly. It can be tempting to just glance at the bottom of the recipe, but that’s a good way to miss a step, or add an ingredient at the wrong time. 

Under/Over Seasoning 

Lot’s of novice cooks are afraid to season their food so they only use just a tiny amount of seasonings and spices which will definitely affect the flavor. Others are a little too heavy handed especially when it comes to salt and pepper. Start with the suggested amount of seasonings in your recipe and adjust from there. 

Not Doing Mise En Place 

Mise en Place is French for setting up, and having your mise en place in place before you begin cooking is important. Make sure your counters and pans are clean and gather your ingredients for the meal. Go ahead and wash and chop your vegetables before you begin cooking too. 

Using a Dull Knife

One thing you will never see a professional chef do is chop with a dull knife. Dull knives are exponentially more dangerous than sharp ones and much more likely to cause an injury. Make sure your knives are properly sharpened and if you don’t know how, look online for someone to do it for you or to show you how.  

Turning Food Too Soon or Too Often

Some beginning cooks make the mistake of turning or stirring the food too often. Food needs sustained contact with the heat for browning and cooking to occur. Turning and stirring too often will make your food take longer to cook. 

Not Cleaning As They Go 

This is a big one for the inexperienced cook. You may end up with an amazing meal and a really big mess to clean up afterwards if you don’t clean as you go. Take a second to wipe down counters in between steps, throw away garbage, and while your food is in the oven or cooking on the stove is the perfect time to watch a few dishes.

Overcooking

Carry over heat is a real issue with baked goods, meats, and vegetables. This means that the food will continue to cook after you have removed it from the heat source. To account for this it’s best to remove your food just a few minutes before it’s completely done. This way it won’t turn out overcooked.

Lack of Proper Timing 

New cooks often have a hard time getting their timing correct so that all of their dishes are ready at the same time. This is one cooking mistake that just takes practice to overcome, as you continue cooking you will learn how long each dish takes to prepare so that you can have them ready at the same time. 

Not Allowing Meat To Rest 

Another common mistake of new cooks is to slice their meat immediately after removing it from the heat source. This will cause your meat to become dry and lifeless because the juices will run all over the cutting board. Let your meat rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into it, then that juice will be where it belongs…in the meat! 

More From xoxoBella

Get ready to take a trip back in time! From “totally tubular” to “have a cow,” we’re looking at some of the most iconic phrases and expressions defining the decade.
Read Here: Tubular 80s Slang Terms

12 Adorable Dog Breeds People Voted They Would Never Own in a Million Years

Despite some of these dog breeds being adorable, they each have drawbacks. Whether it’s too much maintenance or a behavioral issue, here are 12 otherwise oh-so-cute breeds that people say they’d never adopt.
Read Here: Adorable Dog Breeds People Won’t Own

Fido Who? Unleash These 345 Unique Dog Names

Are you hunting for a one-of-a-kind name for your new furry friend? Look no further than this list of 345 unique dog names!
Read Here: Fido Who? Unleash These 345 Unique Dog Names

From Hype to Home: 13 Insanely Delicious Copycat Recipes

Craving your favorite restaurant dishes but tired of breaking the bank? Look no further than these 13 insanely delicious copycat recipes that will have you feeling like a top chef in your own kitchen.
Read Here: Insanely Delicious Copycat Recipes