Mistakes happen, especially when it comes to cooking. I mean, none of us is perfect after all. What’s important is that you learn from those mistakes.
On the other hand, if you’re not completely aware of those mistakes, I got you covered. I listed 9 of the most common cooking mistakes that you should take not of, as well as some ways on how to fix them.
Read on.
1. Over-heated low fat milk products
Boiling cream and other dairy products work just fine. But when it comes to low-fat milk products, it’s not the same. If they are heated too high, they will start to curdle. So, make sure that you’re boiling them on low heat, approximately up to 180 degrees.
2. Butter became too soft
Using your finger, try to press the softened butter. If there’s no dent left on its surface, then it might be over-softened. When this happens, your cookies, cakes, and other baking goods will not look good. For instance, your cookies will become flat, and cakes won’t be soft enough. To achieve the right amount of softening, let the butter sit out on the table for 3- to 45 minutes before use.
3. Too much salt in the dish
Add unsalted liquid on your dish if it’s too salty. You can use low-sodium stock or broth to do this. If broths aren’t available in your kitchen, you can also use water to thin out the saltiness of the dish. Lemon juice, vinegar, and other acidic ingredients can also be used to tone down the flavor.
4. The pasta sticks together
When cooking pasta, make sure that the water on your pot is boing completely. Pastas stick together when they are not cooked in the right temperature. You should also stir the boiling water before adding the pasta. On the other hand, if these tricks still didn’t work out, gently break up the pasta and toss it in olive oil.
5. Too much juice on the meat
After cooking your meat, let it rest for 5 to 7 minutes. This will help prevent the juice from dripping too much when you cut it. This tip mostly applies for steaks and dishes that include pork or chicken breasts. Just be patient. Give the meat a few minutes to rest so that it turns out nice and juicy.
6. Green rings around the egg yolk
Cook your eggs for less time if you notice that there are greenish rings around the yolks. It’s also a great idea to cook them in a single layer. Yes, don’t stack them so that they will be cooked evenly. Then, let the eggs sit in cold water for about 15 minutes before you peel them.
7. Cookies turn out dry
Reduce the amount of time you bake your cookies. For instance, if the recipe you’re following tells you to bake them for 15 minutes, check the cookies after 12 minutes. Other than that, you shouldn’t also let them cool down on the hot cookie sheet so that it won’t become dry. The heat from it will continue to bake the cookies. So, transfer them in a cooling rack.
8. Melted chocolate becomes clumpy
To prevent this, ensure that you’re using dry tools. You should also try your best to prevent any liquid – especially water – from splashing into the melted chocolate. If you end up with clumped chocolate, on the other hand, just add a tablespoon of boiling water and stir. Do this repeatedly until it smooths back out.
Burned and overheated chocolates can also from clumps. Unfortunately, there is not fix for it. So, make sure to check your chocolate from time to time when boiling. It’s also a good option to use a double boiler.
9. Burnt garlic
Add the garlic to the pan later in your cooking process to prevent it from burning. One of the most common reasons why we burn garlic is because we add it very early or we have too much time to cook. You should also take note that this ingredient doesn’t do well with high heat, so don’t add it into a very hot pan.
These are just some of the top cooking mistakes that you should avoid while cooking. Make sure to follow the quick fixes I added above – they are very effective. Good luck on your next dish!