Cook Like A Pro: 10 Cooking Mistakes to Avoid in the Kitchen

Photo by Webvilla on Unsplash

Mistakes in the kitchen are inevitable. From accidental spills and knife-related mishaps to completely chaotic food burns and unexpected mix-ups, there is no shortage of potential pitfalls that even the most seasoned home chef has to contend with at some point in the kitchen. That said, there are a few simple steps you can preemptively take to avoid some errors or at the very least, substantially minimize the chances of such mistakes occurring. Let us take a look at the most common pitfalls below and how to successfully navigate them like a pro:

1. Multi-tasking

Just as too many cooks spoil the broth, attempting to juggle too many tasks all at once can be detrimental to the cooking process. Lack of focus and concentration significantly increases the risk of mishaps and possible missteps can occur due to missed details. This pitfall links directly with #2 on our list below - failure to plan ahead more often than not leads to frantic multi-tasking in an effort to get multiple things done at the same time. Although some minor tasks such as rinsing dishes or light clean-up work can be managed easily while cooking, try to limit any extraneous tasks to the kitchen area to ensure you maintain an attentive and watchful eye on the stove at all times. And if you absolutely have no option but to juggle numerous competing demands, be sure to take precautions such as reducing your heat settings and checking consistently to prevent burns or fire hazards.

2. Failing to plan ahead

Organization is a crucial skill in the kitchen and planning ahead will go a long way towards averting unnecessary mistakes. No complex planning and strategizing skills are needed here - simply having a clear idea of your cooking roadmap and what you need to accomplish the task at hand will suffice. This means knowing what dish you intend to make, allocating ample time for the undertaking, ensuring all the necessary ingredients required are available, and setting up the tools that will be best suited for your specific recipe. Before embarking on every cooking journey, I always take some time to lay out all the inputs needed so they are within easy reach, set up any relevant tools and equipment, and clear out the prepping area to remove clutter. In this way, cooking then becomes a seamless, smooth-flowing endeavor and the organized environment also helps substantially conserve precious energy that would otherwise be wasted looking for each individual item during the process.

3. Overcrowding

If you have watched any TV cooking competition, you will know all too well that "do not crowd the pan" is a cardinal rule of thumb to always keep in mind if one hopes to achieve successful results. This is especially important when utilizing specific cooking methods such as pan-searing or sautéing to ensure the food does not steam and has sufficient contact with the hot oil, which in turns facilitates an effective caramelization process that produces even browning. I often find that food cooked in small amounts turns out to be a lot more delicious for this very reason! This common cooking faux pas goes hand in hand with pitfall #10 on our list below - choosing the right pot or pan ensures there is enough space to allow for even cooking and prevents possible spillage or sputter. If you do not have adequately-sized tools available, consider portioning out the food into two separate batches or reducing the recipe size accordingly.  

4. Rushing 

Hurry hurry has no blessing, so the saying goes, and this is particularly true when it comes to cooking. A last-minute approach is a recipe for potential trouble in the kitchen and I'm sure we can all agree that the unsavory flavor (or complete lack thereof) of a rushed meal is one we can quickly pick up on. As mentioned in pitfall #2 above, planning ahead and allocating plenty of time for cooking is crucial for a successful outcome. Take my word for it - investing your time in the cooking process is truly an act of love which will naturally translate into your recipe's overall flavor profile and manifest clearly in a satisfying and delicious meal. If you are out of time and need to make something quickly, opt for simpler recipes that require both less time and effort or even don't need much cooking involved at all such as salads, sandwiches, or light soups.

5. Under-seasoning

This pitfall is pretty much self-explanatory as no one enjoys eating bland food! As a cook, it is imperative that you always taste your food to ensure it is well seasoned and the flavors are balanced appropriately. One key ingredient reigns supreme in this arena - salt. Too much or too little can single-handedly make or break a dish. That said, as a rule of thumb, it is far better to err on the side of less rather than tossing in an excessive amount as you simply cannot take it out once it has been added. Other considerations to keep in mind include choosing the right spices to incorporate in your recipe, effectively matching spice flavors without going overboard (see pitfall #6 below), and measuring the appropriate amounts to ensure an overall balanced flavor profile is achieved. 

6. Mixing too many flavors

On the flip side of pitfall #5 above, it is possible to over-season and add too many competing flavors into a recipe such that the resulting dish becomes almost unpalatable or unpleasant to eat. The choice of spices plays a key role in this regard and I would recommend not mixing more than 3 major spice blends in any one given dish, just to be on the safe side. For additional reference, I found this detailed guide on flavor profiles from The Sage blog quite helpful in understanding what combinations pair well together. As we always emphasize here at The Food Raven blog, we strongly encourage experimentation and trying out different flavor combinations since trial and error can surprisingly yield amazing results and discoveries. However, when in doubt, always opt to stick to flavors that you are familiar with and use smaller portions when trying out novel ingredients. 

7. Using excessive heat

When it comes to the art of cooking, low and slow is the way to go if you want to extract deep flavor and obtain optimal results. Some of the best tasting foods are slow-cooked - there is definitely something truly magical that happens when food is cooked tenderly and lovingly under low heat conditions over a longer period of time. This method imbues such a special quality and concentrates each flavor note in the best possible way. Unless boiling is required as a cooking method for a particular recipe, always keep your heat to a default medium-high or medium-low setting to avoid overcooking and potentially charring food. 

8. Failing to measure

While most seasoned cooks rarely need to measure ingredients thanks in large part to well-developed innate instincts and the distinct benefit of experience, some recipes and cooking methods require precise measurements. Baking of course tops the list here but it is generally a good practice to measure ingredients accordingly especially when trying out new or unfamiliar recipes. For some foods such as rice, quinoa, and pasta, this is completely non-negotiable - they all require accurate measurement to prevent under/overcooking and overcrowding, which can negatively impact the texture and overall flavor of food. Taking the time to get ingredient portions right will ensure your food cooks uniformly and develops a well-balanced flavor profile. 

9. Forgetting to preheat

The fact that pre-heating is a necessary and crucial first step in baking can be safely considered common knowledge, but many people may not realize that this seemingly simple technique is just as applicable when cooking on the stove. Pre-heating your cooking pot/oil for about 2 minutes is a useful practice to follow as it helps to draw out maximum flavor from the onions or base vegetables added into it. Although forgetting this small step is by no means a total deal-breaker, it is an incredibly nifty trick to incorporate in your daily culinary practice at home. As a practical experiment, put this knowledge to the test and try it out the next time you make pancakes. Be sure to thank me later as you will never have those "first pancake" struggles ever again!

10. Using the wrong tools

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." This old nugget of wisdom rings true in the culinary world - a solid understanding of which tools to use for a particular task is a fundamental skill to learn for all cooks. This also means that every cook should endeavor to obtain a wide variety of tools in their kitchen so that they are able to apply the right one for each particular task as needed. A good example is knowing when to use non-stick pans and when to avoid them completely, such as when employing a method that may require high heat levels. Another important consideration for cooking pots or pans specifically is their capacity - be sure to pick the appropriate size to ensure food is cooked correctly (e.g. stewed or roasted instead of steamed) and that there is sufficient room available to avoid the perils of pitfall #3 as noted above.