13 Bad Cooking Habits You Should Break

Cooking is a craft that takes time to master, but even experienced cooks can fall into bad habits. These habits can affect the quality of your meals and may lead to wasted ingredients or even kitchen mishaps.

Here are 13 everyday cooking habits you should reconsider breaking to elevate your culinary skills.

Not Reading the Recipe Thoroughly

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It sounds simple, but one of the biggest mistakes in cooking is diving in without thoroughly reading the recipe. Skipping this step can lead to missing ingredients, forgotten steps, or ruined meals. Always take a moment to read through the entire recipe before starting.

Using Dull Knives

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A dull knife isn’t just ineffective—it’s dangerous. You’re more likely to slip and cut yourself with a dull knife than a sharp one. Invest in a good knife sharpener and make it a habit to sharpen your knives regularly.

Overcrowding the Pan

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When you pack too much food into a pan, the heat can’t be distributed evenly, and your food ends up steaming instead of browning. Give your ingredients some breathing room, whether searing steak or sautéing veggies.

Not Letting Meat Rest

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After cooking meat, it’s tempting to dive in right away. But letting your meat rest for a few minutes allows the juices to redistribute, leading to a more flavorful and juicy bite. Patience pays off!

Using Too Much Heat

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More heat doesn’t always mean faster or better cooking. High heat can burn the outside of your food while leaving the inside undercooked. Learn to control your heat settings to cook food evenly.

Skipping Preheating

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If your recipe calls for a preheated oven, skipping this step can reduce your cooking time. Always let your oven reach the desired temperature before you place food inside.

Not Tasting as You Go

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Seasoning is crucial to good cooking, and tasting your food throughout the process helps ensure it’s correctly seasoned. Waiting until the end to adjust the seasoning can leave you with bland or overly salty food.

Overcooking Vegetables

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Veggies don’t need to be cooked until they’re mush. Overcooking them can drain away their nutrients and flavor. By cooking vegetables lightly, you aim for a tender-crisp texture.

Using Old Spices

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Spices lose their flavor over time, and using stale spices can result in dull, flat-tasting dishes. Check the expiration dates on your spices, and refresh your spice rack regularly.

Not Cleaning as You Go

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Cooking can be messy, but leaving a pile of dirty dishes to deal with after the meal is even messier. As you cook, Get into the habit of cleaning to keep your workspace tidy and make cleanup easier.

Neglecting Mise en Place

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Mise en place, or setting up all your ingredients before cooking, is vital to a smooth workflow. It prevents scrambling for ingredients mid-cook and helps ensure you don’t forget anything.

Not Properly Measuring Ingredients

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Eyeballing ingredients might seem like a good idea, but precision is crucial in cooking, especially baking. Use measuring cups and spoons to ensure accuracy, particularly for baking soda, salt, or yeast.

Stirring Too Often

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Constantly stirring food in a pan can prevent it from adequately achieving a good sear or browning. Allow your food to sit briefly before turning or stirring to develop more decadent flavors.

Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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