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Cooking Mistakes You Didn’t Realize You Were Making (And how to fix them!) 

Print 🖨 PDF 📄1. Overcrowding Your Pan (It’s a No-No for Crispy Perfection!)Mistake: You’re trying to cook a bunch of…

1. Overcrowding Your Pan (It’s a No-No for Crispy Perfection!)
Mistake: You’re trying to cook a bunch of chicken breasts or veggies in one go, but instead of getting that golden crisp, you end up with soggy, steamed food.
Fix: Give each piece enough space! When cooking, ensure there’s some breathing room for the heat to circulate. This way, you get that crispy texture that’s the dream.

2. Using the Wrong Knife (Not All Knives Are Equal!)
Mistake: You’re hacking away at that onion with a dull knife or the wrong size blade, and it’s just making things harder and not cutting clean lines.
Fix: Invest in a good chef’s knife, and make sure it’s sharp. (and sharpen more than you think you need to – knives can go dull quickly depending on how much you’re using them and what you’re cutting with them) You’ll not only work faster, but your cuts will be more precise and the process will feel so much smoother.

3. Forgetting to Season as You Go (It’s All About Flavor Layers, Baby!)
Mistake: You add salt or spices only at the end, and suddenly your dish tastes flat.
Fix: Season as you cook! Layering in small amounts of salt, pepper, and spices at different stages helps build deep flavor. I even like to garnish a dish with a touch the key seasonings I used throughout the cooking process! 

4. Overcooking Pasta (It’s a Fine Line Between Al Dente and… All Mushy!)
Mistake: You’re boiling pasta for what feels like forever, hoping it’ll be soft and perfect, but you end up with mushy noodles.
Fix: Follow the package instructions for perfect al dente pasta BUT…… consider under-cooking the noodles just a touch: when you add the cooked noodles to the hot marinara or other steaming sauce you’ll be using, they will continue to cook. Having them a touch undercooked when throwing everything together will keep things from getting too done.
(And always reserve a bit of pasta water to add to your sauce—because that starchy goodness makes everything better.)

5. Not Letting Meat Rest After Cooking (It’s Worth the Wait!)
Mistake: You pull your steak or roast straight off the heat and start slicing. The juices run out, and it’s a dry mess.
Fix: Let your meat rest for at least 5-10 minutes before cutting into it. This gives the juices time to redistribute, making every bite more flavorful and deliciously juicy.

6. Not Tasting (The Ultimate Test Is Your Tongue!)
Mistake: Waiting to taste-test until the dish is complete only to find that it’s missing something and such begins a mystery..
Fix: Taste as you go! Adjust seasonings, add a squeeze of lemon or a pinch of salt to elevate the taste and keep layering the flavors. Trust your taste buds—they’re your best tool!

7. Flipping Your Meat Too Much (the dreaded over-flipping!)
Mistake: You’re trying to get a good sear on your meat or veggies… but it needs a hot minute to do that.
Fix: When you put an item in the pan to sear it… stop interfering with the process! Set it in the pan and don’t touch it for a minute (or more depending on the temperature of the pan and the size of the item) That uninterrupted process will give it the chance to develop the perfect sear. You don’t need to keep peeking…we promise it’s working! 😉

8. Cooking Each Side at the Same Temperature
Mistake: You’re making a pork loin or other type of thick meat in a pan on your stovetop and use the same heat for both sides, resulting in a cooked but less juicy piece of meat.
Fix: After searing each side, use a higher temperature on one side, and lower temperature when you flip it to cook the other side. This will let the meat cook all the way through without making it overdone on the inside.

Conclusion
Cooking is all about learning and improving, and sometimes even the simplest hacks can help elevate cooking by making the process more enjoyable and the final product even more delicious!

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