ADVERTISEMENT

We usually think about acquiring good cooking habits and ways to improve our masterchef skills by implementing novelties, tips and tricks, and going out of our comfort zone. In fact, we previously wrote a handful of useful posts just about that and you can find them here, here and here.

But the truth is, unless we earn our bread from cooking, most of us are pretty susceptible to daily kitchen mishaps, faux pas and questionable recipes that would make any chef’s hair stand on end. “What bad cooking habits get on your nerves?” asked one Redditor on the Cooking community and added “For me it’s when people use the highest flame setting to cook EVERYTHING. It is wasteful, overcooks food, overboils everything and it really does ruin pans.”

The thread immediately resonated with cooking aficionados who saw it as a perfect opportunity to spill all the bad cooking habits that totally annoy them. And it’s not looking pretty.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

"I can't get my lasagna to taste as good as yours."

"Did you follow the recipe?"

"Yeah, but I don't really like pork so I substituted chicken, and instead of salt, I added extra sugar, because I prefer sugar. "

GJacks75 Report

Final score:
325points
Add photo comments
POST
mairepeate avatar
Bella10
Bella10
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me laugh when I read reviews on recipe blogs. They change so much of the recipe that it’s a different dish entirely

Vote comment up
256
256points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves Putting no salt in anything and expecting the salt shaker at the table to do the job. Nothing seasoned at the table with a salt shaker will ever even approach the flavor of something that was seasoned throughout the cooking process.

NailBat , pexels Report

Final score:
324points
Add photo comments
POST
kimitomminello avatar
Kimi Tomminello
Kimi Tomminello
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people have to cook family meals for people with dietary restrictions. I HATE not bring able to use salt when preparing certain holiday meals because my dad is sodium restricted.

Vote comment up
144
144points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves Parents who only steam veggies and barely use salt or pepper on them and then act all shocked when their kids don't like it. Of course they won't like that, most adults would be peeved getting something like that.

Something as simple as roasting veggies with some basic herbs and a good olive oil can make a huge difference.

SkySong13 , flickr Report

Final score:
321points
Add photo comments
POST
qnndleo_1 avatar
Quaumsy
Quaumsy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Roasted Brussels sprouts and broccoli are so good roasted!

Vote comment up
182
182points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#4

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves 10 years in kitchens here so bear with me...

crowding pans, moving/scraping cut ingredients with the sharp side of knife, knife in the sink, steaming most veggies, not salting pasta water, watering down beer for brats, way too much water when boiling pasta, adding garlic too early & burning it, not toasting buns, not letting leftovers cool before putting in tupper-ware & fridge, etc etc etc.

edit: add to that impatiently flipping/mixing around food while its cooking! whether it's burgers/steaks/veggies whatever! sometimes you need a lil color/char

but also if someone else cooks for me, i will love whatever it is sincerely and not say a word.

SickofCaptchas , peakpx Report

Final score:
303points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves Boiling vegetables until they are mush. My husband didn’t eat vegetables for more than half of his life because he thought they were disgusting. I found out it was because his grandmother just boiled everything and then covered it in that nasty “0 calorie” spray butter. ROAST THEM. SAUTEE. GRILL. please don’t boil veg unless for something specific like potatoes or you need to blanch something.

Noisy-Bones , pxhere Report

Final score:
303points
Add photo comments
POST
fredneobob90 avatar
Huddo's sister
Huddo's sister
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both my sets of grandparent did this, which meant for a long time my parents did too, because they didn't know how to do it better.

Vote comment up
93
93points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#6

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves My mother’s glass cutting board. I lack the words to explain the torture of using a glass cutting board. Awful. I did finally buy her a couple good knives that she won’t use. This year I am getting her a nice wooden board for her to not use.

atomicgirl78 , pixnio Report

Final score:
301points
Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yes, my parents had a glass chopping board when I was a kid and I hated the sound out made.

Vote comment up
112
112points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#7

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves Stop opening the oven. If you're looking, it ain't cooking!

amateur_reprobate , pexels Report

Final score:
263points
Add photo comments
POST
jon_steensen avatar
Jon Steensen
Jon Steensen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

especially for suffles and profiterolles, which will collapse and be spoiled by opening the oven too soon.

Vote comment up
79
79points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves My husband “seasons the pan” instead of seasoning the food. As in, he sprinkles salt/pepper/Italian seasoning into a hot pan and then adds plain, unseasoned protein on top. He seems to think this accomplishes the same thing as seasoning the meat directly. It does not.

coldbrewcoffee22 , flickr Report

Final score:
228points
Add photo comments
POST
bemcath avatar
Cathy
Cathy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, I use this technique sometimes for Indian dishes. But only if you use something wet afterwards, for example coconut milk or (vegan) yoghurt or tofu scramble.. It makes the flavor of the herbs come out.

Vote comment up
118
118points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves I can’t deal when they put the onion and garlic in at the same time and expect the onions to be caramelised. I need more time than the garlic will allow !

m3lted , flickr Report

Final score:
217points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#10

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves Following the recipe even when your food is clearly going to sh*t. Looks burnt at 20 mins? Maybe don't cook it for 25.

stesha83 , pxhere Report

Final score:
217points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

There’s a guy I work with that makes me cry when he cooks a steak. Toss a cold steak in a cold pan and cook on med-low, flips it at 15 minutes for another round. Cooked meat should not be gray.

tomphoolery Report

Final score:
214points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves More of a lack of a habit than a habit, but not sharpening knives regularly is one of the worst things to do to your knives. And 9 out of 10 times, people cut themselves on a dull knife, not a sharp one. Its also just better for the food you are going to end up eating; your veggies wont be so bruised, your steaks wont be that little bit extra tenderized from forcing a dull knife through it. The dullest knife ive ever seen couldnt slice through the skin of a baked potato. So it is in your interest and the food's also.

SpontaneousKrump92 , peakpx Report

Final score:
203points
Add photo comments
POST
mandygora03 avatar
BorPand8
BorPand8
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got my first Japanese knife recently. It's literally razor-sharp and so much fun to use

Vote comment up
81
81points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#13

Every. Single. Thing. My. Dad. Cooks.

He puts good meat in a slow cooker with nothing but water. Slowly boiled meat. Yum.

Puts all ingredients in a pan before he heats the pan

He uses a glass cutting board

"As far as I'm concerned, the microwave is the best way to cook _____."

A thick layer of aerosol cooking spray on meat before grilling it.

Never give this man a ribeye.

artgarfunkadelic Report

Final score:
192points
Add photo comments
POST
lance-dboyle avatar
Lance d'Boyle
Lance d'Boyle
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Dad cooked one meal a year and acted like it was going to be a gourmet experience for all. I remember him describing the best way to cook green beans: put them in a casserole, with french onion soup mix and water and cook slowly for an hour. My step mother and I looked at each other and said "uh, no". Steam them for a minute or two and put some butter on. Let the green beans be green beans and speak for themselves. I think my father was thinking slow cooked meat is yummy so slow cooked beans would be too.

Vote comment up
89
89points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

I have had to teach so many of my friends to TASTE THEIR FOOD AS THEY COOK IT. Shocked me that apparently that wasn’t obvious to some people

broughttoyoubytrauma Report

Final score:
184points
Add photo comments
POST
susangreen_2 avatar
Susan Green
Susan Green
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought everyone would always taste the food during cooking.

Vote comment up
70
70points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves Dirty cooks. Leaving the knife dirty, not wiping down the counter, cross contaminating everything.

"I don't cook with salt."

And people who only use shortcuts that get mad because they tried my recipe and it didn't work.

ScammerC , wikimedia Report

Final score:
174points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#16

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves Putting the noodles into the water before it's boiled, like legit the water is straight out of the tap and the stove's not on yet. Read the goddamn instructions, boiling water takes longer than 3 minutes and thats why your ramen is fucking mushy.

minimasha , pxhere Report

Final score:
170points
Add photo comments
POST
bemcath avatar
Cathy
Cathy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nooooo are people doing this?? Better not let the Italians read this 🤯

Vote comment up
108
108points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves When people press down hard on everything they’re cooking...I am thinking of one person in particular that is an absolute dumpster fire in the kitchen. Making pancakes? She flips them and then mashes them down with the spatula! Fried eggs? Smash em!

Also when people don’t let meat rest after it’s cooked. Or cut with the grain.

dirtsmcmerts , wikimedia Report

Final score:
170points
Add photo comments
POST
alchristensen avatar
Al Christensen
Al Christensen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me, heat is part of the joy of eating meat. So what if some juices run from the meat when it's cut. The juices mix with other food on the plate anyway, so it all gets consumed.

Vote comment up
63
63points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves My mother uses metal utensils when cooking in our Teflon pans, then complains that they wear so easily. Even AFTER I've explained you never use metal in the pans, she does it anyway and says she forgot.

We have gone through 3 non-stick pans so far.

Parxival_ , unsplash Report

Final score:
163points
Add photo comments
POST
hawkmoon avatar
Hawkmoon
Hawkmoon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always heard that it's dangerous, like cancer inducing, to cook in a scratched teflon pan. Maybe a hoax, but I can't find a reliable source about that. Some sites even said that it's dangerous if you cook above a certain temperature.

Vote comment up
7
7points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#19

Plating food, then moving a screaming hot pan to the sink and dumping cold water all over it. Had to explain to a friend why she couldn't do this to her roommate's brand new Le Creuset braiser.

ninepebbles Report

Final score:
161points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Cross contamination. Whether it’s products or utensils with raw to cooked foods. Washing hands in there too... these things get on my nerves for real.

supmraj Report

Final score:
159points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Margarine. It is NOT the same as butter. Got into a fight with my mom last Christmas over her wanting me to use margarine in the macaroni and the mashed potatoes.

Then she tried to cook asparagus in the microwave (with margarine) but I'm hoping that was just a her thing.

justbreathe5678 Report

Final score:
157points
Add photo comments
POST
jon_steensen avatar
Jon Steensen
Jon Steensen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't even think of a single place where I think the use of margarine is justified, exept for, perhaps, if you are cooking for a lactose intollerant person. Especially if you are making Danish pastry, you MUST use butter. Those substituting it width margarine, make a product where the fat just coats the upper part of your mouth in a thin film, that will not dissolve as you eat it.

Vote comment up
99
99points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

When people f**k with the timer/burner when I’m cooking. I had some tomato sauce going at a nice even simmer, but apparently someone else in my household thought it should be boiling like pasta water, so they jacked up the temp to high and added more time to the timer...

Alaylaria Report

Final score:
147points
Add photo comments
POST
kainaathkhan avatar
Kainaath Khan
Kainaath Khan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same thing happened to me, difference they reduce the flames when I wanted to boil something. I kept wondering why on earth won't this water boil realised it 10 mins later.

Vote comment up
65
65points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#23

Starting a big cooking project with dirty dishes in the sink. Not cleaning while you go.

Report

Final score:
142points
The Weird American
Add photo comments
POST
kainaathkhan avatar
Kainaath Khan
Kainaath Khan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I will wipe down the kitchen table and stove before and after cooking.

Vote comment up
51
51points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

Refusing to use salt when seasoning a dish. My friend thinks that she has "discovered" how to season food with herbs and spices and that she doesn't need to use boring old salt. It is kind of pretentious and her food is very bland.

onemoretaste Report

Final score:
137points
Add photo comments
POST
mairepeate avatar
Bella10
Bella10
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you only eat natural, unprocessed foods, it is very hard to have too much sodium by seasoning as you cook. I don’t understand why people are so afraid of cooking with salt

Vote comment up
88
88points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

When you make the effort to do a BEAUTIFUL roast dinner for someone for the first time and they immediately drown it in cheap sh*tty tomato sauce. Happened to me last week. It cut a little bit, I’ll admit.

adventure-please Report

Final score:
136points
Add photo comments
POST
fredneobob90 avatar
Huddo's sister
Huddo's sister
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that's the way they are used to and they enjoy it, why is it a problem. It's not a reflection on your cooking, it's just about different tastes. Wouldn't it be worse if they turned their nose up at it and refused to eat it because they didn't like it plain?

Vote comment up
83
83points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Nonstick pans don’t hold heat well. So if you’re trying to get a sear on meat, as soon as you put the meat in the nonstick, the heat transfers and the pan temp goes down. So getting consistent browning and crust is impossible.

I’ve had really expensive pans of all kinds, and nothing has outperformed my $18 cast iron skillet. Everything from searing meat, to browning veggies, to baking pizzas and breads. Nothing compares. If it’s the Maillard Reaction you’re trying to achieve, it’s the best option in my opinion. If you prefer carbon steel or stainless steel, I won’t argue with you because the differences aren’t super noticeable. But from my taste buds and experiences, it’s cast iron.

whitmer87 Report

Final score:
130points
Add photo comments
POST
stephaniedowns avatar
NotTodaySatan!!
NotTodaySatan!!
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have all 3. Have never had issues getting a sear in a nonstick pan though.

Vote comment up
48
48points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#27

This is burned into my memory: I was at a friend's house and she was making guacamole. Her idea of pitting the avocado was wielding the chef knife in a stabbing motion directed point first at the pit, while she was holding the avocado half in her other hand. I thought I was watching a slasher film. I was TERRIFIED.

notedmuse Report

Final score:
126points
Add photo comments
POST
nikkisevven avatar
Nikki Sevven
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't need to use the knife at all. Just quarter the avocado from top to bottom, and you can pop the pit right out of the one quarter it sticks to. Without the knife.

Vote comment up
65
65points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Not seasoning food. Unless for health reasons. Also, salting a plate before tasting.

atomicgirl78 Report

Final score:
114points
Add photo comments
POST
kainaathkhan avatar
Kainaath Khan
Kainaath Khan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate it. Why add something to a plate without tasting. To get my revenge I added a tad extra salt before serving and my family member added salt without tasting. You knw what happened.

Vote comment up
52
52points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Pots on the stove with the handles sticking out. It’s so easy to elbow-bump one and have boiling water on your knees. Don’t cook barefoot!

Report

Final score:
110points
Willowbilly
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves When they put 5 grains of salt instead of a good pinch.

jomsart , pexels Report

Final score:
108points
Add photo comments
POST
renate_stargardt avatar
Awsomemom52
Awsomemom52
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A friend puts a tiny pinch of salt in his pasta water (and oil😖)... and then complains, that the pasta tastes so bland, when he cooks a pasta dish.

Vote comment up
51
51points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#31

I have many but adding garlic on the pan too early and burning it to bitter. Looking at you, Facebook videos I end up watching even when I haven't subscribed.

cigarettefor90sghost Report

Final score:
100points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

30 Bad Cooking Habits That Get On Everyone’s Nerves People cutting up things one at a time. Example: celery stalks. Grab a few at a time!!!

lilwaterone , flickr Report

Final score:
97points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 32 images based on user votes.

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!