ADVERTISEMENT

Whether you’re a cooking aficionado with a burning fire (and often, burnt fingertips) for everything food-related or, on the contrary, entrust your taste buds to your holy kitchen majesty, aka the microwave, you can always take your inner chef to a whole new level. And it’s easier than you’d think.

Thanks to the professional chefs of Reddit, who recently shared what simple things “we're probably all doing wrong in the kitchen” in this thread, we can roll up our sleeves and work on the actual things to improve them.

Think of simple things, like never adding an onion and garlic at the same time (so you don’t have that icky burnt garlic aftertaste in a meal you otherwise put your heart into) or having things, ingredients and tools ready at hand to avoid “someone, help me!”-kind of hysteria in the middle of meal prep. Take your notes, everyone, I already have mine.

#1

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Using tongs, you must clink them together at least five times to channel your inner crab.

large00f , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But be careful, if you clink them more than seven times you end up channeling your inner lobster and that never ends well.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Let’s face it, regardless of how fast we binge-watched Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen, The Great British Bake Off, Masterchef in all countries it aired in, we didn’t actually learn to cook better. Instead, we now know all about the drama, about the blessing and the curse of being a chef, about nurturing your talent, dreaming hard and working harder… Wait, are we still talking about cooking?

So in order to take us all back to Earth, or rather our kitchen counter, and to find out what exactly we can do to improve our cooking game, since we nailed the watching part already, we spoke with Beth Moncel, a food lover and the founder of “Budget Bytes” where she has been sharing her passion for cooking and delicious recipes designed for small budgets since 2009.

ADVERTISEMENT
#2

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Since I didn't see it in here: instead of adding more salt, try adding an acid. A splash of vinegar or lemon/lime juice can make flavors pop without over salting.

spartankelli , unsplash Report

#3

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Never add garlic and onions at the same time.

Onions take about 8 minutes to saute and garlic takes about 30 seconds. If you add them together you're gonna have burnt, bitter garlic.

TaloonTheMerchant , pixabay Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Clean as you go. Throw away trash, wipe up what you spill, get unnecessary utensils out of the way. If your kitchen looks like a tornado struck after you're done cooking, you f*cked up.

civil_whore , pixnio Report

When asked what are the most common cooking mistakes people tend to make, Beth said it’s assuming that if they swap out an ingredient, they'll still get the same result. “Changing ingredients often changes both the flavor and texture of a dish, and in some cases can drastically affect the chemical reactions needed to make a recipe work,” she explained.

#5

Salt your damn pasta water. Salt it liberally.

lothlin Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#6

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid If you want perfect roasted potatoes (oven roasted, chopped pieces) with crispy outside and fluffy insides then boil them for about 5-10 minutes in salt water first. Then roast them.

DeliciousMalediction , unsplash Report

Add photo comments
POST
Thorsten M. Weisner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if you want them extra extra crispy you should try the belgian double roasting technic. Wash them with salt water and dry them. then roast them on a lower temperatur very short then let them cool on a paper and roast them on higher temperatur until crispy

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#7

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Most people suck at roasting vegetables. Brussel sprouts are the number one f*ck up and most people lose their sh*t when I serve them properly done brussels.

Toss with olive oil (more than you think), salt (more than you think), and any other herbs/spices (e.g. curry spices with cauliflower), lay cut side down on a baking sheet, and throw that sh*t into a 200C/400F oven until it's visibly browned. Depending on the veggie (e..g carrots) you'll probably want to turn over to the otherside and continue roasting for a bit. Once they're done you can toss with pepper or fresh/delicate herbs before serving (e.g. mushrooms with tarragon or parsley).

Just because it's fork tender and cooked through doesn't mean it's delicious. Yet.

[deleted] , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
The Scout
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately, not liking brussels sprouts might be genetic: https://www.centreofthecell.org/blog/science-questions/why-do-some-people-hate-brussels-sprouts/. According to various studies, some people have a hereditary high sensitivity to phenylthiocarbamide, which leads to a very bitter taste even in trace amounts. If you have two of these genetic TAS2R38 markers, no preparation or seasoning can make brussels sprouts edible for you.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Beth reminds everyone that the best way to gain confidence in the kitchen is to practice. “Don't let a failed recipe keep you from trying again. Try new recipes often. The more you cook, the more you'll understand the nuances of cooking and you'll build intuition,” she said. “Before you know it, you'll be cooking freestyle and you won't even need a recipe!” Beth concluded positively.

#8

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid There is a really simple rule when cooking a steak: Leave the steak alone. Stop f*cking with it. Stop poking and prodding and moving it an flipping it around. Let it cook. Let the heat do what it's supposed to do. Get to know your heat source and learn to trust it. Almost everybody I know violates this rule.

guyute21 , piqsels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I leave my steak alone, put a timer on, used a meat thermometer, rest it and I still manage to f**k it up. Tried a few different methods and have only managed to get it right ONCE. Followed the same method a few more times without success. Have no idea what I'm doing wrong.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid It is the fat that carries the flavor. If your going to saute something, put the herb and spices with the butter or oil that is in the skillet. Don't put them in the flour you're using to bread the food.

FatuousOocephalus , pexels Report

#10

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Not having things ready and in place.

Have you ever been halfway done with a dish and realize you didnt have the cheese grated? Now everything is on hold (and over cooking) while you grate cheese?

Having everything ready to go at the start lets you add the things when they need adding and helps put dishes out at the appropriate time.

Johndough99999 , maxpixel Report

Add photo comments
POST
Raoul
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the dish. Sometimes things have to boil for 20 min. Lots of time to either prepare stuff or wait.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Don’t stare at a toaster, it will jumpscare you. (Learnt this from personal experience)

TheRagingArceus Report

#12

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Putting oil in the pot when you're boiling pasta. If you do that, the sauce will just slide right off your pasta. The starchier the water, the better the sauce will stick.

8004MikeJones , wikimedia Report

Add photo comments
POST
Random Panda
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah, I finish cooking the pasta in the sauce. Makes it so much tastier.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Sharp knives. Makes things a million times easier, and is actually sooo much safer in the end. Combined with the proper grip and a bit of practice, and suddenly cutting things for prep goes from the most hated step of everything to just another step, maybe even becomes fun for some people.

ALELiens , pixnio Report

Add photo comments
POST
mulk
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

YEAH! For me, cutting vegetables, meat, ... is fun! ^^ (it's my "yoga time")

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#14

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Cooking too hot to speed things up. If the recipe calls for something to cook for one hour at 350 degress, cooking it at 425 degrees for 35 minutes is not a substitute. Some things just need to be cooked slowly and gently.

TheseWereThePlaces , mapixel Report

#15

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Crack your damn eggs on a FLAT surface, not the side of a bowl or pan. Cracking on a flat surface makes it easier to open as well as preserving your yolk. If you crack it on an edge it pushes shell inside the egg and is more likely to break the yolk (which sucks if you are making it sunny side up, poached or separating whites) Also, if by some chance there is bacteria or icky gross stuff on the shell it is more likely to contaminate the inside when shell gets pushed in.

treewithpants , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
Shelli Aderman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After 50+ years of cracking eggs on the side of the bowl, I’m good. Doing it on a flat surface for me just makes a mess, actually. 🤣

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#16

My chef brother-in-law taught me how to deglaze a pan to make a sauce like a boss. Leave it hot, and douse it with a cup or more of wine, stock, or water, and you can turn even basic things into an amazing pan of goodness! The stuff in your pan that you're scrubbing off after you're done cooking is all the good sh*t, so learn to deglaze!

bradland Report

Add photo comments
POST
The Scout
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is not even about LEARNING to deglace, the key is just doing it and realizing that the pan residue is your friend. You can make amazing sauces with it, often you do not even need to thicken them. Of course, this only is true if none of the ingredients are burnt, and deglacing works best with cast iron or steel pans. Sorry, but your easy-to-clean-teflon-coated skillet simply is not suitable.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#17

-Under salting your food!

Everyone is so afraid of sodium but the vast majority of sodium in your diet is coming from processed snacks and fast foods not home cooking.

-Also dry your meat before you sear or sauté it. You’re steaming it if not.

-Taste as you go.

brohio_ Report

#18

Being afraid of fattier cuts of meat. People are so used to that boneless skinless chicken breast that they sub them out for recipes that are 10,000x better using chicken thighs instead. If your primary concern is to reduce fat, sure, but if you're eating in moderation or going for flavor instead of low-fat, thighs thighs thighs my friend.

Much_Difference Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#19

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Practice your recipes. Don’t find one risotto you like and never make a different one. Cook 10 different risottos two or three times each over a long period of time. Doing this helps you understand the basics of how to make it and allows you to spot bad recipes, recognize good ones, and improvise without one.

Rezzone , unsplash Report

#20

Idk if this will get buried but my dad is a chef and I know what he would say here.

Always keep trying new things, in different preparations, with different ingredients to compliment them. And if you think you hate a specific meal or ingredient but you haven't tasted it in 10 years, give it a try again.

We were never picky eaters as kids because we were always encouraged to just try things we were unsure about and it opened me up to so many great foods as an adult!

So many people get stuck with what they know for sure they like, not even realizing how much it limits you.

drunkbetta Report

Add photo comments
POST
Donkey boi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless it Marmite! If you didn't like when you tried it 30 years ago, you're still not going to like it!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#21

Leave your meat out to go to room temp before you cook it.

concretecrank Report

#22

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Way too many people over clutter their kitchen and think they need a gadget for everything. In reality, a well-crafted, sharpened French knife, a pairing knife and a peel can get you a long way.

MISE EN PLACE! Everything has a place and everything has a purpose.

Also, steak should never be cooked to more than medium.

chefblaze , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
Christopher Bowers
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing wrong with a well done juicy steak. Some people know how to cook well done steaks and keep them juicy, tender and flavorful.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#23

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Not sanitizing your hands and work area after handling raw meat, especially chicken.

Can't count the number of times I've been cooking with friends or family and have to stop them from chopping salad veggies on the same cutting board as raw meat, or running their hands under cold water for a second to 'clean them' before going to grab stuff out of the fridge or drawer or even just going about their day.

Same goes for giving your slimy raw-chicken cutting board a quick scrub to wash it using the same sponge you use for everything else.

If it's touched raw meat, it needs to be throughly cleaned and sanitized with hot water and either soap (your hands) or bleach (everything else).

Pitchesotoole02 , pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#24

Don't buy tomatoes that are pink and have no smell. Fresh, good heirloom tomatoes should have a distinct smell and be nice and red/solid yellow. The walmarts and safeway's of the world are selling you these horrific non-tomato tomatos....devoid of flavor and frequently unripe. Don't do it.

BestGarbagePerson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kira Okah
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never seen a pink tomato, or a smell-less one. Also not everyone can afford or in some cases even find an heirloom variety.

Lyricana Rokarin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most grocery store tomatoes are pink rather than red. It's far more likely you've never seen a red tomato and all the ones you're looking at are more pinkish. They aren't hot pink. They're just a dull red and look pinkish compared to the blood red of a ripe heirloom. Virtually every tomato ever served at a fast-food restaurant will be this pinkish tomato. It's true they have a less rich flavor, but I disagree that they're flavorless and horrific. And they're certainly not "non-tomatoes". I agree with you also that cost can be a factor.

Load More Replies...
Paul Davis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are many areas of the U.S. where good produce is absolutely not available at all except by paying for very expensive shipping from somewhere else. Corporations are slowly starving us of nutrition. Don't let this happen to your country!

John C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

as a rule, supermarket tomatoes are of the no-taste variety because stores prioritize those that store and ship well. home grown is the easiest way to get GOOD tomatoes. or a farmer's market if you're lucky enough to have one.

Jo Choto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is true for all fruit and veg. Smell it. If you can't smell what it is, then it won't taste much better.

Lance d'Boyle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

More importantly, don't put your tomatoes in the fridge. Put them on the counter in the sun and leave them for a day or so. You can also up the flavor by cutting/slicing them and adding a little salt and let them sit for 15 minutes.

Random Panda
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the kind of tomato. Where I'm from we have a sort that is called pink tomato and, as the name suggests, they're not red. They have a sweet smell to them, are very soft when ripened and are the tastiest tomatoes ever.

Burs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I came to say the same. Where I come from we have some varieties of pink tomatoes and they are delicious.

Load More Replies...
Vetus Vespertilio
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Growing your own tomatoes is such a satisfying process, but not every greenhouse tomato is devoid of taste. I’m fortunate to live in an area surrounded by market gardeners and there are literally dozen of greenhouse operations to choose from, and not one of them would offer up one of those pale pink, tasteless abominations for sale. In the dead of winter, a fresh, salty, succulent red cherry tomato-on-the-vine is a gift from the gods.

Susan Green
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband and I have a large garden in our backyard. Every May we go to our local garden centre and buy all kinds of tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce and herbs and grow them ourself. There is nothing better than sweet, home grown tomatoes.

pat hayes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yep, and if you dont have a yard tomatoes can be grown in a pot or bucket even...they are sturdy,strong plants....dont be afraid to try ! soooo worth it.😁

Load More Replies...
H.L.Lewis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Better to buy canned tomatoes if there are no good fresh ones available. The canners get the ripest and best.

Debbie DeNoma
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not going to pay over $5 a lb. for heirlooms, I'll stick with my Wallyworld Roma's for $1.18 per lb. with a much better flavor in my humble opinion. And, yes, I've had heirlooms. I think they look so awesome with their shapes and colors, however, I didn't find them very flavorful.

Lea S.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmm....I should at Walmart every week and have never seen a 'pink' tomato. I don't know where the deceitful Walmart is located but it's not the three I go to.

Ralitza Patchéva-Alexandrova
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Bulgaria we have pink tomato called "Buffalo heart" and they are wonderful - full of taste and aroma. It really matter where you live

Andrea Steinacher
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there are pink heirloom strains of tomatos - Pink Brandywine, Mikado Pink ... the appropriate word would be "pale"

Meyrin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since moved out of my home country I finally understood why many people don't like tomatoes. The variety your get in Billa/Aldi/Kaufland/Tesco/ADEG/Auchan and all other major EU chains are horrible. most of them are a Spanish import and I'm sorry to say but for a country with so much sunshine they export the horror to the rest of the EU. So yeah rant kind of over and eat tomatoes from May to end of September

Claudia Calabrese
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tommy tomatoes are the worst. They live forever but they have no flavor, no juice and are stiff.

Owen Aeva
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If possible, get your own tomato plant. For the growing season, you'll have some amazing 'maters!

Kiwappy
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Šimon Špaček
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buy your apples with your nose. Smell the apple, if it smells nice, buy it, if it smells like pool cue, leave it.

Bobbie Burke
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grow your own where possible I have grown great tomatoes in a bucket on my porch! Or balcony!

Sarah Rose
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are so many different types of tomatoes. I'm from the region where tomatoes were first used before being taken back to Europer from the America's. I'm tired of this type of advice, it's a no for me

Luka Hamer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I prefer cherry tomatoes for this reason. More expensive but atleast they have flavour...

Wendy Holguin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All of the tomatoes at nearly every store in my small town are like that. I started buying Kumatoes from the Grocery Outlet. They always taste like perfectly ripened, home grown tomatoes.

Leesa DeAndrea
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Says someone who lives in an area with lots of shopping choices. If it's not Walmart or Safeway here, it's nothing.

somnomania
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i call those winter tomatoes, they usually move on by april or so in favor of redder ones that have more flavor

pmsfo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That should be "...Walmarts and Safeways of the world..."

Barbara Vandewalle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When the food smells like the flavor then you have good produce. i.e. when celery smells sweet it tastes sweet. When it smells bitter it tastes bitter.

Shayla Katherina
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When heirloom tomatoes are $3 or $4 a piece, not everyone can afford them. If your tomatoes are underripe when you buy them just leave them on a sunny surface and they will ripen.

Mary Dixon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rarely will I buy tomatoes in a store. They taste like cardboard.

Nimitz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember reading an article about this a few years back. Yes tomatoes come to stores unripe, but the major loss of flavour turned out to be cross breeding. The dominant strains that have taken over lost a couple key genes that give tomatoes that tangy odour and signature tartness. There is currently a joint research team from the UK and Italy working on breeding the taste back into modern tomatoes while preserving their current longer lasting form.

Nimitz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Better tasting home grown varieties usually come from unaffected seed lines, especially heirlooms. Heirloom shapes don't work well with conveyor belts, and people prefer to buy tomatoes that are perfectly shaped, so they never got much modification.

Load More Replies...
Mike Loux
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buy the best tomatoes you can afford. If out of season, use canned. They were sealed immediately after being picked at the peak season; they will taste awesome.

DC
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, if you can get your hands on seeds of old tomato breeds - grow them yourself! They are so much better, there even isn't a proper word to express it. Bigcorp tomatos are bred to last up to six weeks after harvest, while older ones only last about a week, and some even shorter, but in case you harvest them prior to meal preparation, that bears no relevance. They're a lot better tasting, and actually taste different between sizes and kinds, and not just random-standard-tomato which, at best, is a bit more intense in some.

Niall Mac Iomera
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where I live we can't get good tomatoes. They just taste like nothing. We switched to cherry / plum tomatoes and it's so much better

JR Meade
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I buy tomatoes on the vine in the winter and strictly farmers market once the weather gets nice. Typical supermarket tomatoes are absolutely HORRIBLE.

Lavender Oak
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It depends on where you live, really. In areas with a lot of farming, many local grocers carry local produce, even at chain stores. Idk about Walmart specifically, but I know a few in my area do. You don't have to go to a farmer's market and pay more.

Magentablu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, what? Do tomatoes have a smell?? Seriously, the only 2 different varieties we can get, both are smelless...

Rand Hayeck
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gmo's are not good quality and frankly shouldn't even be legal.

Marilyn Ransberry
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Winter tomatoes have no flavour in Canada unless they are greenhouse. Picked unripe and shipped from the south.

AuberJean 68
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A perfectly ripe tomato always smells a little bit like blood to me.

Celia McReynolds Tinsley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why we only eat tomatoes that have come from either our garden or the local farmer's market. Tomatoes from grocery stores are flavorless crap.

Alana Voeks
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something I find hilarious are these idiots who want only "organic, nonGMO" stuff, and then buy a beefsteak tomato. You...you don't realize those have a bit of cow DNA in order to make the plants big, do you?

A rat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once I got these HUGEEEE grapes (green idk if it matters LOL) but I mean like huge as in half my mouth. Bit into it it tasted like slimy water- it was so weird that I can't describe it properly

Mew Rhodes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try to find a food co-op (mostly foods and products from local farms and local artisans and small businesses) or try farmer's market. Or if you have time and good sun spots you can always try growing your own.

Cybele Spanjaard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We get them in our supermarkets. I buy ones on the vine ( Truss tomatoes)and they ripen if left out. Best not to put in the fridge as no flavour.

Monika Lachova
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

or better to say, don't buy fresh tomatoes in winter. Use canned instead.

Kirk Mckeever
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"horrific non-tomato tomatoes??" I thought they pretty much the same--my girlfriend goes to the Farmers Market, and I go to any grocery store and never noticed a difference....and, yeah, mentioning it once lead to eye-rolling, so I never mentioned it again....but still.....

Anthony Roberts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The difference between a ripe vine ripened tomato and a supermarket hot house tomato that was picked green and then gassed to turn red is astounding. The former is delicious, the last is tasteless and bland because it's not actually ripened.

Load More Replies...
Kai David
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Produce in grocery marts are mostly hydroponically grown. Basically grown on sponges on sterile sand with a water drip. The produce is void of flavor. A small veggie home grown garden will have produce that has so much flavor. Hint-small simple and grow what you like.

Summer Mason
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've found pretty damn good produce at Walmart. But ours sources from local farms and tells you where they came from. But during the summer I prefer to grow my own and can my own.

MiniMaus
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where on earth do we still get tomatoes that taste like tomatoes. Since we sold the farm and had harvested seeds from our previous lot, I haven't eaten a REAL tomato in years and years. They all taste like paper maché. I've gone to the local market and found that they buy tomatoes in the same place the grocery store does and get away with calling them "farm fresh".

Wang Zhuang
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had fried green tomatoes, which are neither pink, red, nor yellow, and they tasted great. It depends on what you're making.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#25

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid If you have to drain your rice after cooking it, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!

You should be measuring your rice:water as 1:2 ( 1 cup rice : 2 cup water. Get proper measuring cups, don't use a coffee mug...) and you should no liquid left if cooked properly. Simmer on low after initial boil, lid closed, fluff with a fork about 3/4 of the way, that's it.

And wash the rice until water runs clear. Othersie you're eating dust and bug poop ( Basmati and Jasmine rice mainly...don't wash arborio rice)

MY entire process is:

-Wash rice thoroughly under cold water

-Place washed/drained rice in clean pot and set on stove on low-med heat to slowly dry and toast the rice.

-Add 2bsp oil to the hot dry rice and make it sing, but should not get any color!

-Boil water in your kettle; add salt, pepper and other seasoning(Chicken stock powder is great for rice..or you know, MSG) to your measuring cup, dissolve with the water.

-Dump all the liquid in the pot; it will boil virgorously for like 5 seconds, don't be scared.

-Lower heat to a simmer, cover with the lid ( Big plus if it has a small vent)

-Fluff with a fork at 10mins in, then about 5mins later it should be ready to serve.

derpado514 , wikimedia Report

Add photo comments
POST
Raoul
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both methods (exact amount of water & too much (flavoured) water with exact cooking time) work perfectly fine.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#26

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Pressing/squashing burger patties down as they cook on the BBQ (you're just making them drier by squeezing out the juices IMHO)

Jdmisra81 , wikimedia Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sam
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I personally love steak and shake's squashed flat burger patties. The crispy edge bits are the best

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Ex-chef here, and this is a dumb one but I've seen it so many times in student halls. Don't microwave a f*cking steak, or eggs, to cook it.

small_but_lazy Report

Add photo comments
POST
The Scout
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the thought of microwaving a steak sends shivers down my spine... But I never understood the american obsession with microwaves. A microwave is a tool for the quick re-warming or thawing of food, not for cooking.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#28

Pouring water into a grease fire. That's actually SUPER dangerous.

[deleted] Report

#29

NOT using a mandolin for all your veg. A good one, not the cheapo plastic ones.

Where it can take a good 45 minutes to matchstick fine dice your carrots, courgette, red onion, garlic, red, green & yellow bell pepper & ginger.... All this will take about 15 minutes with a nice quality mandolin.

Make sure you get a finger guard and use it, and always use the utmost caution with the beast & go slowly until you gain confidence through repeated uses.

Once you've mastered the mandolin, your knives won't leave the butcher block as often as they used to.

Get one with the V configuration, not one that's just a slant, those are rubbish.

Seriously, mastering the mandolin changes everything in terms of prep time. It's amazing how fast tomatoes get sliced, how blissfully paper thin fine you can get your onions in just a few seconds!

I love that thing. I have one with a handle & a knob that adjusts the depth of the blade, all in one. I think it cost about 70 bucks.

Wwwweeeeeeee Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kate
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never thought of a mandolin as a kitchen implement. Does a balalaika have a use, too? What about a guitar?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#30

Toss your hardboiled eggs in an icewater bath right when they're done to make them peel easier.

bigheyzeus Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jiminy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope, this is an urban legend. It depends on how old the egg is, not if you put it in cold water or not.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#31

Even on the food network I see chefs cut the top off of bell peppers and then pull out the seeds. Bell peppers are shaped like a cube, just slice from the top down on all 4 sides and you will end up with easily chopable or sliceable pieces. The only time you chop the top off is if you need rings.

FakeAssRicky Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#32

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Never letting meat rest... not keeping sharp knives, and just knife work in general... cooking should be simple and easy... fighting with prep work is never fun.

Wheres_the_sand , maxipixel Report

#33

Putting you knives in a drawer. It ruins the edge. A dull knife is a dangerous knife. (Because you can’t slice through the food and you struggle, this results in an injury.)

MorbeMaddness Report

Add photo comments
POST
Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've got a magnet rail on the wall for my knives. It's ideal, I love it.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#34

Just finished that awesome, wholeseome, home cooked and hot delicious meal? Don't put it on a cold plate from the cabinet. Some ovens have a warm plate setting or even keeping a stack in hot water and drying them off right before plating can keep a hot meal hot. I always hated cooking an awesome dinner and then by the time I've served everyone and sat down my food is cold because its sitting on an ice cold plate. Hell even some of the newer dishwashers have a plat warmer setting.

MaybeItsJustMike Report

#35

Use fresh lemon not that cr*p in the little yellow bottle.

Redskull420 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#36

Stop throwing away your scallion greens and broccoli stems!

rhubarbland Report

#37

Under seasoning.

Kinguke Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#38

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Not using a thermometer when cooking meat.

By using a thermometer, even a novice cook can be sure that they are cooking their meat to the desired level of doneness. You may not need to use a thermometer after you've cooked a certain cut of meat a few times, but for new recipes and types of meat , a meat thermometer gives you confidence and precision.

BullGooseLooney904 , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
John C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's amazing how easy it is to level-up your cooking with a good set of thermometers in the kitchen. it might be the best money-to-benefit ratio of all kitchen tools. I have an instant-read probe, leave-in clamp-to-the-side-of-the-pot type, infrared gun, and leave-in probe with alarm. Example: coffee is best brewed at around 190-195F - brewing with water fresh off the boil >200F will impart extra bitterness (not the good kind). Having a good thermometer at hand makes this so easy. I'd hate to deep fry anything and have to guess at the temp: being sure that I'm in that 350-375F sweet spot gives me consistent and repeatable results every time.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#39

Do not EVER put a good knife through a dishwasher.

UnsaltedPasta Report

#40

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Never put knives under soapy water EVER. I once saw someone put one in and they sliced their hand pretty deep, don’t know how.

Diamonds4days1 , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
ZAPanda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do this but I have a method: put the cutlery to the side in the corner of the sink and wash them last. That way you know where they are lying.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#41

Iodized salt (table salt) is not the same grade as kosher salt. Makes things taste way salty and metallic. Go for either Morton's kosher salt which is a dense salt or Diamond Crystal which is a lighter flaky salt. And keep the salt in a bowl, makes it easier to just grab a pinch and season whatever you're cooking with

icycubed Report

#42

Don't put raw onions in a casserole or meatloaf and expect them to cook properly.

[deleted] Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#43

Food safety.

I don't know how many times I've seen folks cross-contaminate, not wash their hands, leave ingredients (or finished product that is perishable) out too long, etc.

ToastyCrumb Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kate Jones
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm such a stickler for handwashing and sanitizing. I used to work in a restaurant and I went to a trade high school for Culinary Arts for 4 years, so I understand the importance. But I have to admit I cross contaminate at home all the time. I don't think twice about cutting stuff all together. And it's so crazy because I know better and like I said, at work, I used to be so cautious. I do still wash my hands like a doctor at home because it just became such a habit but I'm so bad when it comes to using the same cutting board and knives.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#44

Not a chef, but cover the pan when you're frying eggs and you get perfect sunny side up.

graebot Report

Add photo comments
POST
Peej Maybe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A good tip is also to turn up the heat until the yolk / white begins to solidify then turn the heat right down

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#45

If you don't have a stove powerful enough to cook Asian food (most aren't) put the wok in a really hot oven (450-500+) for 10-15 minutes. The residual heat should be enough to stir fry properly.

A cast iron wok is even better because it holds the heat longer.

kirbyderwood Report

Add photo comments
POST
ZAPanda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am assuming these numbers are fahrenheit? unless you're planning to forge metal or something?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#46

When you add fresh basil leaves or sun dried tomatoes to a pizza or something similar, don’t put them on top. Both of these items burn very easily and unless you want them charred, don’t put them on top of the dish.

Also, if you want to cut onions without having the juices make you cry, chill them first, then chop them while they’re chilled. Not exactly a ‘what you’re doing wrong’ fact, but it’s a neat tip.

MetaGigaZ Report

Add photo comments
POST
Marco Malavolti
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Add basil (and a bit of some really good olive oil) when you bring the pizza out from the oven

View more commentsArrow down menu
#47

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid When scraping ingredients off the cutting board use the non-bladed edge. Fresh pasta tastes 1000% better than boxed and takes a fraction of the time to cook and is probably a dollar more than boxed pasta. Adding salt & pepper to even the sides of the meal can really improve the flavor. Let the meat rest the same amount of time it was cooked. Most meat can be cooked on medium-high in a pan (best temp)

Jarek86 , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where are you finding fresh pasta that's only a dollar more? For the price of 500g of fresh spaghetti I can buy 1.5kg of regular bag spaghetti. Even if I buy both from the same overpriced grocery store fresh is double the price.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#48

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Don’t cook with extra virgin olive oil.

It’s an oil with a low burning point that when it reaches a certain temperature it turns it from a mono-saturated fat to a poly-saturated fat. So it is no longer healthy and you’ve just bought expensive oil that is no longer having any health benefits.

Also, when it reaches the temperature that turns it unhealthy, it actually creates an acrid flavoured which most people don’t realise that’s where the acidity flavour is coming from in their food.

halhallelujah , pxhere Report

Add photo comments
POST
The Scout
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cooking with olive oil is fine - frying is not. The smoking point of olive oil is low, so it is poerfect to sauteé your veggies in - but not to fry your steak.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#49

Home made Chips (or fries) I cut them then salt them and pop them in the fridge, take them out after a while then pat them down to get any excess water so when I shallow fry them for my kid they're crispy on the outside and fluffy inside.

Pre-salt your chips .. or fries before frying it draws out excess water from the spuds.

ThatBritishWoman Report

Add photo comments
POST
The Scout
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Evene better results are archieved by two-step-frying: After cutting the potatoes, fry them at a lower temperature, then take them out and let them cool. Fry them for a second time - very hot this time, and they will be very crunchy while retaining their inner softness. Pre-salting fries is not a good idea, though, as it ruins the frying grease.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#50

Thinking that the truing-rod/truing-steel in your knife block is a sharpener.

No, it does not sharpen the knife. A sharpening block does that. The rod is for truing - which is correcting the edge alignment to the center, but this doesn't actually sharpen the knife, which involves grinding off small amounts to form the edge.

Meschugena Report

Add photo comments
POST
ZAPanda
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

err no, it definitely works for me. and yes, small bits of steel come off. Maybe post a picture of the thing you are saying is not a sharpener so we can be sure we're talking about the same thing.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#51

Pâtissière here, not working in the field anymore because started college, but yay, I have some mild experience. Keep the receipt near you. It doesn't matter if you know it by heart, just keep it near you, because bakery and pastry are a hit or miss: the moment you f*ck up, there's no going back, you have to do it all over. Many people think that keeping the receipts near is "unprofessional" and it's better to just know them by heart (what's actually a big plus, I truly recommend you to know stuff by heart as well) but trust me, when you have to bake and decorate over 20 different desserts before the day even start, it's better to be safe than sorry. You don't want to f*ck up royally and have to redo a whole loaf of sweet bread when you are about to open/your relatives are coming to a family reunion, because baking takes a lot of time.

[deleted] Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#52

Add herbs and spices during the frying stages, always let your food simmer before serving, lid off low heat.

When adding chilli's to dishes the heat will draw out over time, if you can't taste it immediately wait for the dish to simmer for a while.

rhubarbland Report

Add photo comments
POST
SusanS
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Found out the latter the hard way. Twasn't pretty or appetizing.

#53

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid You're probably not using proper knives for what you're cutting, I always catch my wife trying to cut meat with a bread knife. Also sharpen hone them b*tches EVERY TIME you use it.

RandellX , pxhere Report

Add photo comments
POST
Wang Zhuang
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my friends was visiting with me once and noticed that I had a variety of knives. She asked me why I have so many. I told her that I used them for cutting different things, like a serrated knife for bread, for example. She grabbed my cleaver and told me in her home (she's from Xinjiang in China), the cleaver is the only knife her mom has ever had, and she can cut everything with it. She then used the cleaver to cut the baguette I had bought to have with dinner. She made it look easy.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#54

not a chef but

use a piece of aluminum foil or cling film to cover the surface of your guacamole if you have some leftover in a container. don't just wrap it around the rim, actually place it on the guacamole. it goes brown with exposure to air, so if it's covered directly it will last far far longer than just putting the lid back on.

ilcowy Report

Add photo comments
POST
Shelli Aderman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Put the pit in the guac, and only use plastic wrap. Tin foil will react with acids.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#55

Adding oil to a cold pan.

Heating up the pan before you add oil prevents food from sticking.

BOS-RD Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#56

Asking me tons of questions about my job when I'm off and sitting at the bar. This isn't the food network. Most of us only eat hotdogs, hotpockets and pizza when we get off. It isn't glamorous, don't go to culinary school, just wash dishes somewhere. Season at every step, butter makes things good, don't try to skimp there, that isn't why you're fat. Sharp knives(victorinox is a good start). People lose their mind over risotto, its easy to make. You like onions, stop omitting them.

RandomFish3 Report

Add photo comments
POST
BigFootToo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Global knives are probably one of the best knives on the planet for the home chef or professional. They're all stainless steel, including the handle and start super sharp. Good knives aren't cheap and cheap knives will only hurt the user.

#57

Duck in a cold pan and heat it up so the skin renders and goes crispy.

Cockwombles Report

Add photo comments
POST
Debbie Barnes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought the rule was to put duck, skin down, in a hot pan to crisp up the skin.. How would a cold pan, slowly heating up do that?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#58

Don’t make croissants before everything else. My mama thought me that also, there is such thing as too much cheese.

abby_the_trashcan Report

Add photo comments
POST
Blurryface
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I beg to differ. (As long as we’re talking real cheese, not Organic American Play-doh cheese.)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#59

To cook bacon in the oven, start with a cold oven. Then rotate the baking sheet halfway through cooking for delicious, crispy bacon.

ReadontheCpper Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kate Jones
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've tried cooking bacon in the oven but I'm not sure if it's just not a good idea in electric ovens or what...it's always either too rubbery or really over done. It's not a timing issue... I've tried putting another pan on top to keep it flat, I've tried taking it out earlier or later to compensate but it just doesn't taste right. It seems like this method works best in a convection or gas oven.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#60

How about simply chopping onions. It’s literally one of the easiest things to do if you use the natural anatomical structure of the onion in your favor. Most people hack it into oblivion, which not only takes much, much longer, but also results in unnecessarily sad-looking onions. Plus it makes you cry.

ChanceGuest Report

#61

Chefs Are Sharing 30 Common Cooking Mistakes We Need To Avoid Overcooking eggs. If the water comes out of it, they are overcooked. Some people see wetness and think. Oh lemme cook that out.

TrayThePlumpet , unsplash Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sergy Yeltsen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Water in eggs? Am I missing something? I thought an egg was shell, yolk, white and air.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#62

Using a microwave.

If you do have to use one half the power and double the time but check its hot all the way through before serving.

privateTortoise Report

#63

The most important thing when boiling eggs is to put them in water that's already boiling, not cold water. This way, the skin doesn't fuse the shell and insides together.

emmyjoe311 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Rai Grant
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eh, no... Put them in boiling water n the shell cracks n you end up with messy eggs! However, a drop of vinegar in the water can stop whites escaping if the shell does crack before it starts to cook.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#64

That thing you call a spatula isn't a spatula, it's a turner.

Florida-Man8112 Report

Add photo comments
POST
ZAPanda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK mister I only use my local vernacular... bet you call pans skillets as well.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu