12 Cooking Habits You Need to Quit Right Now
We all have our go-to cooking routines, but some of the habits we swear by in the kitchen could actually be holding us back from creating our best meals. Certain practices can lead to bland flavors, wasted ingredients, and even a less enjoyable cooking experience. If you’re ready to step up your culinary game and start cooking smarter, it’s time to break these bad habits and rethink your approach to the kitchen. Here are the cooking mistakes you need to quit right now.
Using The Blade Side of Your Knife to Scrape Up Food
Using the sharp, blade side of your knife to scrape up food dulls it quickly. It not only dulls your knife, but it destroys it. If you’re going to use your knife to scrape up food, use the top side of the knife (aka, the side you don’t cut with).
Using Dry Measuring Cups and Spoons for Baking
Using dry measuring cups and spoons for baking can lead to inaccurate measurements. It’s best to use a kitchen scale so you know exactly what you’re using. Baking is a science, and you really need to be exact and accurate with your measurements.
Don’t Throw Everything Into The Pan At The Same Time
Different food items cook at different times and need different temperatures. Throwing everything in at once seems like a good idea for efficiency, but you’re setting yourself up for failure. Nobody wants to things that are overcooked and/or not cooked enough in a dish!
Rinsing or Washing Your Meat
There’s absolutely no reason to be doing this. Rinsing it will not wash off anything, instead you’ll just be splashing whatever bacteria is on it around your sink. Just simply cook it and make sure it’s cooked to the appropriate temperature using a thermometer before eating it.
Draining Your Pasta with a Colander Over the Sink
This one might have you scratching your head, but there’s a reason to the madness. Many recipes call for pasta water and you’re making it really hard for yourself to gather it if you’re just dumping the pasta into a colander over the sink. Instead, use use tongs or a large spoon to directly transfer the pasta into the sauce.
Instantly Running Your Pan Under Hot Water
Always wait for your pan to cool down before you go to rinse it. It might seem like a good idea to get it rinsed right away, but it’s actually really bad for the pan. It can ruin the pan by warping it or cracking it.
Not Letting Your Meat Rest After Cooking
It’s super important to let your meat rest after you cook it. While you might be starving and just wanting to dig in, it’s worthy waiting for it to rest. Resting allows the juices redistribute through the meat. If you cut it right away all the juice runs out on to your cutting board, leaving you with drier meat.
Using Metal Utensils on a Non-Stick Pan
Never use metal utensils when cooking on a non-stick pan. You’ll scratch the surface of the pan, which could lead you to ingest the chemicals in the non-stick lining. Instead, use wooden or silicone utensils.
Not Reading The Recipe All The Way Through
I’ve been guilty of this myself and I can tell you from experience that it’s never worth it. Reading a recipe all the way through before starting ensures that you have everything you need to make the dish from ingredients to tools! It also helps give you an idea of the order that you need to do things so you can have everything prepared for when you need it.
Not Prepping Your Ingredients Ahead of Time
This ties in a bit with the last one. I’ve started doing this because I got tired of panicking while I’m cooking to measure out what I need when I need it. I now measure everything I need before I start cooking so I can just grab it and use it as I work my way through the recipe’s instructions. Way less stress this way.
Not Pre-Heating Your Pan
I used to be guilty of not pre-heating my pan just out of pure laziness. However, I’ve since learned why it’s so important to pre-heat your pan. If you just dump the oil and food into the room-temp pan, the food with soak up the oil instead of sizzling in it. For the best taste, make surer you pre-heat your pan!
Not Washing Your Vegetables
Rinsing and washing vegetables before cooking helps remove dirt, pesticides, and any lingering bacteria or contaminants. It also ensures that you’re starting with clean produce, which can improve both the taste and safety of your meal. It’s worth taking the time to rinse and wash them.
