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Cooking—it’s that optional thing that we do when we don’t want to look like lazy good-for-nothings eating cheese and salami straight out of the pack and munching on raw vegetables instead of making a salad. Even cavemen and barbarians were able to cook things well. But even with the help of modern technology, we sometimes end up absolutely butchering our meals and making mega cooking fails.

Prepare your stomachs, dear Readers, for Bored Panda has baked up a feast of the most incredible cooking fails for you to enjoy. Upvote your fave pics and leave a comment about the times you messed up while cooking. Psst. We’ve got more epic cooking fails for you to taste right here, here, and here. Remember to chew well and take your time. Patience and focus have a lot to do with success in the kitchen (and in life, but that’s another story). If you’re distracted or running around like a headless chicken then odds are, you’ll make a ton of mistakes. Before you know it, your spaghetti’s on fire. Or worse—it’s fallen straight inside your shoes. Don’t believe us? Scroll on down.

Pie artist and baking and cooking pro Jessica Clark-Bojin was kind enough to give Bored Panda a few great tips and tricks to help all of us out in the kitchen and prevent massive disasters from happening. "Kitchen 'mistakes' can range from the catastrophic, 'I forgot the pot roast in the oven and now the kitchen is on fire' to the more benign, 'I accidentally put paprika in the cookies instead of cinnamon', but in most instances, they stem from the same thing: distraction and a lack of preparation." Read on for her delicious insights into avoiding kitchen mistakes.

#2

Tonight Was Foreign Culture Night In My House So I Decided To Cook A Traditional Dish From Pompeii

Tonight Was Foreign Culture Night In My House So I Decided To Cook A Traditional Dish From Pompeii

CarbonChainz Report

Jessica pointed out that anyone who wants to improve in the kitchen should start by taking some time to think about and picture in their mind all the steps before diving in and starting to bake or cook. That way, you can avoid slip ups, blunders, and setting your entire kitchen aflame.

"Make sure you have all the ingredients you need before you start baking. Work 'mis-en-place' and have all the bowls, spoons, tools, etc. cleaned and out on the counter ready for you. Measure out dry ingredients in advance, and (if called for) portion out wet ingredients and chill in the fridge. Clean up pots and pans while your mixture bakes," Jessica shared.

#4

I Was Making Home Made Chicken Stock. After Simmering For Hours, The Recipe Said To Pour It Through A Strainer. God Damn It

I Was Making Home Made Chicken Stock. After Simmering For Hours, The Recipe Said To Pour It Through A Strainer. God Damn It

moby323 Report

#6

My Friend Made A “Hedgehog” For Her 14-Year-Old Son’s Birthday

My Friend Made A “Hedgehog” For Her 14-Year-Old Son’s Birthday

YouKnowYoohoo Report

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According to the pie expert, it's hard to make mistakes if you follow these steps. Or, at the very least, following them will mean that you'll catch any mistakes before they become really big issues. "Taking the few extra minutes to prep will give you a lovely stress-free baking experience!"

Jessica also shared that everyone in her family cooks, but they all have different dietary preferences. So tasting food can be a challenge. "We have family members who are vegetarian, vegan, celiac (and just plain fussy) and it’s not always possible for the cook to taste what they are making for everyone else. But you can always bring in a pinch-taster and get a second opinion!"

#7

Husband Tried To Make A Dolphin For My Cocktail. It's The Cutest Eel I've Ever Seen

Husband Tried To Make A Dolphin For My Cocktail. It's The Cutest Eel I've Ever Seen

CharmingtheCobra Report

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#9

Creepy Pancake

Creepy Pancake

miiiccczzz Report

Other professionals echo Jessica's advice, too. Katie Workman from the Associated Press writes that we should all read through recipes all the way through ahead of time so that we can get all the ingredients that we need. What’s more, we’ll be well prepared for any time-consuming surprises in advance.

You should also get all of your ingredients ready before you start cooking. After all, if you’re supposed to be sauteing your veggies but you’re still chopping your bell peppers while your mushrooms are already frying, you might end up with a weird mix of under and over-cooked food.

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Finally, keep in mind that seasoning makes all the difference to the taste of the dish. So add a pinch of salt and pepper here and there from time to time. During prep. In the middle of cooking. Right before serving. Try to find the balance between overseasoning and utter blandness. Oh, and remember to sharpen your knives!

#10

Someone Left A Bread Pudding In The Back Of The Oven For 5 Days. So Here Is My New Pet Rock, Charlie

Someone Left A Bread Pudding In The Back Of The Oven For 5 Days. So Here Is My New Pet Rock, Charlie

WetDumpling Report

#11

My Apple Broke The Apple Cutter And Now I Have A Weapon

My Apple Broke The Apple Cutter And Now I Have A Weapon

rmbrmeforcenturies Report

#12

Friend Sent Me This. Composition: "Dad Tried To Make Wine"

Friend Sent Me This. Composition: "Dad Tried To Make Wine"

Nikoleta Kacaitė Report

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Lou
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks more like, "Dad tried to murder everyone in the family"

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#13

My Night After Work

My Night After Work

Symmetry888 Report

#15

Go To Make Pasta, The First Pot Slips And I Pour It All On The Ground. Make A Second Pot And The Handle Straight Up Breaks And My Pasta Goes Everywhere. Didn't Eat; Had A Lil Cry

Go To Make Pasta, The First Pot Slips And I Pour It All On The Ground. Make A Second Pot And The Handle Straight Up Breaks And My Pasta Goes Everywhere. Didn't Eat; Had A Lil Cry

Not to mention that firstly I came home late from work and drop my open sandwich in the parking lot. 

SuitsAndStripes Report

#16

Boiled An Egg This Morning And I Think Something Went Horribly Wrong

Boiled An Egg This Morning And I Think Something Went Horribly Wrong

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#17

I'll Never Be Someone's Bride

I'll Never Be Someone's Bride

_lquestionl_ Report

#18

Thought You Guys Might Like This Pie I Baked

Thought You Guys Might Like This Pie I Baked

JustAnotherElsen Report

#19

So My Wife Grilled Corn Tonight. For 2 1/2 Hours

So My Wife Grilled Corn Tonight. For 2 1/2 Hours

therallyking Report

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martti avatar
ML
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read my wife killed corn tonight and I thought what an appropriate description

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#20

This Sums Up My Day. Why Isn't My Stock Simmering... It's Been Over An Hour

This Sums Up My Day. Why Isn't My Stock Simmering... It's Been Over An Hour

ActualNameIsLana Report

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Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This can happen to anyone. I have turned on the wrong burner a few times. Fortunately, I have never melted a pot.

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#21

I Baked Some Strawberry Cakes In Cat-Shaped Pans, Then Iced Them. They Came Out Looking Like Burn Victims

I Baked Some Strawberry Cakes In Cat-Shaped Pans, Then Iced Them. They Came Out Looking Like Burn Victims

03mark87 Report

#22

5 Minutes Before Closing After A 12-Hour Shift

5 Minutes Before Closing After A 12-Hour Shift

aceee13 Report

#25

I Was Told You Guys Might Appreciate This. Made A Pie Today. Dropped A Pie Today

I Was Told You Guys Might Appreciate This. Made A Pie Today. Dropped A Pie Today

beely_yumyum2x2 Report

#26

Bake Bread They Said. An Overnight Rise Will Taste So Good They Said. Put In The Fridge They Said. It's So A Rewarding Hobby They Said

Bake Bread They Said. An Overnight Rise Will Taste So Good They Said. Put In The Fridge They Said. It's So A Rewarding Hobby They Said

thefirstdetective Report

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#27

Happy Thanksgiving From My Little Sister's First Ever Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving From My Little Sister's First Ever Turkey

Lovethe3beatles Report

#28

Guess I Cut It A Little Too Hard

Guess I Cut It A Little Too Hard

pokemon-collector Report

#30

Apparently Using A Syringe To Inject The Filling Of A Jelly Bun Doesn't Work That Well

Apparently Using A Syringe To Inject The Filling Of A Jelly Bun Doesn't Work That Well

9999monkeys Report

#31

My Sister Made My Brother A Birthday Cake

My Sister Made My Brother A Birthday Cake

AGBell97 Report

#32

My Submission For Dumbest Way To Injure Yourself: I Burnt My Hand Taking Tomato Soup Out Of The Microwave. The Toast I Was Making Popped Up And It Scared Me

My Submission For Dumbest Way To Injure Yourself: I Burnt My Hand Taking Tomato Soup Out Of The Microwave. The Toast I Was Making Popped Up And It Scared Me

missouriprincess Report

#33

Tried Cooking A Sweet Potato In My New Air Fryer Today

Tried Cooking A Sweet Potato In My New Air Fryer Today

vo_xv Report

#34

Attempted To Make Flower Pancakes For My Wife As A Mother's Day Surprise But They Ended Up Looking Like Corona Cakes

Attempted To Make Flower Pancakes For My Wife As A Mother's Day Surprise But They Ended Up Looking Like Corona Cakes

ChopperNYC Report

#35

This Is What Defeat Looks Like

This Is What Defeat Looks Like

spklovestheusa Report

#36

Me: This Tin Should Be Big Enough. Banana Bread: Freedom

Me: This Tin Should Be Big Enough. Banana Bread: Freedom

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#37

Making Some Spaghetti

Making Some Spaghetti

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dandegnan avatar
Danieletc
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure, let a fire burn out of control. Grab a camera, not a fire extinguisher, all for your social media Maybe you cause the baby and 3-YO sister in the apartment upstairs to burn alive. But so what, your LOLz are like, SO worth it, and so much likes!

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CD Mills
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is no water in the pan. I wonder if this isn't done on purpose just for the picture.

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

S**t a fire, Forget the fire extinguisher, all you need is a phone and take a photo. That will sort it out quick smart.

suzclark795 avatar
Suzanne Clark
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Has this person never boiled spaghetti before? There is soooo much wrong with this picture.

saragregory0508 avatar
N G
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To everyone thinking this idiot is boiling pasta - there is no water in the pan. This would have been a fail on an electric hob. This is *not* boiling anything, this is creatively testing your smoke alarm

odiasuda565 avatar
Scratch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This set up bullcrap needs to be downvoted into oblivion.

joellawrence avatar
Joel Lawrence
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The cameraman: Just a spaghetti fire, nothing to warn anyone about :>

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banjopeppers avatar
Banjo Peppers
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh it works fine to cook spaghetti in a small pot. It takes like ten second for it to soften up so you can get the rest of the noodles in. But only if you BOIL THE WATER FIRST. Don’t be like this person and put spaghetti in a waterless pot.

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gilligood42 avatar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

uh, I think you're supposed to make pasta with water....so this doesn't happen..

beebilicious avatar
Brooke Weber
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This clearly has no water in the pot. Weirdly done on purpose?

serrallanorma35 avatar
Allan & Norma Serra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I break spaghetti into a bowl of boiling water and cook in the microwave, so never have this (possibly staged) problem.

cindycollins_1 avatar
CincyReds
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But lets take time out to take a picture before we think about putting GD fire out! Is this what social media had done to everyone? Taking a picture would have been my very last thought.

carmenflores avatar
Carmen Flores
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This person has no business in the kitchen or handling matches.

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Jayden Penzien
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

FFFFFFFFFFFIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRREEEEEEEEEEEEE

sadeywheeler avatar
SADEY WHEELER
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

welp at least i cant be ashamed of my cooking now (even if it looks like it was done of purpose)

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Amaranthim Talon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am not sure, but I may have read you are supposed to use water in a much larger pot...

ae_3 avatar
あんぱんまん
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I donnt even want to know how this crime took place and how someone made this work.... 😭😭😭

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Mats Fagerkull
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Almost as Good äs the wife to one of the contestants i Masterchef UK who supposedly manage to set Water on fire when making tea. That was the Reading the contestant had started learning cooking

stonetramp avatar
Colleen Hindson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, the pan is too small for starters. Was there even any water in it?

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Elaine Mattingly
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not even centered on the flame, no water , not even in the pan, your insurance should go to the moon!

n_applegate avatar
Nathan Applegate
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You’re supposed to pour water in the pot BEFORE you put in the spaghetti.

support_73 avatar
Quazmodic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Proof that carbs are a source of quick but destructive energy.lol ;)

mari72 avatar
Mari Bryant
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It takes great skill to set something on fire that's in a pot of water.

ainsleyhallum avatar
Ainsley Hallum
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did not know you could push pause on life, where is that button?

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Lorem Ipsum
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With a pot that small, I'd recommend breaking the pasta in half and using less of it. Also, most chefs recommend not setting spaghetti on fire, it messes with the flavor.

anderlou69 avatar
Uchman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That pot is much too small for that amount of pasta. Maybe this was staged anyway

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#38

I Tried To Make A Cake With A Lobster Shaped Dish

I Tried To Make A Cake With A Lobster Shaped Dish

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#39

When All I Want To Do Is Make Spaghetti, But All Signs Point To It Not Happening

When All I Want To Do Is Make Spaghetti, But All Signs Point To It Not Happening

imgur.com Report

#42

I Was Making Thai Basil Chicken Then I Turned Around For A Minute And My Brother Put Blue Food Dye In It. He’s 19

I Was Making Thai Basil Chicken Then I Turned Around For A Minute And My Brother Put Blue Food Dye In It. He’s 19

liamoco123 Report

#43

Forgot To Set A Timer Boiling Eggs. The Sound Of Them Exploding Reminded Me

Forgot To Set A Timer Boiling Eggs. The Sound Of Them Exploding Reminded Me

Trevarty Report

#45

What My Brother Was Trying To Make vs. What He Actually Made

What My Brother Was Trying To Make vs. What He Actually Made

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#47

Asked My Boyfriend To Bake The Croissants For Our Dinner

Asked My Boyfriend To Bake The Croissants For Our Dinner

BrittBroChil Report

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

Break it into littler triangular pieces and... have a nachos night?

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#48

Black Bean "Burrito" My Roommate Made With Rice Paper. He Was Out Of Tortillas And Said "I Didn't Think It Would Look Like That"

Black Bean "Burrito" My Roommate Made With Rice Paper. He Was Out Of Tortillas And Said "I Didn't Think It Would Look Like That"

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Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is quite funny. I didn't expect them to look like segments of a large instestine either.

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#49

My Mom Wanted A Cherry Pie. After Making One From Scratch I Dropped It On My Way To Deliver To Her Porch

My Mom Wanted A Cherry Pie. After Making One From Scratch I Dropped It On My Way To Deliver To Her Porch

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#50

My Own Invention: Eggplant With A Side Of Melted Knife

My Own Invention: Eggplant With A Side Of Melted Knife

Catharas Report

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