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Have you ever unleashed your inner chef after binge-watching cooking shows? Charged with the new found knowledge, you get ready to whip up a culinary masterpiece. But instead of a delicious chicken vindaloo, the dish turns out to be a total disaster.
But hey, before you rate your dish a 1 out of 10, give yourself some brownie points for trying. After all, you don’t learn unless you try. So we at Bored Panda have collected some cooking misadventures that will make you chuckle and serve up a lesson or two on what not to do in the kitchen.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A Lightbulb Moment
RELATED:
#2
I Spent An Entire Day Baking Challah Bread, Only To Have It Stolen
#3
I Ran Out Of Food Coloring While Making Cookies And Now The Dough Looks Like A Transplantable Organ
Kitchen disasters can be quite entertaining as they make for memorable stories. Whether it's a failed attempt at cooking a gourmet meal or that time the smoke alarm went off because of burnt brownies, such mishaps add humor to our culinary adventures.
But behind every spoilt dish lies a lesson waiting to be learned. Perhaps it's understanding the importance of reading a recipe or knowing the right temperature to bake delicate pastries. In order to become better cooks, we must keep practicing and expanding our knowledge about the ingredients and the techniques used.
#4
My Favorite Genre Of Social Media Post Is “People Screwing Up Food To A Diabolical Extreme And Then Going “Oopsies!” As If It’s Nothing”
#5
Fiance Accidentally Left A Pot Of Simple Syrup On The Stove To Burn And Made An Asteroid
#6
My Mixer Took Its Own Life
Back in the day, grandmas passed down handwritten notes filled with family recipes, detailing every ingredient and step needed to recreate their special dishes. They did this because without exact instructions, it would be incredibly difficult for moms and dads to make those heavenly delicacies.
Not knowing the exact steps can sometimes spoil the dish as you might mess up the proportions, leading to a bland or overly seasoned dish. Or you might forget crucial steps, such as allowing the meat to rest before slicing, resulting in weird texture and flavor. That is why keeping the recipe handy before entering the kitchen is a good practice.
#7
My Rat Cookies Definitely Didn't Turn Out Terribly Awry
OneWithRatsAndKefir 1 year ago
Well, one of my pet rats was ALMOST the size of the cookies in the outcome at the end of his lifespan; he was a big, fat lazy boy who loved sleep.
#8
Stole Sausages While Cooking A BBQ
Our Grey ran to where we had the meat on a plate and he managed to grab a packet of sausages. Saw my girlfriend trying to grab them from him as I sat back and took a photo.
#9
I Forgot To Put Water In My EZ Mac. Stepped Away To Change The Laundry While It Cooked For 3 Minutes
When I came back, the microwave was on fire and definitely gave me 6 different types of cancer.
Different types of cookware conduct heat differently. Using the wrong utensils can have negative effects on the food. For instance, if you use the wrong pan, it can result in uneven heat distribution, causing certain veggies to cook too quickly or slowly compared to others.
Certain recipes even require nonstick utensils to prevent ingredients from sticking to the bottom. Using regular cookware can result in ingredients adhering to the surface, burning them or making them difficult to remove without damage. So, you might have to serve guests amoeba-shaped pancakes.
#10
Do You Think My Lunch Is Done?
#11
My Boyfriend Made Croissants This Way
#12
Housemate Heated Up Meatball Spaghetti In A Microwave And Left It There For 3 Weeks
Another pro tip to remember is that some cookware materials, such as cast iron or copper, give the food a unique flavor. Never cook acidic foods in reactive cookware like aluminum, as it may alter the taste of the dish and cause discoloration.
For instance, if you cook marinara sauce in aluminum cookware, the acidic tomatoes will react, resulting in a metallic taste. Similarly, marinating meats in citrusy lemon juice will tenderize the meat, but during cooking, it can turn grayish in color.
#13
Rex "Helping" With The Baking
#14
Forgot I Was Heating Oil For French Fries
#15
How Not To Cook Spaghetti Squash
Apart from all these, it’s important to follow food safety guidelines. Improper handling, storage and cooking of food can lead to illnesses caused by bacteria or viruses. Some of the common culprits include undercooked meat, keeping perishable items at room temperature and cross-contamination of raw and cooked foods.
#16
Made My Mom A Birthday Cake From Scratch, Only To Trip When I Got To The House
#17
I Baked You Cookies
#18
Someone Posted A Croissant On Fire A Year Ago, Here's My Unfortunate Contribution
Consuming spoiled food can lead to food poisoning, causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Also, inhaling smoke and fumes from burned food or overheated oils can irritate the respiratory system. It can even worsen existing conditions like asthma or allergies.
#19
I Tried To Boil Some Eggs
#20
I Was Really Looking Forward To This Homemade Quesadilla
#21
I’m Gonna Say I Misread The Package As 350 Minutes Instead Of Degrees, Not That I Got High And Fell Asleep On The Couch
Dealing with a kitchen disaster requires quick thinking and creative problem-solving skills. Whether it's salvaging a burnt dish or finding a last-minute substitute for a missing ingredient, we must think on our feet to overcome the obstacle. Just keep trying, and if you fail, remember even the most seasoned chefs make mistakes. So, pandas, tell us about your most recent cooking adventure in the comments below! Was it a hit or a miss?
#22
This Is Why I Don't Cook
#23
Accidentally Left Bagels In The Oven For Five Hours
#24
My Girlfriend Tried To Cook Lasagna For The First Time
cerinamroth 1 year ago
Next time use a reusable tin/dish made from non-bendy metal or ceramic. Then it won't fold as you handle it with soft stuff inside ... and you can reuse it!
#25
My Sister Tried To Bake Brownies Using Her Own Recipe. She Said The Recipe Included Flour, Eggs, Skittles, Nutella, And Butter. All Random Amounts
#27
Always Check Your Oven Before Turning It On, Kids
#28
A Liquorice Cake I Made For My Husband 3 Years Ago And I’ll Never Hear The End Of It
#29
My Roommate Was Trying To Keep The Bacon Warm
#30
Had A Big Party This Past Weekend. While I Was Greeting Guests I Forgot About The Ribs On The Grill. The Ribs Caught Fire And I Had To Put It Out With A Fire Extinguisher
Casey Payne 1 year ago
I did that once. Started to grill everything and then remembered I needed something from the store. I asked my imaginary friends to go to the store, but they said, "No, we don't have any money. We're imaginary." "Fine, then just watch the grill while I go." I wasn't gone that long, but when I got back the food was on fire! After putting it out, I was like, "WTF? Are you guys all high?" Without an ounce of shame, they said, "We can't be high. Again, we don't exist outside of your head. We are Imaginary! Are you sure that you're not high?" The nerve! With imaginary friends like that, who needs demons?
#31
My Microwave Lunch Jumped Up And Flipped
flower petals 1 year ago
🎶 ”Now this is the story all about how my life was flipped-turned upside down..” 🎶
#32
There's This New Recipe For Black Curly Fries
#33
I Made Eggnog Last Night From Scratch. I Woke Up To This Monstrosity
#34
Put My No-Bake Cookies In The Oven To Cool Overnight. Forgot And Didn’t Tell The Wife But I Sure Remembered When She Started Preheating The Oven For Breakfast Pizzas
#35
That’s How Crooked My House Is
#36
I Tried To Make Bread Using Only Flour And Water
#37
Fell Asleep While Cooking A Pizza, Leaving It To Cook For Over 10 Hours
TotallyNOTAFox 1 year ago (edited)
Looking on the bright side - That person burned a lot of calories that day
#38
Well... Today I Found Out That The Bottom Of My Blender Is Detachable
#39
I Used To Work At McDonald's. Came In For The Overnight Shift And No One Told Us Pies Were In The Oven. Checked 6 Hours Into The Shift And Found These
#40
I Was Out Of Milk For My Mashed Potatoes So I Used Chocolate Milk
#41
Forgot To Clean The Rice Cooker, Opened It 2 Months Later To See This. Can I Salvage It?
#42
Just Wanted A Coffee. Now I Have To Paint My Wall
Pieter LeGrande 1 year ago
Had a pressure cooker when I as a kid. Mum cooked carrots in it once, but didn't put the lid on properly. Pressure built up, and up, and up. The lid went through the ceiling and roof tiles, and landed in neighbour's garden. The carot puree spread evenly over the ceiling, walls, floor and furniture. The cooker still worked OK, but mum was never keen on using it again.
#43
My Potato Exploded
#44
My Friend Said She Makes Perfect Steaks
cerinamroth 1 year ago
You can tell by the outside that that is not going to be anywhere near "perfect".
#45
A Picture That Speaks A Thousand Words
#46
Was Searching Google Maps For Coffee But Found This Abomination Instead
jai putman 1 year ago
there is actually a breed of chicken that has black skin and flesh. its possibly that....?
#47
Smoker’s Lung? Nope. Alcoholic’s Liver? Nah. My Teriyaki Chicken? Yup
#48
I Was Really Craving These Frozen Dumplings And Cooked Up Our Last Few For My Husband And I. Got A Credit Card Fraud Notification And Had To Call My Bank. Promptly Forgot About The Dumplings
#49
Saw A Weird-Looking "Chicken Piece" And Took A Closer Look
Always check your oil before reusing it... This guy must've fallen in overnight because I (stupidly) didn't place a lid on the pot, and I tried to push him out of my kitchen window the night before.
#50
I Have Never Made Burgers Before
#51
This Is How My Roommate Cooks Bacon
He then proceeds to stir it with a metal fork. Is this punishable by law?
#52
It's My Daughter's Birthday And I've Made Her A Cake. It's Been Cooling Down In The Fridge. Let Me Just Check On It Real Quick
Amanda Rose 1 year ago
Don't frost a cake that is still warm, it will melt the frosting (as shown here). This is why directions tell you to cool it then do the frosting.
#53
Have Been Preparing Easter Dinner Since 10 AM
#54
Frozen Yogurt Pops Anyone?
They looked decent at first then freezer burn started to set in. Now they are oozing sore pops.
#55
Leftover Stuffing Waffles
#56
Good Thing I Went Into The Kitchen At 2 AM. My Cousin Came Home Drunk And Then Left This Cooking In The Oven
#57
That Time My Friend And I Tried To Make Cookies And I Somehow Forgot To Add Flour
#58
Unlucky Pie. So It Turns Out You Are Supposed To Poke A Hole Into The Tinned Frey Bentos Pie, I Didn’t Know That And It Exploded. P.S. I Am Not Injured
#59
Tried To Make Tiramisu
#60
Well... Tim Cooked Dinner Tonight. He’s At The Store Buying New Ones As We Speak
Mark (it/urgh) 1 year ago
They look alright in the middle, scrape the carbon off with a knife and you're laughing. Or choking, one of the two.
#61
My Husband Put A Plastic Cutting Board In The Oven And I Turned It On To Preheat
#62
Forgot To Add Water To The Pot While Steaming Vegetables
#63
Attempted One Of Those Microwave Mug Cakes. Looks, Uh, Less Than Appetizing
#64
My Kids Don’t Like The Jello I Made
#65
I Was Making My First Ever Roast Out Of The Crockpot My Girlfriend And I Have. After Shredding The Meat I Was So Proud Adding Salt Until This Happened
Red Wyvern Emperor 1 year ago
Take it as it is and put it into warm water. Once the salt disolves, pour the water out and pour in fresh one. Now boil it for a short while with extra potatoes. Potatoes quite literally absorb salt like you wouldn't believe. Should be fine to roast then.
#66
The Year Mom Found Out The Thermometer Wasn’t Oven-Safe
#67
My Sister-In-Law Put My Electric Moka On The Stove
#68
Came Home To A Smokey Apartment And A Boyfriend Asleep On The Couch. Not Even Sure What These Were
#69
When Your 14-Year-Old Forgets To Add The Water Before Nuking Ramen Noodles And Seasoning For 3 Minutes
#70
Buddy At Work "Doesn't Trust Microwaves" So He Reheated His Chicken Soup In The Toaster Oven
#71
My Baked Potato That Was For Dinner, 30 Seconds After The Timer Went Off... The Day After I Cleaned The Oven
Kali Chaos 1 year ago
Dang. Although, it does look like the oven was very clean before that happened.
#72
Our Airbnb Had A Brick Oven. We Tried Making Pizza
#73
I’ve Been Trying To Tell My Husband Our Oven Runs Hot And He Should Cook Things At A Lower Temperature Or For Less Time. He Just Wouldn’t Believe Me
Sheri Lytle 1 year ago
I have a boyfriend like that, every time he cooks something, the element is on high,....I go behind him and turn it down...then I get "who turned my element down"... lol
#74
I Wanted To Eat Homemade Chocolate Sponge Cake. Totally Forgot About The Baking Powder
#75
Tried To Make Homemade Spring Rolls
#76
If You Ever Feel Like You Messed Something Up While Baking, Remember That Someone Has Done Much Worse And Made A Much Bigger Mess
Apologies for the image quality - I took this with my phone. It's sort of like a baking horror picture.
#77
I Got A Receipt Baked Into My Pizza
#78
"Did You Check The Oven Before Turning It On?"
#79
I’m A Terrible Baker But I Wanted To Surprise My Wife With A Fresh Loaf Of Bread. Everything Was Looking Great Until I Cut Into It
#80
My Girlfriend Tried To Add Some Sesame Seeds To An Apple Pie
#81
Tiramisu My Wife Made
#82
In-Laws Invited Us Over For Lunch. This Is What Was Being Served
#83
Tried To Impress My Wife With A Japanese Sponge Cake On Her Birthday... You're Supposed To Cut This In Half To Add A Strawberry And Whipped Cream Layer
#84
Had No Milk - Tried To Substitute With Water And Butter - I Couldn't Help This Hamburger
Sky Render 1 year ago
Cornstarch can save this! Take some of the liquid into a separate container, mix in the cornstarch, then add it back to the rest and stir while heating it.
#86
The Lid On The Black Pepper Maybe Could Have Been On Tighter
Red Wyvern Emperor 1 year ago
I wrote on the other one how to deal with salt... don't know any helpful ways out of this mess. XD
#87
My Roommate Set Off The Fire Alarm By “Cooking”
#88
In My Defense, I’m Really High
#89
I Put Garlic Bread In My Oven
#90
10 Years Ago I Tried To Make My First And Last Gingerbread House
#91
And Here's My Boyfriend's Carbonara Attempt
#92
Our Oven Broke While Baking Bread
#93
That's An Extremely Unfortunate Color
#95
Hot Dogs Left In The Roaster For 2.5 Hours At 450 Degrees
flower petals 1 year ago
Looks like a comparison of the made up and the natural color bits of tRump’s face 😆😂
#96
Spent 1.5 Hours Cooking. Dropped A Bowl And Covered It In Glass Splinters
Suck it Trebek 1 year ago
Ugh, I've done this. It's so depressing. All that hard work for nothing.
#97
You Go To Preheat Your Oven For Your Frozen Pizza, And Open Up The Oven Door Only To Find This "Pizza" Inside. A "Unique Crispy, Bubbly, Golden Brown Crust" Is Right
#98
I Made Some Popcorn. Didn't Turn Out As Expected
#99
Absolutely Failed At Cooking. I’m No Longer Allowed To Use The Oven When Drunk (Everyone Was Safe, And No Harm Was Done)
#100
I Ordered Pizza And They Forgot The Cheese
#101
I Was Cooking My Last Two Eggs, And My Automatic Pepper Grinder Opened And Spilled Everywhere
#102
Meant To Do Just A Sprinkling Of Paprika. Oops
#103
How Do I Cook Oatmeal In The Microwave Without It Exploding All Over The Place?
I made the smallest amount possible, cooked it in the tallest microwave-safe container I have, loosely covered the top, and pretty much everything escaped.
Mark (it/urgh) 1 year ago
You watch it like a hawk. As soon as it starts to rise, take it out and stir it. Repeat about 6 times and enjoy.
#104
Tried To Bake My Mom Some Biscuits For Mother's Day, Forgot To Add Flour
Karen Krause 1 year ago
How do you forget the flour? Most recipes say add dry ingredients to the flour.
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What do you think ?
TheElementalGod️️ (He/him) 1 year ago
My dad was in Sweden visiting a friend. He was making some kind of sweet, and his friend asked him if he was going to add in any sugar. He was puzzled because he thought that he had put in a lot of sugar. He then found out that he mixed up salt with sugar.
OpheliaPoe 1 year ago
My ex came up with some broccoli recipe that was kind of sweet (like the way some Chinese food has sweet sauces) and said it was made using flour which i thought was odd. I asked him to show me how he made it. He pulled a big jar of powdered sugar off the shelf. I saw it on the counter, realized he'd made a mistake and switched it for the canister of flour. He put the flour back and grabbed the sugar again. I explained that he'd grabbed the wrong canister and that's when he said that's what he'd been using every time 🤦🏼♀️ He made this broccoli dish repeatedly and never realized he was using sugar.
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Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago
Remember: all good cooks have experienced failures in the past. I've told the story of my melting blueberry cake a few times by now. xD and I always remember that every year on the Bake Off, someone manages to mess up using a mixer by either breaking a glass bowl with it, or by managing to cause a flour/ingredient explosion. Every year. :')
TheElementalGod️️ (He/him) 1 year ago
My dad was in Sweden visiting a friend. He was making some kind of sweet, and his friend asked him if he was going to add in any sugar. He was puzzled because he thought that he had put in a lot of sugar. He then found out that he mixed up salt with sugar.
OpheliaPoe 1 year ago
My ex came up with some broccoli recipe that was kind of sweet (like the way some Chinese food has sweet sauces) and said it was made using flour which i thought was odd. I asked him to show me how he made it. He pulled a big jar of powdered sugar off the shelf. I saw it on the counter, realized he'd made a mistake and switched it for the canister of flour. He put the flour back and grabbed the sugar again. I explained that he'd grabbed the wrong canister and that's when he said that's what he'd been using every time 🤦🏼♀️ He made this broccoli dish repeatedly and never realized he was using sugar.
Load More Replies... Roan The Demon Kitty 1 year ago
Remember: all good cooks have experienced failures in the past. I've told the story of my melting blueberry cake a few times by now. xD and I always remember that every year on the Bake Off, someone manages to mess up using a mixer by either breaking a glass bowl with it, or by managing to cause a flour/ingredient explosion. Every year. :')
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