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It is common for seasoned cooks not to follow the recipe by the book. They know how to put their twist on dishes to create something delectable and uniquely their own, turning cooking into an art form. 

There’s a method behind the madness of their freestyling techniques. They know which ingredients work well together, allowing them to substitute when necessary. 

These home chefs, however, do not appear to possess the same level of knowledge in combining flavors, yet they still choose to ignore the recipe. Their kitchen mishaps are now immortalized on the I Didn’t Have Eggs subreddit, many of which you’re about to read on this list.

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    #2

    Please Don’t Eat Raw Sourdough Starter

    Comments discussing foul-tasting sourdough starter and advice on not eating it raw; mentions risk of food poisoning.

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    WindySwede
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "I also try my raw fish before baking it, so what?..." 🤷🏼

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    #3

    It’s Clearly Just A Noodle Dish

    Comment thread discussing a recipe with a disappointed review and a reply pointing out it's vegan.

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    CrunChewy McSandybutt
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I just bought a curry cookbook, and I'm angry that it doesn't have a good pizza recipe.

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    Since we’re on the topic of recipe blunders, here are other cooking mistakes people commonly make. Washing raw chicken is one of them, and it’s more than just a simple error. 

    As food safety professor Dr. Keith Schneider tells HuffPost, not only is it counterintuitive, but it also promotes the spread of bacteria like Salmonella. 

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    #4

    This Was On A Recipe For Pozole (A Mexican Soup)

    Online comments humorously discuss a recipe error involving cloves, highlighting a cooking mishap.

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    Robert Millar
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And what about diced peppers? My sister-in-law: I couldn't stop the peppercorns from rolling around. How do you dice them?

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    #5

    I Baked These Buns At A Lower Temperature, How Do I Cook Them At The Right Temp? 🤨

    Comment exchange on baking recipe; user baked at incorrect temperature, leading to undercooked bread.

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    #6

    Scared Of Whatever This Is

    Recipe fail with Pepsi used instead of traditional ingredients, resulting in unintended sweetness.

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    Bob Brooce
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They're all liquids and all the same color. Why should it matter which one you use?

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    Many people also make the mistake of thawing their meat on the counter. Like washing raw chicken, this promotes the spread of bacteria, especially if it is left out for too long. 

    In the same HuffPost interview, Mitzi Baum urges thawing either in the refrigerator or under cold running water. She says thawing using a microwave is another option, but it should only be done right before cooking.

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    #7

    Pecan Pie Recipe

    Recipe comment exchange about leaving out pecans from a pecan pie due to allergies.

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    Okiedokie
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are versions of faux pecan pie, but if it's not advertised as 'pecan free' going out of your way to ask the creator for an alternative recipe is a failure to use whatever search engines are at your disposal.

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    #8

    Fire Costing 2k

    Recipe mishap review with oven fire and damages comment.

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    #9

    I Didn't Know A Frosting Recipe Could Be Woke

    Online comments on a buttermilk recipe debate replacing ingredients and cooking preferences.

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    Vinny DaPooh
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm guessing someone made the mistake of offering a substitute for buttermilk in this recipe and it offended dear old Karen

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    If you must substitute ingredients, it is essential to learn which ones to use. Fortunately, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln provides an entire list of basic ingredient substitutions. 

    If you need buttermilk, you can use a souring agent, such as a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar, and mix it into a cup of regular milk. Allow the mixture to sit for five minutes.

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    #11

    What Do I Do With My Corn In This Crema Recipe

    Recipe miscommunication in comments; confusion over corn and cream usage.

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    WindySwede
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "I'm making this recipe to make steak nowhere is the meat present!?" 🤷🏼

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    #12

    🤦

    Recipe review debate: One star given for following package instructions, followed by critical reply questioning the decision.

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    WindySwede
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "I also replaced the Coca-Cola with soy sauce, do not recommend! " .... "sir, it was cacao powder... in an chocolate cake.."

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    If you’ve run out of ketchup, you can mix a cup of tomato sauce with half a cup of sugar and two tablespoons of vinegar. Need unsweetened chocolate? Combine three tablespoons of cocoa with a tablespoon of butter, regular margarine, or vegetable oil. This will give you a full ounce. 

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    The article’s author, registered dietitian nutritionist Alice Henneman, MS, RDN, FAND, clarified that the final product of these ingredient mixtures “may slightly differ” from the original. However, “it will still be acceptable in flavor, texture, and appearance.”

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    #13

    Just Eat The Fruit, Then, Samantha

    Comments on a recipe gone wrong; user critiques dessert lacking sugar and texture.

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    Vinny DaPooh
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sadly people don't understand that cooking is art you can mess with w***y nilly but baking is pure chemistry

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    #14

    How Dare You Not Have Metric Measurements, Also I Can't Read

    Comments about metric conversions in a recipe discussion, addressing a plant-based diet suggestion.

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    Vinny DaPooh
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If only there was a way to convert imperial to metric by using the internet

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    #15

    LOL

    Image of a social media exchange about substitutes for eggnog recipe ingredients.

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    Tomato Smudge
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I saw this screenshot reposted on tumblr some time ago and even the comments there argued about how the creator should have included alternatives. In this age of information being at our fingertips and none of these people looked up alternatives. I'm sorry but if I had a family recipe and wanted to share but someone else wanted me to change part of it to suit their diet they can just look it up themselves because it wouldn't be the same as I wanted to share since I've hypothetically never thought to substitute. That's a whole other recipe at that point and I am not a search engine.

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    How about you, dear readers? Have you ever substituted ingredients while cooking? Did they turn out well? Or were they something you would rather forget? Share your experiences in the comments below!

    #16

    I Didn’t Have Marriage

    Recipe comments on Pinch of Yum, including a humorous exchange about cooking and commitment, with a one-star rating.

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    Chicken Nugget
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why is butt hurt censored how is that literally anything remotely close to inappropriate?? That's the stuff parents say INSTEAD of the inappropriate words????

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    #17

    Condensed Milk In Soup??

    Comments discussing a recipe mishap with potatoes and condensed milk, highlighting unintended results.

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    Hell'n Damnation
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Another one who follows the recipe 'to the letter', while making substitutions.

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    #18

    I Tried Making This By Guessing The Amounts

    Recipe fail review with a two-star rating due to missing ingredient measurements, leading to inedible results.

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    Parmeisan
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fun fact, recipe sites put all this BS at the start of recipes these days because Google prioritizes the wrong thing. The longer people stay on your site, the higher it is on the ranking. That might make sense for some types of searches, but for things like recipes it really doesn't. And people started figuring out how to use this to their advantage - as people are wont to do. The ones who ramble the most get rewarded, so they keep doing it, and eventually that's all you can find.

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    #19

    Left The Salt On The Counter

    Recipe review highlights the importance of adding salt, with comments on following instructions and rating mistakes.

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    Phred
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This would have been a lot funnier and self-deprecating without the one star.

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    #20

    “I Followed The Recipe To The Letter…”

    Dry and cracked brownies with walnuts, missing sugar, a result of not following the recipe correctly.

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    #21

    Thanks For Your Input On The Chicken Wing Recipe George

    Recipe mistake: George confused baking soda for baking powder; Lauren corrects with advice on the right ingredient.

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    Teutonic Disaster
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Aluminum free" baking powder?! You mean to tell me that the opposite exists?! Why would you put aluminum in baking powder?! This and butyric acid in chocolate and I shudder to think what else american companies are allowed to put in people's food and you still wonder why the EU won't import it... *smh*

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    #22

    At Least They Didn’t Rate It Poorly?

    Comments on soup freezing instructions and labeling tips.

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    Bob Brooce
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I guess this was written by that mythical person who hasn't made ice cubes ever since their grandmother died without writing down the recipe?

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    #23

    How Dare You Use Peanut Butter. Hoisin Sauce Recipe

    Two user comments discussing recipe modifications with peanut butter and allergies.

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    WindySwede
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "This is my personal Internet, get out of my screen! I pay good money each month to enjoy my Internet!"

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    #24

    Bill Asking What We’re All Thinking

    Comments about a recipe mix-up, questioning the use of pasta.

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    Hell'n Damnation
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also, how do you toast pasta? I feel like I'm missing hte next great taste sensation.

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    #26

    Amanda Has Run Out Of Patience

    User comments about not following a recipe for brownies and the unexpected result.

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    #27

    I Decided To Use Your Recipe But My Mom’s Instruction. Why Didn’t It Work!?

    User review of a recipe gone wrong, with advice to follow it accurately next time.

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    #28

    At Least It Has Full Stars?

    User comments on recipe critique, one suggesting xylitol as a sugar replacement, another highlighting syrup’s sugar content.

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    #29

    Reading Is Hard

    Recipe mishap; user misinterprets baking instructions and gets unexpected results.

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    Zoe Vokes
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I guess it said the time to make it is 1 hour, which included the prep time and the cooking time.

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    #30

    I Wasn’t Supposed To Put Beef In The Trifle!

    Chat exchange about misunderstanding a ginger honey loaf recipe, mixing spices with ground beef instead.

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    #31

    They Added Left Over Borscht To The Recipie?!

    Recipe mishap review: Overuse of parsley and oregano, salty pork, improvised soup to chowder with mixed results.

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    #32

    I Am Allergic To Strawberries So I Reviewed This Strawberry Ice Cream

    EatingWell member review on recipes, highlighting lack of fruit alternatives for strawberry allergy.

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    Vinny DaPooh
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And people wonder why I have no hope for the future of humans as a species.

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    #33

    American Can’t Use Grams

    Online comment exchange discussing recipe measurements in grams versus American units.

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    #34

    Ellen Didn't Have Almond Flour For The Almond Flour Crumble

    Review of a failed recipe attempt with oatmeal crust instead of almond meal, rating 2 out of 5 stars.

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    #35

    Imagine Being So Hateful That You Miss The "Jump To Recipe" Button At The Top Of The Page

    Humorous recipe comment exchange highlighting frustrations over lengthy recipe introductions.

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    Okiedokie
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sorry...I agree with not getting someone's life story. There are websites that have avoided doing so thus far [allrecipes, for example]. I don't agree with the way the commenter addressed the issue [extremely rude & crass], but I agree with their complaint about the overall function of cooking websites.

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    #36

    Who Would’ve Thought You Couldn’t Boil Sugar In A Plastic Tupperware?

    Recipe fail review featuring one-star rating, describing a melted Tupperware bowl incident in the microwave.

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    Delta Dawn
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    45yo tupperware wasn’t made to withstand microwaving? who knew??

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    #38

    /Ididnthavetime

    User review about missing cornstarch in bourbon chicken recipe with staff reply highlighting its importance.

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    Vinny DaPooh
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Velveting is the secret to most stir fry proteins. Skip it and it's not the same meal

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    #39

    "You Absolute Spoon"

    User comments about vegan biscuits in a recipe discussion.

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    #40

    Saw This Comment Under A Recipe For Vegan "Cheese" Made Specifically With Potatoes And Carrots

    Comment thread discussing alternative ingredients for a recipe without potatoes and carrots.

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    Sarah
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Being allergic to so many ingredients, you’d think she’d be well versed on recipes appropriate for her by now

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    #41

    On A Recipe For Christmas Dessert Lasagna, Layered Pudding And Cake With Xmas Toppings

    Text exchange about a dessert lasagna being called a confection, showing reactions to recipe deviations.

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    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Everyone knows what a lasagna is? After reading this far, I wouldn't be so sanguine. I can just see someone producing a "confection" version and then whingeing because it didn't go with the salad and garlic bread.

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    #42

    I'm Not Going To Make This, I'm Just Going To Leave A Review About How Other People Leave Reviews. 1 Star

    BillyBob Smith's review criticizing altered recipes, rated two stars, emphasizing the importance of following the recipe.

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    WaxyJo
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And…maybe don’t comment on this recipe unless you make it at all…

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    #43

    Sarah Didn't Have Eggs For This Three Ingredient Cookie Recipe

    User review of failed recipe attempt, substituting ingredients led to poor cookie results, 1-star rating given.

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    WindySwede
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You should have subbed to potatoes instead, only replace with same shape you know! ....

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    #44

    A Sugar/Fat Comma?

    One-star review of a cookie recipe questioning the use of butter and sugar, expressing disbelief.

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    Bookworm
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He's now 19 and can make his own d@mn cookies with all the butter and sugar the recipe calls for. I hope her sends Mom pictures of him eating them.

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    #45

    I Don't Believe In Refrigeration!

    Phoebe's humorous review on Yorkshire pudding recipe failure, expressing disappointment and family traditions.

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    #46

    What's In A Name?

    Negative recipe review with comments, highlighting recipe-following impacts.

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    Sue User
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Devils advocate: jim wants to make scalloped potatoes. Searches for recipe for scallopped potatoes but it has cheese. Jim is right.

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    #47

    Why Did You Make Me Buy Provolone?

    Online recipe comment discussing confusion over provolone cheese not being listed.

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    Khavrinen
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Parmesan, provolone -- all those "P" cheeses are the same, you know.

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    #49

    You, Nancy. You Were The One

    Recipe fail reviews with negative ratings and comments on substitutions.

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    Canadian_Casey
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    EXACTLY as written but used substituted an ingredient. I think these people need a dictionary.

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    #50

    No Grain, No Brain

    Review highlighting recipe issues due to flour, rated 1 star by user prioritizing low-carb eating.

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    Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.