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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.

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wendillon avatar
Monday
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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.

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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.

#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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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.

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#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.

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Thorsten M. Weisner
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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

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#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.

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The Scout
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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.

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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.

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james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
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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.

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

I had the same problem. Tried sear, reverse sear, sous vide, bbq. Got it right exactly once. Have recently switched to different cuts. I live in the tropics. The local cuts are awful, the imported frozen ones haven’t been successful until I switched to frozen Aussie meltique brand. Thaw, marinate in oil, garlic, herbs, Worcester, mustard , soy and balsamic overnight, then blast in a hot pan for 3 mins, turn and blast for another 3, rest for 6 mins, then slice against the grain. After 20 years of screw-in up steak, it’s right every time. I’m convinced it was the meat, not the cook.

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Kat
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Walk the cow through the hot kitchen once ... Done

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Bill Wyrebek
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is NOT a violation, it is a choice. You are using old standards. New, scientific standards have shown moving steak and flipping is fine. It also adds a touchy-feely emotion to cooking, which is a participant activity.

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

Complete and utter nonsense, totally depends on the method and type of steak. Fatty steak on the BBQ? By all means, move it around once it's unstuck because the melting fats WILL flare up and despite what BK wants you to believe, flames don't taste that nice. In a skillet moving around lets you seek out the hot side of the pan. When ladling browning butter a 180 turn every once a while prevents difference in cuisson (the lower half of the pan will be hotter) and so much more.

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

You sound professional. Do you think cast iron skillets are overrated, sir?

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Ally R
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always pan fry steak on the rare occasion we have them, here's a few things I've learnt: Let the steaks get up to room temperature before you start cooking. Warm up a large frying pan and once hot, add a little oil and let that warm up - I use oil because I have a stainless steel pan. Pat dry the steaks and season if you want and once the oil is up to temp, put your steaks in and leave alone. The steaks will release from the pan when they're ready to turn. You can get them cooked to your liking by gently poking them with a finger, the firmer the steak feels, the more cooked it is. Also, rest the steaks once they're done.

janusdupreez avatar
Janus Preez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A steak doesn't belong in a pan. It belongs on a braai / BBQ

jessicagunn avatar
Jessica Gunn
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I respectfully disagree. It's possible to make a fantastic steak in every way (except microwave or boiling)

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Argus Webster
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

not really a rule and depending on the steak and the technique (i.e. reverse sear) you SHOULD f with it.

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

Most of us plebs buy the cheap thin steaks that need to be turned after about 30 seconds or they get well done. There is no play time with those.

ellistamura avatar
Ellis Tamura
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly my anxiety does not allow this. I leave it alone for 1 minute at a time and then think: Oh s**t what if it's burned annnnnnnnd then I HAVE to check it.

lesliecrittenden avatar
Leslie Crittenden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too! Check it by cutting into it, not flipping it. This will release some of the juices but you won't burn the side that's on the pan.

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Thorfin Wolfsbane
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What in god's name is rosemary doing on top of those beautiful steaks!!!!!

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

Damn, who knew cooking a steak was so complicated? I was grilling a porterhouse a few years ago ( before you you had to finance one) and accidentally dropped it on the hot coals. It was flaming by the time I retrieved it. It was too expensive to throw away so I brushed the ashes off and cut into it. Best steak I've ever had! I haven't had the nerve to do it on purpose.

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

There's an easy way not to screw up steak. Carpaccio. If I can not easily resuscitate my steak with a defibrillator, it's too cooked!

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

wholeheartedly disagree here: by frequently turning, flipping and moving the steak you even out hot spots and get more even browning without burning. so long as you're not squishing the juices out this method hurts nothing. With how this lacks the reasons for the advice of "leave the steak alone", it comes off as sheer preference. Tell us: what bad thing happens when this rule is violated? (Spoiler: nothing)

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

Totally agree with you. I don't turn it too frequently, but also don't leave it alone and it comes our perfect every time. Also cover it with balsamic vinegar beforehand, yummy

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

If you keep messing up your steak, look for a better butcher. really good meat will cost more but is much harder to get wrong. Much supermarket meat has had water put in under pressure, it can be so bad that the meat boils rather than fries or grills and will be tough.

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

That's why you let your steak sit out at room temp for 30 minutes, and then pat dry. (Make sure it's very dry)

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Moving the meat around the pan is NOT a good thing. When BBQing or using a grill pan leave it alone. The meat will "unstick" when it's ready to be turned.

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Kerry Schutt-Corley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your comments sound that you are pissed off at us who love to cook. Calm down a little. Remember that

hmoore_1 avatar
H M
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But you can't cook me a well done steak. You say it will be tough, but if I can can, and it's tender, how come, you a pro, can't?

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Argus Webster
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A well-done steak is INFERIOR in EVERY way. Period, end of story: Flavor Tenderness Smell Visually 'Juicyness' Texture and any other way you can think of, it just is, be honest you have some weird hangup about 'bloody' steak or are you like a dog and need a rawhide chewy or some such. Hey I like jerky too, but it's not steak. Why do you think only you are on one side of the argument and every seingle professional and amateur chef ever on the planet in history says mid-rare is optimal and well done by a long shot the worst if not bad which I say it is, no matter how much juice (actually prolly myoglobin).

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Rita S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So for me I'm not a professional chef at all just a warning! But I've been making my husband steak for a long time almost nightly. He takes his steak medium rare. So I get out my cast iron skillet warm it up till it's hot. I hear up the oven to 420°F. Then I drop the seasoned steak on the hot skillet set a timer for 1min then I flip it to then other side and do another 1 on the timer. If it's a stripe I stand it up horizontal on the fat edge and sear that for another 1 mintue. After the timer goes off and my oven is heated I'll place the steak in the oven for exactly 3:30 minutes. Perfectly cooked medium rare every time. Hope that helps someone!

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Mimi M
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do flip it constantly. I want both sides to cook at the same rate so it doesn't start losing juice - and no, searing alone doesn't make sure of that.

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Lillian Mayberry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If there’s something cooking, I will poke and prod it. That’s why I use the sous vide method to limit temptation

aliceroche avatar
The deadist of pans️‍️
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Steak should be cook really hot and really fast unless you prefer well done

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

I got my Grandmother a George Foreman Grill (the little, single serving size) years ago. She made perfect steaks every time!

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

Not me! Three minutes on each side and don't mess with it at all except to flip it once. And let it rest for 5 minutes before you cut into it. This gives the juices time to reabsorb and distribute throughout the steak.

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

I grilled burgers last night and pork loin tonight. I flip unnecessarily most of the time but I like cooking on a hot fire and I have had no complaints.

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

I leave steak alone, I leave it in the supermarket. Most over rated food ever

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

I wouldn't want to eat anything cooked by an angry chef because the chances are he or she didn't prepare the food carefully.

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

Part 2.. Now add a few tablespoons of high heat oll, such as olive oil to the zipper bag and squish around to coat the steak and using tongs pull out the steak and put the end in the skillet and in a rolling motion laying it down in the skillet... Sizzle. Then add in butter and herb's or other yummy things and leave it be, Cook based on time and done-ness desired ratios. Tilting pan, use a potholder that skillet is hot, and spooning butter over. Turn the steak, if it doesn't give, don't force it. When it's ready it will release on its own. When it's done let it rest on a plate for 5-10 minutes before cutting it. Bon appetit.

izmeeem avatar
Grammy M
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're overthinking it. Remove steak from the fridge, remove the plastic wrap from the steak. Open a zipper bag, then using several paper towels remove the steak and wrap the steak with the paper towel until dry. Put steak in zipper bag, (throw away packaging and towels, wash hands, in case not obvious.)... Add sprinkling of salt and pepper, or steak seasoning, what ever is your hearts desire, on Both sides of the steak. Zip bag, mostly closed, folding bag to squish out the air and so the steak will lay flat, finish sealing. Leaving it to sit in the kitchen for at least 15 to 30 minutes but not more than 30 minutes. Using a cast iron skillet, heat the skillet on medium. Nothing in the skillet. Just the skillet. After a few minutes, Hold your hand about 3 inches above the center of the skillet do you feel heat? No. Wait a bit longer. When you feel the heat and it's hot, your pan is ready. Do NOT do this with any other kind of Skillet and definitely not a non stick. See Part 2

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

I use a screaming hot pan, bang it in, leave it until seared.flip once,sear,and then add a k**b of butter. Spoon it over until the butter browns and finish it in the oven..and always let it rest. Amazing.

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

Or, ya know, just barely cook it at all. You should also leave steak out for about 20 minutes before seasoning it. Putting steak in the freezer for about 15 minutes makes it a lot easier to cut, too. So you can cut it into strips, shave it, or if you're working with a large slab so you can cut to the right portion sizes.

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

All the profanity on this page is getting obnoxious. Are you chefs or children?

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Saint Lynnie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The general rule for medium rare is 4 minutes per inch per side on medium high heat.

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

My favorite cut of steak is the Ribeye. My go to cooking method is to bbq it with charcoal. However, my cast iron skillet gets equal time these days as it's faster and easier. I usually just use salt, pepper and meat tenderizer and cook til medium, no poking, prodding or flipping. I start it out at room temperature and let it rest in the microwave for about 15 minutes with a dab of homemade garlic butter on top. I serve it with a salad and whaalaa.

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

I do flip it the one time so that both sides get cooked, and my skillet has grids so the steak gets lovely grill marks on it. Also, you can finish it in the oven if you prefer a more thoroughly cooked steak or have a very thick cut, and don't trim the fat until it's finished as the fat gives it so much flavor. Also, bone -in steaks have that delicious marrow which adds more flavor as well

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SelkieBlackfysh
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After searing a nice peppery bark on both sides of my steak I let it do it's thing. People always rave about my steaks and I don't know what to do lol. I literally just set it and almost forget it.

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

Season and let it rest before cooking. Cold meat creates cold spots and lowers the temp of your pan. Allow your beef to come to room temp before cooking. You will have more control over the temp of your meat.

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

Oh am gonna get egged for saying this. I like my steak well done. Like really well done...I dont get the rarity mediumness thingy...so I leave the steak alone, I dont f**k with it, I let it cook to a well done point

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

I generally flip my steak 3 times so both sides get the heat twice. I also cook it covered. It always turns out pretty good.

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

Same with eggs. I noticed the more I mess with them, the slower it takes to cook. Eggs seem to cook 3 times faster if you leave them alone.

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

3 minutes a side. Turn once only. Salt and pepper before laying on the grill over a medium fire.

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pigasus1
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Super hot coals and lots of them, is the secret cooking a great steak. No, you never put the lid down unless it's three inches thick.

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

My son does steaks in this house.... he has a meat thermometer and a timer hahahaha always perfect

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

I don't eat meat. But my daughter loves a steak and I will cook them for her (even despite the stench -- a mother's love!). So what I have learned is that if you are cooking in a pan, you need to get a bit of oil in there and get it good and hot. Then you seal the steak and its juices by searing the steak on each side for maybe a minute. Then you can turn the temp down a bit and give the steak 3-6 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of it. Then you let it sit for a while. That's if you like the steak juicy (and slightly bloody), like my daughter does. Ugh!

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

Been using a very cool app called Steak Mate. Haven't fkd a steak up since :)

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

I dont even trust myself and ur telling me to trust my crusty stove?

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

Chefs, no one eats that tree branch you just served. Don't put s**t on my plate that I didn't ask for. AKA your fookin herbs, such as rosemary as seen in that picture.

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

Again, it's obviously not for eating, it. Is. Garnish. You really think people ask for it and eat it? And if the garnished herb is on your plate, guess what, it's been cooked with it. Good luck finding a restaurant that doesn't season the steak

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#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

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Raoul
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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.

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#11

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

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#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

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Random Panda
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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.

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#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.

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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")

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#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.

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#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.

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Shelli Aderman
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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. 🤣

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#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!

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The Scout
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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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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Donkey boi
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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!

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#21

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

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#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.

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Christopher Bowers
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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.

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#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).

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#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.

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Kira Okah
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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.

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#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.

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Raoul
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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.

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#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)

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Sam
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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

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#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.

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The Scout
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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.

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#28

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

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#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.

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Kate
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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?

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#30

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

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Jiminy
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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.

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