I ran across a link to this article on Lifehacker yesterday and I think it’s worth sharing.With food prices on the rise many people are left with two options: 1) resort to buying less expensive (junkier) prepackaged foods or 2) cook more of their meals from scratch, which can often cost less. Recognizing these common mistakes can help remove some of the hurdles to success in cooking more of your own meals. Here’s a quick run-down of the 7 common mistakes listed in the article:
- Not reading through the recipe all the way before starting.
- Overcrowding the pan.
- Not preheating the pan.
- Not using a large enough pot for cooking pasta.
- Sautéing wet greens.
- Substituting dried herbs for fresh without properly compensating.
- Frying food in oil that is not hot enough
Even as an experienced home cook I sometimes fall prey to a few of these easy-to-make mistakes, such as pan overcrowding and not waiting long enough for oil to come up to temperature. In addition to naming each mistake the article also goes on to give tips on how to avoid making the mistake in the future. It’s well worth reading, so check it out:
7 Common Cooking Mistakes - Real Simple
I could use some basic advice if you have any on how to sauté a moist, browned, chicken breast consistently. I guess that what sets the amateurs apart from the pros is consistency.
As for oil, I have never been able to fy much more than donuts and french fries well. I could use some mentoring there.