Most of the cookbooks I find on techniques teach you How To Cook, but there are only a few that teach you How NOT to Cook.
Years ago I thought it would be fun to look at some of the most basic cooking techniques used every day and the common mistakes we make when doing them. You will be surprised at how many mistakes we all make that you didn’t know about.
I was planning on publishing this collection of articles as a cookbook but decided it would be more helpful to post them on my website instead so I can get your feedback and add new chapter in the future. Over the next few months, I plan to introduce these posts describing common cooking mistakes we make all the time in our kitchens and how to avoid them.
I hope you enjoy this new section of The Reluctant Gourmet.com, comment on some of your own cooking mistakes and please share this page with your friends and family.
This is Part 2 of How NOT to Saute. You can read Part 1 here. Mistake #7 Not having the ingredients prepped ahead of time. One of the worst things you can do when you prepare to sauté is to wait to chop your ingredients before you heat your pan. Thinking that you have plenty […]
Learn How NOT to Saute, Common Saute Mistakes & How to Avoid Them If I asked you to tell me the mental picture you have of a chef, chances are good that you aren’t going to describe a guy grilling burgers, putting a roast in the oven or drizzling truffle oil artfully on a finished […]
Even More Common Grilling Mistakes & How to Avoid Them This is Part 3 of How NOT to Grill which is part of my How NOT To Cook Online CookBook. You can read How NOT To Grill – Part 1 here and How NOT to Grill Part 2 here. Mistake #13 – The Briquette Addict […]
More Common Grilling Mistakes & How to Avoid Them This is Part 2 of How NOT to Grill which is part of my How NOT To Cook Online CookBook. You can read How NOT To Grill – Part 1 here. Mistake #7 – The Second Guesser You are so concerned about overcooking that beautiful steak, […]
Common Grilling Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Although grilling has long been thought of as the “man’s domain,” there are plenty of reasons why both men and women would want to get out in the sunshine, drink a cold, frosty beverage, and do some grilling. Consider the extra energy it takes to cool the […]
How Not to Simmer Simmering picks up where poaching leaves off. The simmering liquid should be at a temperature between 190°F – 205°F (88°C – 96°C). While poaching is a relatively long cooking process for delicate foods, simmering is usually a very long cooking process designed to a) break down connective tissue in tough, fatty […]
How NOT to Poach Foods I’m sure that everyone has heard the joke about the person who was such a bad cook that they couldn’t boil water. The subtext is that it takes absolutely no skill to boil water. But, the joke is on them. There is more to boiling than meets the eye, and […]
The Boiling Technique Mistakes Boiling occurs when water reaches 212F (100C). There are a couple of caveats that come with that, however. First, the temperature 212F (100C) applies only to water. Other liquids boil at slightly different temperatures. Second, that temperature holds true at sea level. For every 500 feet above sea level you go, […]
How Not To Cook Pasta & Tips for Perfect Pasta Thanks to the great American melting pot, pasta is a staple in the United States. When “spaghetti and meatballs” turns up on children’s menus, you know that what was once brought over by Italian immigrants is now as American as apple pie. I’d be […]
How Not To Cook – Common Cooking Mistakes & How to Avoid Them A while back I started writing a cookbook, How NOT to Cook – Common Cooking Mistakes & How to Avoid Them. I wrote about a dozen chapters on mistakes I’ve made over the years and how I ultimately learned the right way […]
I'm a work-at-home dad who enjoys cooking, learning everything I can about the culinary world and sharing it with you. To learn more about me... Read More
How to Make the Best Beef Wellington This Beef Wellington recipe has become a tradition in our house. We prepare it every couple of years for Christmas and made it again this year. If I’m lucky, we will have it next year and the year after that. My wife originally found a recipe in Fine […]
Christmas Standing Rib Roast Thanksgiving is a holiday in which turkey really shines. Many of you would rather not deal with another turkey just four weeks after Thanksgiving. Some of you might still have some frozen leftovers. The Christmas meal is a celebratory meal, and as such, celebration food is a natural at the Christmas […]
How to Bake A Ham For Christmas
Baked Christmas Ham Recipe Would you like to serve a wonderfully flavorful and juicy ham for the holidays? Here’s a can’t-go-wrong recipe that will have your guests asking for seconds, and for a plate of leftovers, as well. Be sure to read about the history of serving ham on Christmas and the various types of […]
