Stop fiddling with the food! And other mistakes cooks make

This Oct. 2, 2019 photo shows kosher salt, a couple of pans, a chefs knife and two pomegranates on a cutting board displayed in New York. (Katie Workman via AP) This Oct. 2, 2019 photo shows kosher salt, a couple of pans, a chefs knife and two pomegranates on a cutting board displayed in New York. (Katie Workman via AP)

By Associated Press October 9, 2019 6 min read

We all love getting kitchen tips, those little tricks we should be doing to make us better cooks. But sometimes it’s the things we should stop doing that matter.

A dozen common kitchen mistakes, and how to easily correct them:

1. NOT READING THE RECIPE ALL THE WAY THROUGH

Before you start cooking, make sure you a) have all the ingredients, b) think through the timing of the steps and c) look up directions that might be confusing. This way, you don’t find yourself staring at the recipe in dismay when the words “marinate overnight” or “chill for at least four hours” pop up at the same moment your kids yell, “What’s for dinner?”

2. USING TOO SMALL A TOOL