Common Cooking Mistakes and How to Fix Them

We’ve all been there—excitedly whipping up a new dish, only to realize we’ve made a major kitchen blunder. Maybe your pasta turned into mush, your cookies spread into one giant pancake, or your chicken came out dry enough to be mistaken for a sponge. Don’t worry! Cooking mistakes happen to everyone, and the good news is that most of them can be fixed (or at least prevented next time!). Let’s dive into some of the most common kitchen mishaps and how to make them right.

1. Overcooking Pasta (a.k.a. The Mushy Disaster)

The Mistake: You got distracted scrolling through your phone, and now your spaghetti is more like baby food.

The Fix: Drain the pasta immediately and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. If it's really bad, try sautéing it in a pan with olive oil and garlic for a few minutes to add some texture back.

Prevent It Next Time: Set a timer and taste-test your pasta a minute before the recommended cooking time. Aim for “al dente”—firm to the bite!

2. Dry, Overcooked Chicken (Why Is It So Tough?)

The Mistake: You cooked your chicken too long, and now it’s drier than the Sahara Desert.

The Fix: If the damage is done, slice the chicken thinly and toss it with a sauce (like a simple garlic butter or BBQ sauce) to add moisture back.

Prevent It Next Time: Use a meat thermometer! Chicken is safe to eat at 165°F (75°C). Remove it from the heat at around 160°F since it will continue to cook as it rests.

3. Burnt Garlic (From Fragrant to Fatal in Seconds)

The Mistake: You turned away for just a second, and now your garlic is blackened and bitter.

The Fix: Sadly, burnt garlic is a lost cause. It will make your dish taste awful, so it’s best to start over.

Prevent It Next Time: Garlic cooks fast! Always sauté it on low to medium heat and add it later in the cooking process instead of right at the beginning.

4. Cookies That Spread Into a Puddle

The Mistake: Your cookies came out of the oven looking more like a baking sheet-sized pancake than delicious, chewy treats.

The Fix: If they’re already baked, try using a cookie cutter to reshape them. If they’re still in dough form, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help it hold its shape.

Prevent It Next Time: Make sure your butter isn’t too soft (or melted) when mixing, and measure your flour properly—too little flour can cause cookies to spread too much.

5. Rice That’s a Gloopy Mess

The Mistake: You ended up with rice that’s either clumpy, sticky, or just completely mushy.

The Fix: If your rice is too wet, spread it on a baking sheet and let it dry out in a low oven. If it's too sticky, rinse it under warm water and fluff it with a fork.

Prevent It Next Time: Use the right water-to-rice ratio (usually 2:1 for white rice) and don’t stir too much while it’s cooking—this releases starch and makes it stickier.

6. Veggies That Turn to Mush

The Mistake: Your roasted or sautéed vegetables ended up soggy instead of crisp and delicious.

The Fix: If they’re already cooked, toss them in a hot pan with a little oil to crisp them up.

Prevent It Next Time: Don’t overcrowd the pan! Give your veggies space so they can roast or sauté properly instead of steaming in their own moisture.

7. Scrambled Eggs That Look Like Rubber

The Mistake: Your eggs are overcooked and now resemble something found in a high school cafeteria.

The Fix: If they’re already rubbery, a splash of milk or cream while stirring can help soften them up.

Prevent It Next Time: Cook eggs on low heat and stir gently. Remove them from the heat while they’re still slightly soft—they’ll keep cooking from residual heat.

8. Soup That’s Too Salty

The Mistake: You got a little too enthusiastic with the salt shaker, and now your soup tastes like ocean water.

The Fix: Add a raw potato and let it cook in the soup for about 15 minutes—it will absorb some of the excess salt. If that’s not an option, add a splash of unsalted broth, cream, or even a bit of sugar to balance it out.

Prevent It Next Time: Always add salt gradually and taste as you go!

Mistakes in the kitchen are just part of the learning process, and even the best chefs mess up now and then. The key is knowing how to fix (or prevent) them. So next time your cookies spread too much, your chicken turns into leather, or your pasta gets too soft, don’t panic—you’ve got the knowledge to save the day!

Got a cooking disaster story? Share it in the comments—I promise, we’ve all been there!

Cc: Churchill Tega Chisom