You’ve likely found cooking meat difficult, whether you cook at home often or as a hobby. A perfect steak or burger is the best, but a dish that is undercooked, overcooked or just…off is also a great option.
Experts share 15 common mistakes home cooks make when cooking meat and offer their tips for what to do instead. These tips will ensure kulinarika that your recipes taste just as good as the meals at your favorite restaurant. These 17 worst burger grilling mistakes are just a few of the many.
1. Make a mistake: Don’t overcook leaner cuts
Tenders and breasts of chicken are very low in fat and can become dry and tough if they are overcooked, according to Palak Patel (chef at the Institute of Culinary Education).
Patel explains how to fix it. “Brine the whole chicken breast before you cook the meat.” You should add salt, sugar, and herbs to the brine. Patel notes that it is easy to make a mixture of four cups of water and one quarter cup salt. Next, chop the chicken breast into equal pieces so that they finish cooking simultaneously.
Patel says that meats have carryover cooking, sometimes referred to as resting times–when food continues to cook from the heat source. A chicken breast cut will take on average a few extra minutes to cook once it is removed from the heat. This should be considered when you are cooking your chicken.
2. Make a mistake: Don’t undercook the whole chicken
Patel, on the other hand, explains that whole chickens retain more heat than breasts and that the outside of the chicken cooks faster than the inside.
How to fix it. Whole chickens cook slower and need to rest to allow the juices to distribute evenly. To ensure that the chicken is not removed too soon, use a meat thermometer.
3. Make a mistake: You season chicken too soon
Patel recommends that you don’t wait until the chicken is cooked to season it. Waiting too long will cause the meat to not absorb the seasonings as it is supposed to.
How to fix it: Patel says, “You need to season the uncooked chicken to allow the salt, pepper and spices to penetrate the meat while it cooks.”
4. It’s a mistake: The reverse-sear method is not what you want.
Kevan Vetter is McCormick’s executive chef and director for culinary development. He says that a common error is not using reverse sear to cook larger pieces of chicken breast and bone-in parts.
Vetter says that while some may find overcooked or dry chicken to be common, using the reverse-sear technique ensures succulent chicken and crispy skin every time.
How to fix it: Preheat the grill to medium heat by turning on all burners. Turn off one burner and place the chicken on an unlit side.
Vetter states, “Grill for between 40 and 45 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn occasionally.” Move the chicken skin-side up to the flame side of the grill. Apply mustard barbecue sauce to the chicken and turn the heat up to high.
Grill the chicken covered for 3 to 5 minutes more or until it is charred. Turn it over once more and drizzle with sauce.
5. Make a mistake: Add extra oil to your pan
Pam Schwartz is the co-founder of Ranch 45 and the managing partner. Ranch 45 is a restaurant and butchery located in Solana Beach. The common solutions are to add more oil or use a nonstick pan. But this is not always the best solution, especially if you want to achieve a crispy crust on your steak.
Schwartz explains how to fix it. Add half a teaspoon of oil to the pan. If you are using a grill, add no oil.
Add your steak once the grill or pan is hot. Schwartz advises against flipping the steak multiple times. This could lead to overcooking. She says, “You only need to turn your meat once.” Once the steak is ready for turning, it will lift easily from the bottom of the skillet without needing to be forced.
Schwartz says, “If the meat seems stuck, leave it for a minute or two more.” Once the meat is ready for turning, it will release. A general rule of thumb is to allow three minutes per inch per side.
