Starting any cooking project can feel overwhelming with so many moving parts -- choosing the right ingredients, mastering prep techniques, and executing.
Even experienced chefs face their share of kitchen mishaps, but that's precisely what makes cooking so rewarding. The kitchen becomes your personal testing ground where every mistake teaches something new, gradually building your confidence and expanding your culinary skills.
Knowing what to watch out for from the start can dramatically improve your cooking experience. I reached out to professional chefs across different cooking styles to uncover the most common kitchen mistakes, identify which fundamental skills matter most, and discover actionable strategies that will elevate your cooking from day one.
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The biggest mistakes that amateur cooks make
Culinary instructor Stephen Chavez suggests doing as much prep, measuring, and recipe reading as possible before starting a new recipe. JulPo/Getty Images
We are often guilty of placing unrealistic expectations on ourselves in the kitchen, attempting to model a meal after memorable Michelin-star dining experiences. And while it's admirable to aim high, it's also important to be realistic about the years of training that go into perfecting award-winning cuisine.
Stephen Chavez, senior chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education's Los Angeles campus, is no stranger to educating and working with amateur chefs. Though he's practically seen it all, these are the biggest cooking mistakes he comes across most often:
1. Starting a recipe unprepared
Always read a recipe in full, maybe twice, before starting. Anna Gragert/CNET
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