How To Fix 10 Common Cooking Mistakes!

It's happened to the best of us. In an attempt to cook for a party, yourself, or guests, something goes wrong. The food is overcooked, it's too salty or sweet, and you have no idea what to do. Not to worry - even the most experienced chefs experience cooking blunders. We have answers to some of the most common cooking problems.

1. It's Too Salty! If you've over salted sauces or soups, add a raw, sliced potato to the mixture. Potatoes absorb excess salt. Just be sure to toss before serving. You can also add more liquid, sugar or vinegar to equal out the mixture.

2. It's Too Spicy! If there's too much heat, add more of the other ingredients in the dish, or hot water to tame the heat. Adding tomatoes, ketchup, sugar or even a dollop of plain yogurt can help as well.

3. It's Too Sweet! Add a spoonful of cider vinegar, a bit of lemon juice or a dash of olive oil to reduce sweetness.

4. It's Too Acidic! Try adding a bit of baking soda or salt to reduce acidity.

5. It's Too Thin! If you're cooking a sauce and it's too thin, try adding a bit of flour or cornstarch to thicken it up. Use sparingly, however, as a little goes a very long way.

6. It's Too Thick! It might seem obvious, but adding a bit of liquid will work. However, add only a bit at a time not to thin out the mixture too much.

7. It's Too Mushy! If you've overcooked vegetables, turn them into a puree or a soup, by combining with a broth or cream in a blender. You can also mash the veggies with a little milk, especially if the veggies are potatoes, cauliflower or carrots.

8. It's Too Bland! If you feel like your dish is missing something, remove a small part of it, and play around with adding different spices to that small section, before you add seasoning to the entire dish.

9. It's Too Dry! If you've made fish or a meat that's dried out, simply whip up a sauce to cover it, or just mash up the meat to make salmon cakes (or a chicken or turkey burger).

10. It's Too Burnt! If you've burned a sauce or rice, you know it can take on a different flavor altogether.  The first tip is to move the burnt food to a new pot. If you have burned rice, wipe two or three onions with a clean, damp cloth and remove the papery outer peels. Take those peels and spread them over the unburned rice. Cover the pot and let sit for 15 minutes. The onion peels absorb the bitterness. Discard before serving.

The bottom line is not to panic if you've made a cooking mistake. Get creative, remember these tips and come up with some of your own!