Whether you're a budding chef or a passionate lover of good food, everyone has made a culinary mistake. From meat that's too dry, mayonnaise that won't rise, cake batter that doesn't work or a dish ruined by salt, there are plenty of little missteps that can turn your recipes into culinary disasters. Discover the top 20 kitchen mistakes to avoid to make all your dishes a success!

1. Not read the entire recipe before starting

Feel like you've mastered the recipe before you've even tried it? Even if you know the steps, always take the time to read the recipe in its entirety before you start. Firstly, this allows you to prepare your ingredients in advance, but also to better manage your time. What's more, every container you need is ready to use, so you'll be perfectly organized!

2. Use a cold pan to sear meat

If you want to enjoy good red meat, then cooking it plays a vital role! A very hot pan is a must if you want to get the best out of your meat. What's more, if you prefer to cook in the oven or a la plancha, it's the same process. All your cooking equipment must be preheated! Be careful when cooking white meats! Veal, poultry, lamb and pork are all meats that require slow cooking. Only these meats require a cold pan. Only at the end of cooking should you increase the temperature to brown your meat.

3. Forgetting to heat the water before putting in the pasta

Do you think that plunging pasta into cold water doesn't change the way it cooks? Then you're invited to follow this advice! Wait for the water to boil before putting the pasta in. If you don't, the pasta will become mushy and difficult to loosen. Let the water boil, plunge in your pasta, then wait for the water to simmer before lowering the heat slightly. At this point, all you have to do is respect the cooking time indicated on the packet. please note: don't leave your pasta in the water once it's cooked. drain it and eat it immediately, without letting it dry out.

4. Cook all vegetables in the same way

You may find that some vegetables are more cooked than others if you test cooking all your vegetables at the same time. Not all vegetables deserve the same heating time. Some are too tender, while others are undercooked. One of the best ways to cook your assortment of vegetables is in a wok or sauté pan. First, arrange vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and turnips. Then add vegetables that are quicker to cook, such as spinach, peas or zucchinis. When cooking in boiling water, follow the same procedure to ensure that your preparation is just right. And don't forget to wash your vegetables before cooking!

5. Don't mix cake batter well

Would you like to present a beautiful cake to your guests? Start by putting the ingredients in the right order. Leave out the fork to mix your cake batter. Opt for a mixer or whisk to keep lumps to a minimum. This will ensure a smooth batter. However, take care not to over-mix the cake mix, as this tends to cause air bubbles in the batter. This can lead to cracks during baking. For your cake to hold together properly, you need to mix the ingredients to combine them without including too much air. Another tip: if you need to add egg whites to your mixture, always do so gently, using a spatula.

6. Not taste the preparation

Not tasting your culinary preparation is sacrilege! How do you know if your dish is edible if you haven't tasted it? It may lack spice or be bland. The meat may be dry, or not cooked at all. All good cooks should test their preparations before serving them at the table. It would be a shame if your guests made a disparaging remark when a detail could have been rectified in no time!

7. Add too much salt or sugar

If you want your dish to taste good, you need to use the right amount of salt or sugar. If you add too much salt or too much sugar to your preparation, it can turn into a fiasco. This kind of culinary error is difficult to remedy. To avoid falling into this trap, taste your dish regularly as you make it, then add your condiment as you go along.

8. Not use greaseproof paper

To make sweet or savoury cookies, baking paper is your friend. No need for fat. Non-stick, this coating is ideal for baking cakes and tarts, and is easy to remove from the mold. It can withstand high temperatures and is ideal for freezing fish or meat products. And when slightly moistened, it's perfect for allowing steam to pass through when cooking on several levels.

9. Putting too much food in the pan

To speed up your preparation, perhaps you've tried putting all your food in the same pan? That's probably not a great idea. It won't cook evenly. Prefer a larger saucepan, or two smaller ones, to avoid overloading with food. This way, you'll limit spillage onto the hob and your dish will be better.

10. Overcooking fish

Why overcook fish? Even if no one asks you to serve it raw, fish often needs little cooking. It's usually best served melted, so avoid making it dry. Steam fish to preserve its softness and delicacy. If you cook it in a pan, cover it halfway through cooking to preserve its flavor and tenderness.

11. Confusing browning, boiling and simmering

When a recipe calls for simmering, browning or boiling, and you're not familiar with culinary terms, it's not always easy to know how to regulate the heat. For a liquid to boil, the temperature needs to reach 100 degrees. For browning, always heat your pan in advance and add your food for a few moments so that it doesn't stay white, but doesn't burn either! Simmering a dish means heating it gently, with a few light bubbles, but without splashing, without complete evaporation.

12. Store eggs in the fridge

Who knows where to store eggs? When they're hard-boiled, you can put them in the dedicated compartment in the fridge. However, fresh eggs are best stored at room temperature. Eggs stored in the fridge absorb odors and can quickly lose their taste. Not to mention the fact that bacteria can develop in them. Keep them away from humidity, in a cool place like a kitchen cupboard.

13. Make several preparations at the same time

Unless you're quite at home in the kitchen, don't commit to preparing several dishes. While this is an excellent initiative if you're well-organized, it can turn into carnage if your work surface is limited and order is not your forte. It's a good idea to prepare your small dishes one after the other, concocting the longest ones first.

14. Do not remove meat or fish from the fridge before cooking

It's a good idea to know in advance what you're going to prepare for lunch or dinner. This gives you the opportunity to anticipate your preparations. If you know that you'll be cooking fish or meat as part of your menu, then you can take your food out of the fridge ahead of time. In fact, if you cook a fish fillet or a good piece of meat fresh from the fridge, the flavor won't be there. So, to bring out the flavor of the food and to promote even cooking, take your meat or fish out of the fridge an hour before cooking.

15. Open the oven during cooking

Opening the oven while baking pastries, breads or cookies is a big mistake. When you open the door, the heat escapes and the oven drops in temperature. As a result, your tasty snacks or beautiful baked goods deflate and fail. Instead, look through the oven window to check the baking process. You can insert a toothpick or the tip of a knife during the last few minutes to make sure they're cooked through.

16. Do not weigh ingredients

Some recipes can be invented. Nevertheless, if you're going to start making cakes, weigh your ingredients! If you don't, don't expect to be the best pastry chef in your neighborhood!

17. Cooking herbs

Don't be fooled into thinking that herbs add flavor to a dish if they're simmered for a long time. The opposite is true: at 45 degrees Celsius and above, your herbs lose half their flavor. It's best to add herbs in the final moments of cooking to preserve their flavor. Basil, chives and coriander can be cooked in this way. Only thyme, rosemary or bay leaves are fresh herbs, which are added at the beginning of cooking.

18. Caring for your cutting board

In the kitchen, you'll need two cutting boards. One is for raw food and the other for the rest of the ready-to-eat food. Raw products can contain bacteria and contaminate other foods on the board. So avoid the risk of food poisoning. Don't hesitate to use lemon and salt to perfectly clean your cutting board.

19. Do not let pancake batter stand

Fancy some pancakes? An excellent idea, this dish pleases children and adults alike. However, you'll need to allow a little time for the pancake batter to rest. Why is that? Because the resting time allows the ingredients to bind together. A chemical reaction takes place between the eggs, milk and flour. The starch swells and absorbs the liquid, giving your batter a perfect texture. The result is impressive. Your crêpes won't be crunchy, but they'll be fluffy as can be!

20. Do not clean immediately after cooking

After you've prepared your favourite dishes, why leave the dishes in the sink, on the worktop or on the gas stove? Apart from making a mess, you're also inviting germs into the kitchen. Clean your kitchen utensils by washing them in hot water, using a mild dishwashing detergent to avoid damaging them. Dry them well, as moisture is bad for them, especially wooden utensils. This way, you eliminate bacteria and mould, and your kitchen is so much more pleasant! With this top 20 list of kitchen mistakes to avoid, you're well on your way to creating delicious meals for your guests!