Technique

Kitchen tips worth keeping

None of these are secrets. They are simply the habits that separate a good dish from a flat one, collected as we learned them.

Rescue

Rescue a dish

Most cooking mistakes can be softened, balanced, or redirected if you know which direction to push. Reach for the right fix before you start over.

1
Dull flavor? Add acid
Try a small amount of lemon juice or vinegar before automatically reaching for more salt.
2
Too acidic? Add richness
Butter, cream, olive oil, coconut milk, or another appropriate fat can soften overly sharp flavors.
3
Too salty? Increase the unsalted components
Depending on the recipe, add more unsalted broth, vegetables, grains, sauce base, or other ingredients to dilute the salt.
4
Too spicy? Add fat or dairy
Yogurt, sour cream, coconut milk, cream, or other suitable rich ingredients can help soften intense chile heat.
5
Sauce too thin? Reduce it
Simmer uncovered to evaporate excess water and concentrate flavor, provided doing so won't make the dish too salty.
6
Sauce too thick? Loosen it gradually
Add broth, water, milk, cream, or reserved pasta water a little at a time.
7
Broken cream sauce? Lower the heat
Remove it from strong heat and gently whisk. Depending on the sauce, a small splash of warm liquid may help bring it back together.
8
Food too sweet? Restore balance
A little acid, salt, bitterness, or heat can counter excessive sweetness depending on the dish.
9
Burned the bottom? Don't scrape it
Immediately transfer the unburned portion to another pan. Scraping the burned layer can spread bitter flavors throughout the dish.
10
Overcooked meat? Add moisture strategically
Slice it thinly and serve it with gravy, sauce, broth, salsa, or another moist accompaniment rather than cooking it further.