Things didn’t go as planned in the kitchen? No worries! Check out these clever hacks to rescue your meal and turn your kitchen disasters into delicious cooking triumphs. 

Blunder #1: Too salty food 

Were you a little too loose with the saltshaker? No stress – the solution is simpler than you think. If you put too much salt in your dish, simply add more of the other ingredients. Add more liquids if you’re making a soup. Making a homely stew? Add more vegetables and meat to bulk it up. Your meal will be balanced in no time. 

Blunder #2: Under-seared meat 

Don’t fret if you didn’t get a good sear on your meat. It’s most likely that your cooking surface was not hot enough when putting on your meat-filled pan. Take your under-seared meat and put it in the refrigerator while you reheat your pan on a super-hot cooking surface. Once hot enough, pop on your meat again for a good sear. When is your pan hot enough? Test by adding a water droplet to your pan, if it’s not sizzling and evaporating immediately, it’s not hot enough. 

Blunder #3: Overcooked pasta  

We’ve all been guilty of getting lost in your favourite show (looking at you, Masterchef SA) and leaving the pasta on the stove for way too long resulting in a soft, soggy mess. Don’t fret, you can still save the day. Strain your overcooked pasta with cold water, drain it, then heat up your pan and fry the pasta with olive oil. It will crisp up, and your blunder will be turned around in a(delicious) success. 

Blunder #4: Lumpy gravy 

Oh no! Is your gravy full of lumps? The best defence against lumps is a simple whisk! Use a potholder and steady it with one hand. Then, break up those clumps when you whisk your gravy vigorously in a circular. Motion. Stop once all those pesky lumps are gone.  

 Image: Pexels

Also read: 3 Baking mistakes you may be making (and how to fix them)