Are your knives dull and your fridge too full? Shake off these common kitchen mistakes and cook smarter in 2025.
The new year is the perfect time to reassess your cooking routines. While we all develop quirks in the kitchen, some habits are less charming and more counterproductive. From a cluttered fridge to skipping your mise en place, here are the bad habits to leave back in 2024 for a smoother, more enjoyable cooking experience.
1. Overstuffing your fridge
We’ve all been guilty of it – cramming leftovers into a fridge already bursting with mystery containers and wilting greens.
Overloading your fridge blocks air circulation, which can cause uneven cooling and spoil food faster.
Take time to declutter. Label leftovers, store items in clear containers, and create a dedicated space for perishables nearing their use-by date. A tidy fridge is the unsung hero of meal planning.
2. Skipping mise en place
Diving straight into a recipe without prepping ingredients first might seem efficient, but it often leads to frantic chopping mid-cooking or elements being forgotten altogether.
Mise en place – French for “everything in its place” – is more than a chef’s mantra. Measuring, chopping and organising your ingredients before you start cooking saves time and ensures a smoother process.
3. Using dull knives
A dull knife isn’t just frustrating – it’s dangerous. You’re more likely to slip and cut yourself when sawing away at a tomato with a blade that couldn’t slice butter.
Invest in a sharpening tool or take your knives to a professional. A sharp knife will make cooking faster, safer and more satisfying.
4. Neglecting your pans
Using the wrong pan for the job or neglecting their care is a common pitfall. Non-stick pans need gentle utensils and medium heat – skip the metal spatula. Stainless steel pans require preheating before adding oil to prevent sticking. Treat your cookware well, and it will return the favour.
5. Overstirring or overcrowding
When frying or sauteing, give your ingredients space. Crowding the pan traps steam, leaving your food soggy rather than seared.
Similarly, when stirring, less is often more – overzealous mixing can ruin a risotto’s texture or break apart delicate ingredients like fish.
6. Forgetting to taste as you go
One of the simplest yet most overlooked steps in cooking is tasting as you go. This habit allows you to adjust seasoning, balance flavours and avoid surprises at the table. Trust your palate – it’s your best kitchen tool.
7. Leaving dishes to pile up
The dreaded sink pile is a habit we’ve all slipped into, but it’s time to break the cycle.
Tidy as you cook – wash utensils while sauces simmer, and load the dishwasher when you’re waiting on the oven. A clean kitchen makes cooking far less daunting.
By addressing these common habits, you’ll not only improve your cooking but also make the process more enjoyable. After all, the kitchen should be a space of creativity, not chaos.
Herald contributor Nikki Birrell has worked in food and travel publishing for nearly 20 years. From managing your kitchen to cutting costs, she’s shared some helpful advice recently, including how to make the perfect risotto, the secret to cooking dried beans and choosing the right pasta.