Community Kitchen Disasters
Anyone who’s ever cooked anything knows that things don’t always go according to plan. This month we’re highlighting our home cooks’ biggest kitchen disasters, as well as some of our most clever solutions.
“I made a stir-fry that was so bad that my husband banned me from the kitchen. Under the Stir Fry Treaty of 2013, I wasn’t allowed to cook anything unless it was in a microwave. I finally redeemed myself with lasagna and meatloaf, but it was almost a life ban it was so bad!” –Brandy Shagoury, Facebook
Stir-frying can be quick and easy. Try our most-popular stir-fry recipe, Best Easy Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry.
“I made a standing rib roast for New Year’s Eve and then went over to my neighbor’s house and forgot about it. When I remembered I ran home to find that our 2-pound, $55 prime standing rib roast was well, well, well done. Since then, I’ve been using this Foolproof Standing Rib Roast recipe. It involves cooking the roast for an hour and then leaving it in the oven for a few more hours without having the oven on. It works like a charm. (Even if you forget about it being in there.)” –rosie316
When it comes to the big day, try making as much as you can ahead of time. Check out our favoritemake-ahead recipes.
“I forgot I was hard-boiling half a dozen eggs and the water evaporated. The eggs exploded and burned, and the house smelled like a giant dirty diaper.” –Jaclyn Mutascio, Facebook
Next time you’re in the mood for a hard-boiled egg, try this foolproof method for Perfect Easy-Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs. Or skip the water altogether and try these Oven-Cooked Eggs.
“A few summers ago, I put bratwursts on the grill and forgot about them. Throughout the afternoon I smelled some nice BBQ aromas coming in through the windows. At about 4 p.m., I remembered my brats. I ran outside expecting to find two blackened bricks. I opened the lid to the grill and — nothing! The grill was on, but there were no brats to be found. Apparently, when you grill them for more than four hours, you can incinerate brats and they disappear.” –Kathy at Food.com
Check out our top grilling all-stars that you’re guaranteed not to forget about!
“My husband put a couple of cans of Cherry Coke in the freezer so they would cool down quickly. We woke up in the middle of the night to what I thought were gunshots. Turns out, they were the soda cans exploding in the freezer — something he hasn’t lived down in 14 years.” –Victoria Ward, Facebook
Luckily, you don’t need to pop a can to get your java jolt. Try this recipe for Cinnamon Mocha Coffee.
“I placed pork into the oven in the evening to have pulled pork for the next day. At about 3:30 am, the aroma was maddening. I couldn’t sleep through the wonderful smells and got up to check on the meat. Much to my horror, I found out that I had set the oven to 350-degrees instead of 200-degrees. The outside was charred and the inside was questionable.” -Paula G
Make perfect pulled pork every time with help from your slow cooker, not the ever-finicky oven. Here’s our most popular pulled pork recipe.
“I was growing a curry plant outside and figured it was the same as curry powder. I was just about to add it to a dish when I decided to read more about the plant. I found out that it’s harmful to humans. I almost poisoned my family. Who knew? It smells just like curry!” –Craig Brewington, Facebook
You won’t need to grow a plant for this recipe: Here’s our top-rated Chicken Curry in a Hurry for you to try.
“I took out a frozen chicken to defrost on my kitchen counter and it disappeared. Lots of small mongooses are in my neighborhood, and I leave my door open. It would have been impossible for one mongoose to move that 3-pound chicken off the counter. I looked closely and saw many mongoose paw prints in the water on the counter, which was enough to suggest that a small gang came in quietly and dragged away the entire chicken in its plastic wrap. We searched outside and there was not a sign of where that chicken went!” –Zurie
Whether it’s a group of mongoose or a family pet, we know all too well that food can quickly fall prey to hungry animals around the house. Don’t feel like chancing your meal? Try this Easy Chicken Dinner recipe that calls for frozen chicken — no thawing required.
“My mom made roast beef in a pressure cooker and it got too hot. The gauge blew off the top and went through the kitchen window (it was never found), and all 5 pounds of beef blew through the small opening and onto the kitchen ceiling.” –Marcie Smith, Facebook
Swap your pressure cooker for a slow cooker and enjoy a one-pot meal with easy cleanup.
“My husband and I were in the middle of moving into our new home when I grabbed some champagne and rib-eye steaks to celebrate. After I put the steaks under the broiler, our dog snuck out. We chased him, and as we came down the street with our dog in tow, we heard an awful alarm sound coming from the house and saw black smoke. I ran to the kitchen to see flames coming from the broiler. My husband grabbed the fire extinguisher to put out the flames, and we spent that first chilly winter night with our windows open and fans on while we enjoyed our champagne and takeout pizza.” –Debbwl
Skip the takeout pizza and make one of these easy dinners.
We’re having a yearlong party to celebrate Food.com’s 15th birthday. Keep tabs on all the fun with #TheFoodDotCom15, plus check out January’s gallery: Our Home Cooks’ Photos: Then & Now.