Most people think they mess up food because they don’t have the skill.
They think:
they don’t know how to season
they don’t understand technique
they just “can’t cook like that”
But after 25+ years in the kitchen, I can tell you something real:
Most cooking mistakes aren’t technical.
They’re mental.
So if it’s not technique…
why do people keep messing up food?
Because they’re not actually cooking.
They’re reacting.
They’re second-guessing every move.
They’re rushing the process.
They’re following instructions without understanding what’s happening in the pan.
And most of all?
They don’t trust themselves.
Cooking isn’t just steps.
It’s awareness.
You can give two people the same recipe, same ingredients, same kitchen…
One dish comes out balanced, seasoned, alive.
The other one?
Dry. Flat. No soul.
The difference isn’t the recipe.
The difference is presence.
Most mistakes happen when:
you’re not paying attention
you’re thinking ahead instead of staying in the moment
you’re afraid to adjust
you’re trying to be perfect instead of being aware
(How Experience Changes the Way You Taste)
Let’s keep it simple.
Chicken.
Somebody cooks it and says:
“It came out dry.”
So they think:
“I overcooked it.”
Maybe.
But what really happened?
they didn’t manage heat
they didn’t feel the texture
they didn’t let it rest
they ignored what the food was telling them
A chef doesn’t cook by the clock.
A chef reads what’s happening.
People want cooking to be exact.
Exact time.
Exact measurements.
Exact outcome.
But real cooking doesn’t work like that.
Cooking is adjustment.
You taste.
You fix.
You slow down.
You pivot.
That’s the difference between. just following steps and actually cooking – the way I approach something like Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup, where you’re constantly adjusting and paying attention to what’s happening in the pot.
(Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Souphttps://chefwendellplatedsoul.com/healing-pantry-rotisserie-chicken-noodle-soup/)
At a certain point, you stop asking:
“Did I follow the recipe right?”
And you start asking:
“What is this food doing right now?”
That’s when things change.
That’s when you stop guessing.
That’s when you start thinking like a chef.
If you want to get better at cooking, stop chasing perfect technique.
Start paying attention.
Slow down.
Trust your senses.
Stay present.
Because most cooking mistakes don’t happen in your hands.
They happen in your head.
