FOOD NEWS
The Cooking Error That Bobby Flay Says Is Often Overlooked
BY KAREN HART
Much has been written about the dangers of undercooking food, but chef Bobby Flay says that just as much attention should be paid to the other end of the food doneness scale.
Flay told Bon Appétit, “People are always concerned whether something is cooked enough. But they’re never concerned with whether it’s overcooked.”
Flay added that cooks “rarely consider the residual heat that continues to cook a piece of protein once it’s off the burner.” Overcooked meat even has its own health hazards.
Meat loses nutrients when it's overcooked. It can also be harder for your body to break down, causing stomach issues, not to mention it's unpleasantly tough and chewy.
Take proteins off the heat a few seconds early to account for residual heat. Pay attention to cooking times and use a thermometer or visual aids to tell when your food is done.
If you do end up overcooking meat, Flay says you can rescue it by throwing it into a taco. Overcooked veggies can be pureed with some stock and transformed into a soup.