It seems that cooking is one of the simplest activities we can do. However, a small distraction can affect your dishes and prevent you from getting the available nutrients . Here we will talk about some mistakes you make with food and how to avoid them.

We will discuss errors of various types, from the storage of food and food safety before and during cooking. Some of these errors you may not know and others may be missing. Keep reading and learn to get the most out of your food.

1. Do not read the complete recipe before you start cooking

The first of the mistakes you make with food is not paying attention to the recipe. When you are preparing a dish for the first time it is important that you stop a bit to understand the whole process.

Usually this happens because you are more interested in the final result than in the whole process. However, when you read the recipe calmly you can understand the times and avoid overcooking or leaving the food very raw.

With this care you will avoid:

• The proteins lose properties.
• Add more salt of the correct one.
• Pastes with pasty texture.

Ideally, after reading the recipe, prepare all the food in the necessary portions and presentations. This implies:

• Cut and chop food as required.
• Measure the required portions and leave them ready in individual containers to facilitate handling.
• Place all the instruments and utensils that you will need by hand.

2. Do not let the meat rest after cooking

Another mistake you make with food is to immediately serve the meat once you have cooked it. The ideal is to leave them for a few minutes so that their juices and flavors are distributed well before cutting.

You do not have to worry about the food getting cold, it’s enough to leave it at rest between 5 and 10 minutes. This time is enough for the temperature to reach a point where you can eat without problem and the flavors are distributed.

3. Mistakes you make with food: store potatoes and onions together

The third of the mistakes you make with food may seem like something without relevance. However, you must have a special space for the potatoes and another for the onions in such a way that they do not combine.

Ideally, the potatoes should be kept in a cold, dark and dry space. On the other hand, onions require dry and cold spaces but where there is some air circulation. In either case, it is ideal to avoid keeping both vegetables in plastic bags.

4. Do not wash your hands before handling food

Everywhere we have heard about the importance of washing your hands frequently. However, it is one of the most common mistakes you make with food. It is important that you wash your hands:

• Before preparing food. Throughout the day you come in contact with all kinds of surfaces and bacteria. Wash your hands prior to preparing food and you will avoid contaminating them with these bacteria.
• After preparing the food and before serving. Once you have finished all the preparations and you will no longer manipulate the raw foods, it is time to wash your hands. During the cooking process some bacteria and contaminants are eliminated. However, if you do not wash your hands, you will be generating cross contamination. Also, remember to handle cooked foods with the proper instruments and not with your hands.

5. You keep the green leafy vegetables in a plastic bag

How many times has it happened to you that a few days after buying your pantry, green leafy vegetables look withered? Another mistake you make with food is not to take these foods out of the bag they come from.

You should know that the plastic prevents air from circulating properly between the leaves. This facilitates the appearance of bacteria that accelerate the decomposition process.

The best option to avoid this inconvenience is to remove the vegetables from the bag. Then, place them on a surface that allows the passage of air. This can be inside the same refrigerator or in a container with water.