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Four common kitchen habits that chefs say home cooks need to stop doing immediately
Some common kitchen habits may be doing more harm than good, especially when it comes to safety and efficiency.
Professional kitchens follow strict standards for a reason. Food & Wine, a culinary publication, recently highlighted several everyday mistakes that chefs say home cooks should avoid.
From food prep to cleanup, here are four habits to leave behind and what to do instead.
Cross-contamination is a major concern in any kitchen.
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Using the same cutting board for raw meat and vegetables can spread bacteria and increase the risk of foodborne illness.
Food can become contaminated at any stage of preparation, according to the Mayo Clinic, which warns that unclean kitchen tools and surfaces can transfer harmful germs.
“Cross-contamination can happen with more than just meat,” New York-based health expert Christine Lusita previously told Fox News Digital.
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Experts recommend using separate cutting boards for raw proteins and produce, and thoroughly washing surfaces with hot, soapy water between uses.
A dull knife might seem safer, but it can actually increase the risk of injury.
Blades that are not sharp require more force to cut through food, making them more likely to slip and cause accidents, Food & Wine reported.
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Experts say regularly sharpening knives and maintaining the blade can help reduce the risk of cuts and improve overall cooking efficiency.
Many home kitchens go through paper towels quickly, but they are not always the most efficient option.
Professional kitchens typically rely on reusable cloth towels to clean surfaces, the publication noted.
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Cleaning as you go is also key to preventing the spread of bacteria.
Lusita added that using the same cloth across multiple areas can also pose a risk.
“Don’t use the same [cleaning] cloths from counters to food-prepped areas,” she said.
Jumping into cooking without prepping ingredients can lead to mistakes and unnecessary stress.
Professional kitchens rely on a process known as “mise en place,” where everything is chopped, measured and ready before cooking begins, the publication said.
Starting a recipe without preparing ingredients can result in missed steps, uneven cooking or burned food as attention shifts between tasks.
Taking a few extra minutes to prep ahead allows cooks to stay focused once the heat is on and helps ensure a smoother, more efficient process.
Christine Rousselle contributed reporting.
The world’s largest sporting event, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is just a few weeks away, returning to North America and the United States for the first time since 1994.
FIFA announced their first ever halftime show for the World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In a post on X, featuring Elmo, Coldplay announced that the halftime show would be curated by lead singer Chris Martin and feature BTS, Madonna and Shakira. Shakira is set to release the official song of the World Cup, “Dai Dai,” later Thursday.
The show will also “raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,” dedicated to “improving access to quality education and football for children around the world.”
FOX broadcasts the entire tournament, with opening matches kicking off on June 11 in Mexico. El Tri hosts South Africa in Mexico City, while South Korea takes on Croatia in Guadalajara.
Then the next day, the other two hosts play their first group stage matches. Canada plays Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto in Group B. Then the US Men’s National Team, coming off a rocky past few months of friendlies, plays its first match against Paraguay in Los Angeles. They then head to Seattle to play Australia on June 19, before closing out the group stage against Turkey back in LA on June 25.
Unsurprisingly, given the scale and scope of the tournament, and the stage hosting in the US offers, FIFA is pulling out all the entertainment stops.
Already, soccer’s governing body has set up an extensive list of entertainment to kick off the tournament in the host countries. An opening ceremony in Los Angeles on June 12 will feature music acts like Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla.
“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “The lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas, highlighting the nation’s rich influence on music, entertainment and pop culture, while showcasing the power of music to bring people together across the country.”
That ceremony will kick off 90 minutes before the start of the US match, and will complement two additional opening ceremonies in Canada and Mexico. The opening match in Toronto will feature performances by Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.
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In Mexico, opening ceremony headliners include Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná and Tyla.
Prior performers at World Cup finals include stars like Carlos Santana and Wycleaf Jean at the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Will Smith was among those who sang at the 2018 finale in Russia, and Davido, Aisha, Ozuna were part of the 2022 closing ceremony in Qatar.
Over 100 matches. 16 cities hosting in three countries. Over a month’s worth of action, culminating in a momentous finale in New Jersey. The World Cup never fails to deliver.
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