My dad insists on tasting everything before it's done and it drives me nuts

I was making a brisket yesterday, and my father came into the kitchen to 'check on it' for the third time. He lifted the lid, poked it with a fork, and declared it needed more salt before I'd even finished the rub. It's like he can't help himself, even though he knows I have a plan. Anyone else have relatives who can't resist meddling with your cooking process?

3 comments

3 Comments

paigesullivan1mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst. The constant hovering just kills the vibe. My dad does this thing where he'll taste raw meatloaf mix off the spoon and say it needs more Worcestershire, like yeah dad, it's raw egg and beef, the flavor isn't there yet. Or he'll open the oven while my cake is baking to "see how it's doing" and then wonders why it fell. It makes me want to just cook when he's not home.

kim3731mo ago

Gotta be honest, I kinda get where your dad is coming from. My grandpa was the same way, always dipping a spoon in the pot. Drove my mom crazy too. But he had like sixty years of cooking in his bones, you know? Sometimes that early taste is about feeling the base flavors, not just the final salt. He caught her soups before they were done more than once and honestly, he was usually right.

lilyh841mo ago

Yeah, that 'sixty years of cooking in his bones' thing hits different. I try to taste early like my grandma did, but my bones are more like six months of burnt toast. Last week I sampled my chili too soon, added a whole cup of salt by mistake. Had to throw it out and order pizza. My dog wouldn't even eat the leftovers, and he eats anything. So maybe I should stick to following recipes step by step.