These are the most common cooking fails Americans make in the kitchen

NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC

From leaving the oven on overnight to forgetting a crucial ingredient in a meal or using salt instead of sugar, more than six in 10 Americans have experienced a cooking catastrophe.

A new survey of 2,000 people who cook found that 64 percent have had a major mishap in the kitchen.

Almost a third (29 percent) even say they feel hopeless when it comes to cooking.

Conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by SeaPak, the survey looked at the cooking catastrophes Americans have experienced in the kitchen, as well as the ways in which they’re trying to improve their skills.

The most common blunder was found to be burning food while cooking it (68 percent), followed by burning a pot or a pan (54 percent) or misjudging and overboiling a pot (52 percent).

Other mishaps included setting off the smoke detector (48 percent) or using too much salt in a recipe (44 percent).

Three in 10 people who cook say they’re embarrassed by their cooking skills – of those who are, 36 percent avoid cooking for other people.

And mom might be who respondents most commonly avoid cooking for, as the survey found that she’s the most likely to criticize someone’s cooking skills.

Forty-two percent of respondents have been judged on their abilities in the kitchen. After mom, the judgment was most likely to come from friends (45 percent) or a significant other (41 percent).

Top difficulties in the kitchen were found to be having various dishes be ready at the same time (44 percent) and hosting a three-course dinner party (38 percent).

That was followed by making a sauce from scratch (38 percent), cooking perfect poached eggs (35 percent) and cooking fish to the perfect consistency (34 percent).

“Cooking can be stressful, especially when you’re in a rush or trying out something new in the kitchen,” said Kristen Beadon, the director of marketing for SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Co. “Leaning on recipes and products you trust and using ingredients that simplify the process, like sauces and garnishes, are all great ways to avoid typical home-cooking challenges.”

But even cooking catastrophes and critique from loved ones isn’t stopping Americans from trying to improve: Sixty-three percent are actively working to be more confident in the kitchen.

Top ways respondents are improving their cooking confidence are cooking more often (70 percent), watching tutorials online (61 percent) and using cookbooks to find new recipes (61 percent).

Others are watching cooking shows (59 percent) or even taking cooking classes (36 percent).

“If you’re looking to improve your cooking skills, the frozen food aisle is a great place to start. Here, you can find easy-to-make, flavorful foods designed to enhance and accentuate any menu,” said Beadon. “Plus, product packaging often features chef-tested, easy-to-follow recipes perfect for when you’re ready to take things up a notch in the kitchen.”

MOST COMMONLY EXPERIENCED COOKING CATASTROPHES
1. Burned food                                                                                                         67 percent
2. Burned a pot/pan                                                                                                 54 percent
3. Over boiled a pot                                                                                                 52 percent
4. Set off the smoke detector                                                                                  48 percent
5. Used too much salt                                                                                             44 percent
6. Left the oven/burner on                                                                                       40 percent
7. Forgot a crucial ingredient                                                                                  38 percent
8. Forgotten something in the oven                                                                        35 percent
9. Food was way too spicy                                                                                      34 percent
10. Had a dog or pet eat food that was left out                                                       23 percent
11. Had an explosion in the microwave                                                                   21 percent
12. Used salt instead of sugar                                                                                 20 percent
13. Microwaved something metal                                                                            20 percent
14.  Used the wrong equipment (such as cooking pasta in a teapot)                     18 percent
15. Used sugar instead of salt                                                                                 17 percent

WAYS AMERICANS ARE BECOMING MORE CONFIDENT IN THE KITCHEN
1. Cooking more often                                                                                70 percent
2. Watching tutorials online                                                                        61 percent
3. Using cookbooks to find new recipes                                                     61 percent
4. Cooking shows                                                                                       59 percent
5. Taking cooking classes                                                                           36 percent

DIFFICULTIES IN THE KITCHEN
1. Having various dishes be ready at the same time                               44 percent
2. Hosting a three-course dinner party                                                     38 percent
3. Making a sauce from scratch                                                                38 percent
4. Cooking perfect poached eggs                                                             35 percent
5.  Cooking fish to the perfect consistency                                               34 percent