overcooked

Overcooked refers to food that has been cooked longer than is desirable or at too high a temperature, resulting in a dry, tough, or burnt exterior and often an altered flavor. In professional and home cooking, reducing overcooking is a common goal to preserve moisture, texture, and nutrients.

Common signs of overcooking include dryness, shrinking of meat, leathery texture, dryness or mushiness in vegetables, and browning or charring beyond the intended level. Causes include excessive heat, long cooking times, oversized or densely packed pieces, inadequate resting time, and equipment that produces hotter temperatures than planned.

Overcooking can reduce palatability and nutritional value, particularly water-soluble vitamins in vegetables. Drying and charring can produce undesirable flavors and, in high-heat cooking of starchy foods, may increase acrylamide formation; grilling or frying meat at high temperatures can form heterocyclic amines and advanced glycation end products. Mitigation strategies include using appropriate heat, shorter cooking times, moisture-preserving methods, using a thermometer to target doneness, and allowing meat to rest before slicing.

Overcooked also refers to a cooperative cooking simulation video game developed by Ghost Town Games and published by Curve Digital. Released in 2016 for PC and later for consoles and other platforms, the game focuses on players preparing and serving meals under time pressure. It spawned sequels and expanded versions, notably Overcooked 2 (2018) and Overcooked! All You Can Eat (2020).