If you burn something on the bottom and it tastes a little burnt, can you salvage it?

[Denninmi]

I burnt a very small batch of chili last night with too high of a burner. So, burnt layer on bottom, a little burnt tasting but perfectly edible.

I was thinking of maybe hiding the burnt flavor with strong spices and something smoky like bacon.

Thoughts?

[PoliticAverse]

1. Sure, serve it as Cajun Blackened Chili... n/t

[Goblinmonger]

2. My first thought

is to simmer it a little longer (non-burnt pot, of course) with some cocoa powder, a cinnamon stick, and some smoked paprika to add some depth of flavor in which the burnt taste would kind of work. But that is not a tested combination, just spit-balling.

[cbayer]

3. At long as it tastes ok, you should eat it!

As Julia Childs said, never apologize. If people ask, tell them it is exactly as you intended.

[yellerpup]

4. This is a great method but probably too late for you.

Take a piece of bread, any kind, and lay it on top of whatever you have cooked (that is burned on the bottom) and put the lid back on. Let it steam (no fire) for about 5-10 minutes, then remove the bread. The contents of the pot, except for the burned material at the bottom will be free of smoke flavor. Spoon out everything in the pot, being careful not to scrape up any of the burned stuff. Your chile will be odor free and tasting the way you intended. The bread soaks up the smoky taste completely.

[elleng]

8. That is very cool, yeller! May try it!

Let's see, what can I burn???

[yellerpup]

9. Never fails for me.

Just don't get any char in with it or you will be back to square one.

The worst smell (to me) is burned broccoli and this method fixed it right up.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. add a sprinkle of white sugar

when you heat it back up, I've used that trick with other bean dishes.

[Denninmi]

6. Actually, those all sound like good ideas.

Thankfully, just very small batch cooking for myself.

[elleng]

7. Sounds saveable to me,

NOT like my car radiator which, having incurred/received/gotten a hole, will be replaced. The car, of course, WILL be saved!

BACON sounds good!