To think I'm the worst cook in the world?

[onaclouds]

First time making a lasagna.
I followed all the instructions and it tasted awful.
I think I know where I went wrong.
I cooked them (it was 20% fat beef ) and I didn't drain the fat out of it before I added the tomato to the pan.
So my sauce just tasted of mince grease.
Is this why it went wrong?

Well you've got the basics, so not all bad!

After you've drained the fat off next time add the tomato purée and cook it out until it's coated everything and hot, then some red wine if you've got it, again bring it up to temperature, then add the tinned tomatoes and herbs.

I do think you need to start with onions too, but I skip carrots as I'm not patient enough to wait till they're cooked before I add mince and they always end up crunchy.

Next step is to make your own white sauce!

I use 20 % fat mince too and it doesnt taste fatty, You do need the onion, carrots etc too and really it should be cooked low and slow for many hours. I often cook it all day either on the smallest lowest gas ring or in a slow cooker. This allows the flavours to develop properly you also need more tomato puree than most recipes suggest. Dont give up cooking is something that needs to be practiced and we all make epic fails no matter how long we have been cooking!!

Draining mince? WTF?

I used to swear by Delia, but now I always use the Allegra McEvedy recipe:
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lasagne_22392

I am not a cook good, but I’m brilliant at following recipes, which usually gets decent results.

You didn't simmer it long enough.

I never drain mince, fat is flavour. Just needs a long slow cook.

"I forgot the onions and carrots" - you are Paris Hilton and I claim my $$$ prize

Agree with HardAsSnails that's how I make mine

@LividLaughLovely, completely agree although I have had to drain off some cheaper minces because it just ends up swimming. I stay away from any that look suspiciously plump and too pink. I’m sure it’s mixed with water to make it look more appetising and weigh more.

Does anyone have any ideas of meals I can make ?
That I won't mess up and are easy ...ish.

Your not a bad cook,

I burnt frozen hamburgers, then thought that putting water on them would stop the smoke. So ahh oil and water do not mix..... alarms go off, fire brigades are seconds from being dispatched and home owner is freaking out trying to call me

I also destroyed a pot burning water. I was steaming veg, forgot I had them on and water boiled out. Pot was destroyed

DD has genuine concern for my safety near the oven, hot oil, knives, fry pans. She is 9 lol

So no, your not a bad cook lol

Don't worry, you are not alone. I can burn salad.

@squeekums ha ha ha ha that made me laugh and weirdly reminded me when I was 9,my mum decided to clean the kitchen floor with furniture polish and we couldn't walk on it as it was that slippy.

@HaudMaDug honestly I made a tuna pasta bake last week and you basically added the sauce plus water and tuna
That was awful too..

I let it simmer for about 30 mins too.
^

Try 2 hours instead.

What you cooked was boiled mince!
You need soffrito (onion carrot & celery finely diced) garlic, red wine, oregano, bay leaves, tomato puree....
Find a good recipe, maybe Antonio Carluccio or Nigel Slater, buy top quality mince and don't drain it. Follow the recipe exactly, keep checking that you haven't left anything out! Cook long and slow.
Once you learn how to make it, it will be really useful for a wide range of dishes.

@onaclouds lol sounds like something id do too. Good thing we don't have floorboards lol
I'm clumsy and forgetful it's a dangerous mix

@AdaColeman stupid question but how was it boiled mince if I was frying it ?

@onaclouds. You mention adding stock to the mince, so the meat was cooking in liquid.

@AdaColeman ah yes that makes sense.
How silly.

I'm quite a good cook and I still remember my first homemade lasagne. We ate it from bowls due to it's remarkable similarity to soup!

You maybe didn't cook it long enough im not the best cook either but i cook the mince mixture for 90ish mins when im doing lasange but I use 5% fat beef mince the 20% does taste slimy imo.

I'm gonna try again next week
I'm gonna use the 5% one
Drain it
Start with onions then add mince.
What could go wrong

I've never drain off fat from mince when making lasagne/ pasta sauce but I do cool the sauce for a couple.of hours ( batch cook it and freeze it for use later ). It always tastes delicious to me. Iearnt how to make it from my mother who was Italian.

I don't drain either just cook it down I now brown mince whereas i used to grey mince it was rank !

@bumblingbovine49 my good friend is Italian and when I tell her I use cream in my carbonara she is disgusted ha ha
I'm getting 50/50 about draining the mince.
I'm undecided

Google Nigel Slater's spaghetti bolognese recipe, I think it's on BBC Food. Follow that to the letter. No mention of draining off fat at all.