overcook
Ruin dinner's timing
To overcook is to cook something too long, resulting in food that's dry, tough, or mushy.
The word extends to any situation where excessive effort ruins the result: Don't overcook the joke by explaining it.
An overcooked excuse tries too hard to be convincing.
Burned until black
- scorchedBurned on surface
- blackenedDarkened by burning
- singedSuperficially burned
- carbonizedConverted to carbon
smoky · crisped · seared · blistered · incinerated · ashen · parched · cremated
Unfit for consumption
- flavorlessHaving no taste
- blandLacking distinctive qualities
- unpalatableUnpleasant to taste
- tastelessHaving no flavor
mushy · soggy · gummy · dried-out · unappealing · insipid · unsavory · stale
Excessive in degree
- overdoExceed reasonable limits
- overshootGo beyond intended point
- misjudgeEvaluate incorrectly
- botchSpoil through incompetence
blunder · error · mishap · flub · goof · slip · foul-up · snafu
charred
Burned until black
carbonized · smoky · crisped · seared · blistered · incinerated · ashen · parched · cremated · toasted
inedible
Unfit for consumption
- flavorlessHaving no taste
- blandLacking distinctive qualities
- unpalatableUnpleasant to taste
tasteless · mushy · soggy · gummy · dried-out · unappealing · insipid · unsavory · stale · ruined
overdone
Excessive in degree
botch · blunder · error · mishap · flub · goof · slip · foul-up · snafu · mistime
chewy
Resisting easy biting
tough · stringy · fibrous · gristly · sinewy · hard · dense · stiff · overdone · shriveled
boil
Heat to bubbling point
bake · grill · braise · saute · broil · steam · stew · poach · sear · blanch
- everyday mistakesslip, typos, trip, spelling errors, fall
- excessexcess, too much, excessive, excessiveness, overabundance
- heat and fireignite, burn, flame, blaze, combust