overcure
Too much curing
To overcure is to cure something—typically a material like rubber, concrete, or resin—beyond the optimal point, degrading its intended properties.
Rubber that has been overcured becomes brittle rather than flexible.
In food preservation, overcuring means applying too much salt or smoke, resulting in an unpleasantly harsh or dry product: The bacon was overcured and inedibly salty.
Thoroughly dehydrated
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
- brittleLiable to shatter
- dehydratedSeverely lacking moisture
- shriveledContracted from moisture loss
leathery · crumbly · overdried · rubbery · tough · chewy · stringy · wizened
Rubber hardened by sulfur
- polymerizedChemically joined into chains
- overprocessedExcessively manipulated or refined
- stiffenedMade or became rigid
- rigidUnable to bend
inflexible · brittle · set · solidified · rubbery · cross-linked · embrittled · silicone
Contains excessive sodium
- oversmokedExposed too long to fumes
- shrunkenReduced from original dimensions
- toughDurable and strong
- dryFree from moisture
mealy · mushy · discolored · bitter · acrid · fermented · bacon · jerky
Damaged beyond recovery
- damagedMade worse by injury
- wastedUsed without good result
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
deteriorated · botched · defective · impaired · unusable · rejected · failed · overprocessed
desiccated
Thoroughly dehydrated
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
- brittleLiable to shatter
- dehydratedSeverely lacking moisture
shriveled · leathery · crumbly · overdried · rubbery · tough · chewy · stringy · wizened · hardened
vulcanized
Rubber hardened by sulfur
- polymerizedChemically joined into chains
- overprocessedExcessively manipulated or refined
- stiffenedMade or became rigid
rigid · inflexible · brittle · set · solidified · rubbery · cross-linked · embrittled · silicone · epoxy
oversalted
Contains excessive sodium
- oversmokedExposed too long to fumes
- shrunkenReduced from original dimensions
- toughDurable and strong
dry · mealy · mushy · discolored · bitter · acrid · fermented · bacon · jerky · prosciutto
ruined
Damaged beyond recovery
- damagedMade worse by injury
- wastedUsed without good result
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
degraded · deteriorated · botched · defective · impaired · unusable · rejected · failed · overprocessed
cracked
Having surface fractures
shrinkage · scaling · dusting · friable · spalling · construction · cement · masonry · slab