When it comes to preparing, storing and cooking food, many of us make the same mistakes day after day (often without realising it). From keeping products for too long to using the wrong kitchen tools, here we reveal the culinary clangers that most people commit – and offer advice on how to avoid them.

Read on to discover 43 food mistakes most people make, counting down to the most common of all.

We've based our ranking on how common each mistake is, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.

43. Keeping canned soup for too long

Many of us like to hoard canned soup in our cupboards for chilly evenings and sick days. However, it's best not to keep them stashed away for too long – those tins of tomato, mushroom or chicken soup won’t stay fresh forever. They have a shelf life of up to five years, but start to deteriorate after two.

The most common food mistakes (and how to avoid them)