One problem that far too many of us experience when we’re cooking cabbage is the dreaded mush. You’ve been there before, cooking the tough, crunchy leaves to make them easier to chew and swallow. But spend just a few minutes too long cooking your cabbage, and you’re left with a mushy mess. It’s something you probably want to avoid when planning dinner, so it’s best to keep a close eye on the cabbage you’re roasting.

Instead of setting a timer and letting the oven do its work, make sure you check on your cabbage often. To keep it from getting too soggy, you may want to aim for undercooking, rather than overcooking, the veg. Remember, you can always give it more time in the oven, but there’s no fixing cabbage once it’s too mushy.

In time, you’ll learn how best to roast your cabbage so it always comes out with the kind of texture you’re looking for. Until then, avoid overcooking by regularly checking your cabbage.