Cooking failures refer to instances when a dish does not turn out as intended, often due to mistakes in the preparation process. Common issues include overcooking, undercooking, or using incorrect measurements of ingredients. These errors can lead to undesirable textures, flavors, or appearances in the final product. Many cooking failures can be attributed to a lack of experience or understanding of techniques. For example, mishandling baking temperatures can result in burnt or soggy cakes. Learning from these mistakes is essential for improving culinary skills and achieving better results in future cooking endeavors.