What should I do if my child eats food cooked on a low flame and complains it tastes raw? 

Parenting Perspective 

Cooking on a low flame can be a great technique, but if not managed correctly, it can leave the inside of food undercooked. If your child points out that something tastes raw, it is a valuable opportunity to teach them about cooking temperatures and food safety. First, it is important to take their feedback seriously and praise them for being observant. You could say, ‘Thank you for telling me that. You have very good tastebuds! Let us check the food together and talk about why it might taste that way’. This validates their experience and turns a potential issue into a constructive lesson. 

Explain Why Low Heat Can Be Deceptive 

Help your child understand that the outside of the food can look cooked while the inside remains raw. 

• ‘Sometimes, when we cook with a very gentle heat, the outside of the food cooks much faster than the inside. So, while it might look ready, the centre has not had enough time to cook through properly’. 

• ‘For certain foods, especially thicker pieces of meat or chicken, we need to make sure the heat is strong enough to travel all the way to the middle’. 

You can use a simple analogy to illustrate the point. 

• ‘It is like trying to warm yourself by a very small fire on a cold day. Your front might get warm, but your back will still be cold. Food is similar; it needs enough heat to warm up all the way through’. 

Reinforce That Safety is More Than Taste 

Explain that a ‘raw’ taste can also be a sign that the food is not yet safe to eat. 

• ‘Your tastebuds are giving us an important warning. Undercooked food, especially meat, can contain germs that might make us feel unwell. It is always important to make sure our food is fully cooked’. 

• ‘The most important part of any meal is that it is safe and healthy for our bodies. A delicious taste is a bonus, but safety always comes first’. 

Model How to Check for Doneness 

Children learn best by seeing and doing. Show them the practical steps you take to ensure food is cooked correctly. 

• ‘When I am not sure if something is ready, I always check. Let us cut into the thickest part of this chicken and see if there is any pink colour left’. 

• ‘For this stew, I will taste a piece from the very middle to make sure it is tender and cooked through. If not, we will simply let it cook for a little longer’. 

Offer Simple and Practical Tips 

Empower your child with knowledge they can use as they grow. 

• ‘A good rule is that if something tastes or feels raw, we should not eat it. We can always cook it for a bit longer to make it safe and delicious’. 

• ‘As you get older and learn to cook, we can use a special food thermometer. It is the best way to know for sure that the inside of the food has reached a safe temperature’. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, our health is a sacred trust (amanah) from Allah Almighty, and we are guided to protect it. This includes being mindful and responsible in the preparation of our food, ensuring that what we consume is wholesome, pure, and safely cooked. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Maaidah (5), Verses 88: 

‘And consume from that nourishment (which has been provided) for you from Allah (Almighty), (which is) clearly lawful and absolute purification; and seek piety from Allah (Almighty), in whom you believe.’ 

This verse reminds us to eat what is both halal (lawful) and tayyib (good, pure, wholesome). Food that is undercooked and potentially harmful does not meet the standard of tayyib. By taking the time to ensure a meal is properly cooked, we are consciously striving to adhere to this divine guidance. 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 4168, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both. Protect your health and your body, for it is a trust from Allah.’ 

This beautiful Hadith connects strength of faith with physical strength and well-being. Protecting our health by consuming safe, properly prepared food is a way of nurturing that strength. When you teach your child to ensure their food is fully cooked, you are not just teaching them a kitchen skill; you are teaching them to value their health and strength as a means of becoming a believer who is beloved to Allah. 

By instilling these principles, you guide your child to understand that careful cooking is an act of responsibility, gratitude, and faith.