A metaphor describing a business strategy, decision, or practice that delivers quick or impressive short-term results, but creates serious long-term problems, liabilities, or risks.
Just as using a lead pan might make food seem fine at first but slowly poisons those who eat it, “cooking with a lead pan” implies that a company or leader is pursuing results that look good now but will prove toxic over time - for the business, employees, or customers.
Just as using a lead pan might make food seem fine at first but slowly poisons those who eat it, “cooking with a lead pan” implies that a company or leader is pursuing results that look good now but will prove toxic over time - for the business, employees, or customers.
“Launching that product without proper testing might look good on the quarterly report, but we’re cooking with a lead pan if we ignore the long-term brand damage.”
“Cutting customer support to save costs is just cooking with a lead pan — we’ll pay for it in churn and reputation later.”
“Cutting customer support to save costs is just cooking with a lead pan — we’ll pay for it in churn and reputation later.”
by deadbeatfarmer October 21, 2025
Get the Cooking with a Lead Panmug. 
optimum heat.
by hooks and cooks guy September 16, 2010
Get the hooks and cooksmug. Derived from the phrase "Get cooking", it means to drive fast
Synonymous with phrases like "hammer down", "pedal to the metal", etc.
Synonymous with phrases like "hammer down", "pedal to the metal", etc.
by Russellsroughneck July 30, 2023
Get the Cookingmug. 
by JacobLover___ May 24, 2022
Get the Carrie Cookmug. To get cooked is to get destroyed or humiliated, to be embarassed by someone else being so much better than you.
He got cooked
by tittimandra June 2, 2023
Get the cookedmug.