What characteristic indicates an overcooked pre-cooked item?

The characteristic that indicates an overcooked pre-cooked item is tougher skin and slightly hollow inside. When a pre-cooked item is overcooked, the heat causes it to lose moisture and structural integrity. This results in a tougher outer texture, often perceived as a change in the skin's quality, and a hollow feeling inside where moisture has escaped.

This physical change occurs due to the breakdown of the cellular structure within the food, which tends to dry out rather than maintain a desirable level of moisture, leading to an unpleasant texture. In contrast, the other options suggest desirable qualities in cooked food — a soft texture, golden color, and firm yet soft characteristics indicate proper cooking, while tougher skin and hollowness indicate overcooking and potential dryness.