The best fix is to reduce the reflection when shooting, then do only minor editing afterward.

A polarizing filter on the lens will often cut glare from glossy surfaces. If reflections are still too strong, one community suggestion was a removable dulling spray made for reducing shine; if used, follow the product directions carefully.

In GIMP, a better correction than simple dodge/burn is to use a radial gradient mask over the bright center, then adjust Levels/black point through that mask. This can work, but because the reflected hotspot often isn’t perfectly even, it may still need a custom-shaped gradient or mask to match the actual light falloff.

So: try to improve the capture first, because editing alone may not look fully natural on every plate. A polarizer and more controlled lighting/reflection management should give the most consistent results, with masked Levels adjustments in GIMP used for final cleanup.