It’s pretty easy to start a fight over food, just say you enjoy some pineapple on a pizza or call that orange Kraft product ‘cheese,’ and you’ll find a handful of people ready to go blow for blow. But cooking doesn’t have to be about the extremes, sometimes it can be nice to discuss what underappreciated and humble ingredients more cooks should give a chance.
So one curious person asked the internet what were their ‘mediocre’ cooking opinions that they still stand by and got a heap of interesting answers. We reached out to chef Ben Ebbrell from the team at Sorted Food to get some tips for the novice home cook. So make sure you’ve eaten so scrolling won’t make you hungry, and be sure to upvote your favorite options. And if you want to see some more controversial food takes, you can find them here.
#21
Pretty much all of my unpopular food opinions boil down to "your food elitism is stupid."
American cheese tastes good, including kraft singles.
Spam tastes good.
Ketchup tastes good.
Who cares if someone likes their steak well done?
Nothing wrong with using minced garlic from a jar.
Nothing wrong with using pre-made spice blends.
Instant mashed potatoes taste good.
Spam tastes good.
Ketchup tastes good.
Who cares if someone likes their steak well done?
Nothing wrong with using minced garlic from a jar.
Nothing wrong with using pre-made spice blends.
Instant mashed potatoes taste good.
Sure, you can get better results with fresher and higher quality ingredients. But if someone doesn't have the time, money, or patience for that, who caaaaaaares.
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95points
Lastly, we asked about some ways beginners can improve the basics, like sauces. "Homemade sauces are quite straightforward to make at home. Your best friend here will be google. For example, you can make your own satay sauce with 3 ingredients, peanut butter, soy sauce, and water. I guarantee it will taste better than the shop-bought version. In the case of Japanese cooking, adding rice vinegar, garlic, lime juice, and soy sauce can spruce up the taste considerably."
#22
Burgers should be very flat and overly cooked. I don't want a giant meatball of a burger wiith some artisan cut of beef. If i wanted beef I'd have a nice steak. My burgers are just the textural middle of a magical blend of condiments.
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94points
#23
You will have to pry my iceberg lettuce out of my cold dead hands.
I can't imagine homemade Mexican/New Mexican/TexMex food without its cold refreshing thinly shredded crunch.
And I will never give up my "1950s" salad with iceberg, canned pickled beets, and blue cheese dressing. I'm fine if that's gross. More for me.
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91points
#24
There are actually some really excellent frozen pizzas (Screamin' Sicilian).
90points
#26
A lot of “generic” or store brand products top the name brand. Lookin at you my sweet, sweet Frosted Mini Spooners.
82points
#27
I eat canned ravioli a few times a year.
I loved it as a kid and crave it sometimes now as 44 year old adult.
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79points
#30
Beef Wellington is overrated. Give me a juicy ribeye any day of the week.
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55points