10 hours ago
"This Is A Giant No-No": People Are Sharing Their "I'll Die On This Hill" Cooking Opinions, And These Are Some VERY Hot Takes
Take it from me, you don't truly know someone until you hear their most controversial cooking take. Do they wash their chicken? Do they add sugar to their spaghetti? These are all crucial things to know about someone.
Last week, I asked Tasty readers to share their most divisive culinary opinions, and some of these might seriously shock you. Ahead, I've rounded up 25 of the most polarizing takes.
1."I know you're not supposed to break long pasta in half, but I do it anyway. It cooks more evenly – the entire strand gets immersed in the boiling water as soon as I throw the bundle of pasta into the pot – and it's easier and less messy to eat."
—Anonymous
2."The correct way to prepare or eat something is how you like to eat it. Stop gatekeeping foods. You want well-done steak, have well-done steak. You want ketchup on your hot dog or your eggs? Have that ketchup on your hot dog or your eggs. Put pineapple on pizza. Break spaghetti in half. Use *gasp* store-bought sauces!"
—wanderingstorm
3."I put butter in the pot when boiling pasta. If I don't, the pasta sticks together no matter how well I stir it at the beginning. Sauce sticks to it just fine, so I don't get the prohibition."
—Lyn, 74, Canada
4."You don't have to have the 'best of the best' or even the exact brand of a particular ingredient. A label doesn't actually mean much if you don't know how to use it. It's hardly necessary to make a fantastic meal. Cook with the ingredients you have (and like!) and a lot of love, and you'll be golden!"
"Example: Lots of dessert recipes call for Diamond Crystal salt because it is less salty than Morton's or your average store-brand salt. Diamond Crystal can be more expensive and/or hard to find. Do you need Diamond Crystal? Nope, just half Morton's or your store-brand salt and move on!"
—kindness_bumblebee
5."Never ever refrigerate fresh tomatoes. They belong in your kitchen window."
—Anonymous
6."Stop washing your chicken. You're spreading germs for no reason. Just pat dry with a paper towel before cooking! Also, gloves aren't as hygienic as bare hands — just wash your damn hands. No cooks in restaurants wear gloves."
—messytrash838
7."I really enjoy my cakes and cookies frozen, especially blueberry cake. In my house, almost all baked goods are stored in the freezer."
—Estee, 26, New York
8."Use measuring tools for baking. Use hand or finger measurements for cooking."
—slickninja
9."I have never toasted bread in a toaster, always in a pan. It just tastes so much better!"
—Anonymous
10."I grew up with home canning, and I see a lot of videos of people using their hands to stuff green beans, peaches, tomatoes, or whatever else is being canned down into the jar. They are actively putting their bare hands into the sterilized jars! I was taught that this is a giant no-no and that directly touching the inside or the outside rim and/or threads of a sterilized jar with unsterilized anything would contaminate the jar and encourage bacteria."
—Anonymous
11."Nuts do not belong in desserts."
—Margaret, Instagram
12."I microwave my corn on the cob. It's much faster and still tastes really good. I never do it any other way; this is my go-to way of cooking corn."
—Esti, 30, New York
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13."Beans do not belong in chili."
—Aimee, Instagram
14."It is absolutely normal to have a favorite burner on your stove."
—fashionablyfrugalmom, Instagram
15."Kale should have stayed just a garnish."
—iamadammac
16."Salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder are like the four horsemen when it comes to default seasoning."
—Mr. Chowmein, Instagram
17."Salted butter in everything. Granted, I'm not a pastry chef, but salted butter gives my cookies and muffins much more depth of flavor."
—Abigail, Instagram
18."Homemade ranch is far superior to anything bottled. Add extra dill and chives."
—Janna, Instagram
19."Cook bacon in the oven. Always."
—Antonio, Instagram
20."Any amount of recommended garlic is purely a suggestion, and the amount of garlic that ends up in the actual end product is going to be amazing."
—Britt, Instagram
21."Sugar goes in spaghetti. Sorry, not sorry."
—Kassi, Instagram
22."There is absolutely nothing wrong with MSG, and it makes everything taste better."
—Meghan, Instagram
23."Pizza goes directly onto the rack."
—Celiah, Instagram
24."Every piece of raw meat will meet water, vinegar, lemon, and lime before it ever sees seasoning. Cooking and seasoning meat straight out of the pack is NASTY. Argue with your momma."
—Choi, Instagram
25."Most cream-based sauces should not be made using a roux. Take the time to use heavy cream and reduce it. No gluten, no carbs, and better flavor and consistency."
–Alchemist1342
Do you have any opinions that belong on this list? Let me know in the comments or fill out the anonymous form below!
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