I Ate at Every Major Fast Food Chain for a Week: A Gut-Wrenching Ranking (Worst to Best)
My week of fast food was a journey to the center of my stomach. The worst experience left me feeling like I had swallowed a greasy brick; I was sluggish and regretful for hours. The middle of the pack was just forgettable, filling a void but offering zero satisfaction. The surprising winner was a chain that used fresh, crisp vegetables and grilled, not fried, its chicken. It was the only meal that didn’t leave me in a food coma. It proved that “fast” doesn’t have to mean you feel terrible afterward, a simple truth that made it the undisputed champion of the week.
Ranking the Most Overhyped and Underrated Trader Joe’s Products (Worst to Best)
My Trader Joe’s haul was a lesson in hype. The most overrated product was a famous seasoning blend everyone raves about; honestly, it just tasted like salty garlic. It was a classic case of the internet’s emperor having no clothes. The most underrated product, however, was a simple, cheap bag of frozen orange chicken. It was shockingly delicious, with crispy chicken and a perfectly balanced sweet and tangy sauce that tasted better than most takeout places. It was a quiet, unassuming hero in a store full of loud, overhyped products.
I Tried to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee With 10 Different Brewing Methods (Worst to Best)
My quest for the perfect coffee had a surprising hero. The worst method was a fancy, complicated siphon that was a huge pain to clean and produced a bitter, disappointing cup. My standard drip machine sat firmly in the “just okay” middle. The undisputed champion, however, was a simple, cheap plastic pour-over cone. It gave me complete control over the process, allowing me to brew a cup that was incredibly smooth, aromatic, and bursting with flavor. It proved that you don’t need expensive gear to make world-class coffee—just a little technique.
Ranking the Most Disgusting and Delicious Canned Foods I Could Find (Worst to Best)
My pantry challenge unearthed some horrors and some heroes. The most disgusting was, without a doubt, canned jellied eels. The slimy texture and murky appearance were a nightmare I won’t soon forget. In the middle were the standard canned soups—edible but uninspired. The most surprisingly delicious discovery, however, was a can of smoked mussels. They were firm, flavorful, and tasted incredible on a simple cracker with a squeeze of lemon. They were a gourmet treat hiding in plain sight, proving that you shouldn’t always judge a food by its can.
I Went on a Blind Taste Test of 10 Different Brands of Bottled Water: The Shocking Results (Worst to Best)
My blind water taste test shattered my perceptions. The worst-tasting water had a distinct plastic-like aftertaste that was hard to ignore. The middle of the pack was just…water, with no defining features. The most shocking result, however, was that the most expensive, imported “artesian” water was consistently ranked lower than the cheap, generic store brand. The winner was praised for its clean, crisp taste with no aftertaste. It was a powerful reminder that marketing and a fancy bottle have absolutely no effect on actual quality when your eyes are closed.
Ranking the Most Common and Catastrophic Cooking Fails (and How to Fix Them) (Worst to Best)
In the kitchen, some mistakes are worse than others. The most catastrophic fail is burning something to a black crisp; that’s a funeral, not a fix. A less fatal but still frustrating fail is over-salting your food, which can sometimes be rescued by adding a potato or some acid. The most common and fixable fail, however, is a broken or curdled sauce. A quick blitz with an immersion blender or a whisked-in egg yolk can magically bring it back to life, turning a moment of panic into a huge sigh of relief.
I Tried 5 Different “Viral” TikTok Recipes to See if They’re Actually Good (Worst to Best)
My week of cooking viral TikTok recipes was a rollercoaster. The worst was a “pasta chip” recipe that was a greasy, time-consuming mess and tasted like stale pasta. The middle was a whipped coffee that was fun to make but ultimately too sweet. The absolute best, and a new staple in my life, was a simple tomato and feta pasta bake. It required almost no effort, and the result was an incredibly creamy, savory, and delicious sauce. It was a rare case where the reality was even better than the viral hype, proving some trends are popular for a reason.
Ranking the Best and Worst Kitchen Gadgets You Can Buy for Under $20 (Worst to Best)
My budget kitchen gadget experiment revealed a hero and a villain. The absolute worst gadget was a banana slicer—a perfect example of a useless, single-purpose tool that just clutters up your drawer. A more useful but still non-essential item was a strawberry huller. The best gadget, the undisputed champion of my kitchen, is a simple bench scraper. For under ten dollars, it scoops up chopped vegetables, cleans my counter in seconds, and even divides dough. It’s a versatile workhorse that I use every single day, proving the best tools are often the simplest.
I Compared the Quality of 10 Different Supermarket Sushi Brands: A Raw Ranking (Worst to Best)
My supermarket sushi quest was a raw deal. The worst offender had mushy, gummy rice and fish that looked disturbingly dull and grey—I took one bite and threw it away. The mid-tier options were edible but bland, the kind of sushi that makes you sad. The surprising winner, however, was a store brand that clearly made their sushi fresh that day. The rice was perfectly cooked, the fish was vibrant and firm, and the avocado was bright green. It was a delicious and satisfying meal that proved good supermarket sushi is possible, but you have to be selective.
Ranking the Most Addictive and Overpriced Coffee Shop Drinks (Worst to Best)
My coffee shop audit revealed a clear money pit. The most overpriced drink is always the seasonal specialty latte with five different kinds of syrup and a mountain of whipped cream. You’re paying mostly for sugar and marketing. A more reasonable, but still addictive, choice is a standard latte. The most addictive drink that offers the best value, however, is a simple, well-made iced Americano. You get the full, unadulterated flavor of the espresso and a powerful caffeine kick for a fraction of the price of the sugary concoctions, making it the smartest choice for a daily habit.
I Tried to Go Vegan for a Month: The Easiest and Hardest Parts Ranked (Worst to Best)
My vegan month was a journey of discovery. The absolute hardest part was navigating social situations and realizing how many seemingly innocent foods contain hidden dairy or eggs. It required constant vigilance. The easiest part, surprisingly, was cooking at home. I discovered a whole new world of delicious and creative plant-based recipes that were anything but boring. The best part was the feeling of energy and lightness I had by the end of the month. The social challenge was real, but the personal rewards were even more so.
Ranking the Most Important and Useless Spices to Have in Your Kitchen (Worst to Best)
Building my spice rack taught me a lesson in utility. The most useless spice is that obscure, pre-made blend I bought for one specific recipe and never touched again; it’s just taking up space. More useful, but still not essential, are single-purpose spices like celery salt. The most important spices, the true MVPs, are the versatile workhorses: smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and oregano. With just these few, I can pivot between Mexican, Italian, and Middle Eastern flavors. They are the foundational building blocks that can bring almost any dish to life.
I Compared the Taste of 10 Different Plant-Based Milks: A Dairy-Lover’s Verdict (Worst to Best)
As a dairy lover, my plant-based milk test had a clear winner. The worst was an unsweetened rice milk that was thin, watery, and had a strange, chalky aftertaste. The middle ground was almond milk, which was fine on cereal but separated weirdly in my coffee. The undisputed champion was oat milk. It was creamy, slightly sweet, and behaved almost exactly like dairy milk in my coffee, frothing up beautifully for a latte. It was the only one that didn’t feel like a compromise, making it the easy winner for a dairy-drinker like me.
Ranking the Most Common and Annoying Things People Do in Restaurants (Worst to Best)
As a frequent diner, some behaviors are worse than others. A common annoyance is the person who takes a loud phone call at their table. More frustrating is the customer who sends their food back for a ridiculous reason after eating half of it. The absolute worst thing you can do in a restaurant, however, is be rude or condescending to the staff. They are working incredibly hard, and treating them with disrespect is a guaranteed way to ruin everyone’s experience, including your own. It costs nothing to be kind.
I Tried to Bake a Sourdough Bread That Actually Looks Good: My Attempts Ranked (Worst to Best)
My sourdough journey was a humbling experience. My first attempt was the worst: a dense, pale, flat disc that could have been used as a doorstop. My next few attempts showed progress—I was getting some rise, but the crust was weak and there was no coveted “ear.” My final, successful loaf, however, was a thing of beauty. It had a deep golden, crackly crust, a beautiful open crumb, and that perfect tangy flavor. The journey was long, but that triumphant moment of pulling a perfect loaf from the oven was worth every failed attempt.
Ranking the Best and Worst Beers From Around the World (Worst to Best)
My global beer tour had some definite highs and lows. The worst beer is consistently the mass-produced, light adjunct lager that tastes more like fizzy, yellow water than actual beer. A step up are the generic European lagers that are clean but completely forgettable. The best beer I’ve ever had, however, was a complex Belgian Tripel. It was strong but surprisingly smooth, with incredible notes of fruit, spice, and a warm, pleasant finish. It was a beer that made you stop and think, proving that beer can be as complex and rewarding as a fine wine.
I Compared the Price and Quality of Groceries at 5 Different Supermarkets (Worst to Best)
My week of grocery shopping at different stores was an eye-opener. The worst was the fancy, high-end market where I spent a fortune on basic items like milk and eggs. The standard national chain was the middle ground, with decent prices but mediocre produce. The clear winner, for both price and quality, was a budget-friendly store like Aldi. Their produce was fresh, their unique store brands were delicious, and my final bill was almost half of what I spent at the fancy store. It proved that you don’t have to pay more for high-quality groceries.
Ranking the Most Important and Overlooked Knife Skills for Home Cooks (Worst to Best)
Learning to cook, I realized some knife skills are more crucial than others. An overlooked but important skill is simply learning how to hold the knife properly, which gives you more control. More critical is learning how to make uniform cuts, which ensures everything cooks evenly. The most important knife skill, however, is learning how to do it all safely. Using the “claw” grip to protect your fingertips and going slow is not just a technique; it’s the fundamental rule that prevents a trip to the emergency room and builds the confidence to cook fearlessly.
I Tried to Make a Gourmet Meal Using Only Dollar Store Ingredients (Worst to Best)
My dollar store dinner party was a creative challenge. The worst part of the meal was the appetizer, which involved a strange, canned processed meat product that no amount of seasoning could save. The main course, a simple pasta with a sauce made from canned tomatoes, garlic powder, and dried herbs, was surprisingly decent and edible. The star of the show, however, was the dessert. Using a boxed cake mix and a can of frosting, I made a perfectly acceptable and genuinely tasty cake, proving that even with the most basic ingredients, you can still end a meal on a high note.
Ranking the Most Delicious and Disappointing Girl Scout Cookies (Worst to Best)
My annual Girl Scout cookie ranking is a serious affair. The most disappointing cookie is always the shortbread; it’s just a dry, boring cookie that feels like an afterthought. A more beloved but still mid-tier cookie for me is the classic Thin Mint—good, but a bit one-dimensional. The most delicious, the undisputed champion, is the Samoa (or Caramel deLite). The perfect combination of chewy caramel, toasted coconut, and rich chocolate is a textural and flavorful masterpiece that no other cookie in the box can compete with. It is a true work of art.
I Compared the Taste of Coke vs. Pepsi in a Blind Taste Test With 20 People (Worst to Best)
My Coke vs. Pepsi blind taste test party had some surprising results. While most people claimed to have a strong preference, nearly half couldn’t correctly identify which was which. When it came to pure taste, Pepsi won by a slight margin, with people describing it as sweeter and having a sharper fizz. Coke was described as being smoother with a hint of vanilla. The biggest takeaway was that brand loyalty is incredibly powerful, as several die-hard Coke fans were shocked to discover they had chosen Pepsi as their favorite in the blind test.
Ranking the Most Common and Dangerous Food Safety Mistakes People Make at Home (Worst to Best)
In the home kitchen, some food safety mistakes are scarier than others. A common but less severe mistake is not washing produce. A more dangerous error is letting food cool on the counter for too long before refrigerating it, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. The most common and dangerous mistake, however, is cross-contamination—using the same cutting board for raw chicken and then for vegetables you’ll eat raw. It’s like an invisible poison, a simple act of carelessness that can have very serious, and entirely preventable, consequences.
I Tried to Recreate My Favorite Childhood Snacks From Scratch: A Nostalgic Ranking (Worst to Best)
My trip down a nostalgic culinary memory lane was a mixed bag. The worst attempt was trying to recreate a brightly colored, artificially flavored fruit snack; it was impossible to get the weirdly satisfying rubbery texture just right. A more successful, but still not perfect, attempt was a homemade version of a Hostess cupcake. The best and most rewarding recreation, however, was a simple homemade oatmeal creme pie. It tasted so much better than the packaged version, with a soft, chewy cookie and a rich, creamy filling that instantly transported me back to my childhood lunchbox.
Ranking the Best and Worst Wines Under $15 (Worst to Best)
My budget wine tasting sorted the gems from the junk. The worst wines were the overly sweet ones that tasted more like juice and left me with a headache. The middle of the pack were the generic, mass-produced bottles that were drinkable but completely forgettable. The best wines under $15, however, were the hidden gems from less-famous regions like Portugal or Chile. I found a red blend that was rich, complex, and tasted like it should have cost three times as much, proving that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to drink truly great wine.
I Compared the Menus of McDonald’s in 5 Different Countries (Worst to Best)
My global McDonald’s tour was a fascinating cultural lesson. The worst menu was in a country that had an almost identical, and somewhat limited, menu to the US. The mid-tier countries had one or two unique items, like a different dipping sauce. The best McDonald’s menu, by far, was in a country that had a whole range of incredible, region-specific items, like a shrimp burger and a taro-filled pie for dessert. It was a brilliant example of a global brand adapting to local tastes, making a familiar experience feel exciting and new.
Ranking the Most Important and Overlooked Elements of Food Presentation (Worst to Best)
Trying to make my home cooking look restaurant-worthy taught me a few tricks. The most overlooked but impactful element is simply using a clean plate and wiping the rim before serving. A more advanced technique is to add a pop of color with a sprinkle of fresh herbs or a dash of paprika. The most important element, however, is creating height. Instead of letting food lie flat, piling it gently in the center of the plate creates a more professional and appealing look. It’s a simple trick that instantly makes your food look more delicious.
I Tried to Cook a Perfect Steak Using 5 Different Methods: A Carnivore’s Ranking (Worst to Best)
My quest for the perfect steak had a clear winner. The worst method was simply pan-searing a cold steak, which resulted in a burnt exterior and a raw interior. A better method was grilling, which offered great flavor but was hard to control. The absolute best, most foolproof method was the reverse sear. By cooking the steak slowly in a low oven first and then searing it in a screaming-hot pan, I got a perfect, edge-to-edge pink interior and a beautiful, dark crust. It was a restaurant-quality steak that was surprisingly easy to achieve at home.
Ranking the Most Common and Annoying Food and Diet Myths (Worst to Best)
The world of nutrition is full of myths. A common but annoying one is that you need to do a “detox” or “cleanse” to be healthy; your liver and kidneys do that for you for free. A more pervasive myth is that carbs are inherently bad and make you fat. The most annoying and persistent myth, however, is that there is a single “magic” diet that works for everyone. The reality is that the best diet is a balanced, sustainable one that you can actually stick to in the long term, not a restrictive fad.
I Compared the Taste of 10 Different Hot Sauce Brands: A Fiery Ranking (Worst to Best)
My hot sauce taste test separated the bland from the brilliant. The worst hot sauces were the ones that were all heat and no flavor—a one-dimensional, punishing experience. The middle of the pack were the classic cayenne-based sauces, which were good but not very exciting. The best hot sauces, however, had a complex, delicious flavor profile that was enhanced by the heat, not overwhelmed by it. The winner had a fruity, smoky flavor with a satisfying, slow-building burn that made me want to keep coming back for more, proving that the best hot sauces are about flavor first.
Ranking the Best and Worst Cheeses for a Charcuterie Board (Worst to Best)
Building the perfect charcuterie board taught me that not all cheeses are created equal. The worst cheese to use is a pre-cubed, rubbery cheddar; it’s boring and shows a lack of effort. A better but still safe choice is a standard brie. The best cheeses for a board offer a variety of textures and flavors. My winning combination is a creamy, tangy goat cheese, a sharp and crumbly aged white cheddar, and a rich, buttery triple-cream brie. This trifecta creates a dynamic and delicious experience that keeps people coming back for another bite.
I Tried to Grow My Own Vegetables in My Tiny Apartment: My Harvest Ranked (Worst to Best)
My apartment gardening experiment yielded mixed results. The worst harvest was from my tomato plant, which, after months of care, produced a single, sad, mealy tomato. My attempt at carrots resulted in tiny, gnarled nubs. The absolute best and most rewarding harvest, however, came from my small pot of basil. It grew like a weed, and the ability to pick fresh, aromatic basil leaves whenever I wanted to elevate a simple pasta or salad felt like a luxurious and magical superpower. It proved that even in a small space, you can grow something that brings you joy.
Ranking the Most Important and Overlooked Aspects of Meal Prepping (Worst to Best)
My journey into meal prepping taught me some hard lessons. The most overlooked aspect is planning for “flavor fatigue”—eating the same meal five days in a row is a recipe for failure. A more important aspect is choosing recipes that actually reheat well. The most important aspect of successful meal prepping, however, is to prep ingredients, not just full meals. Having a container of chopped onions, cooked quinoa, and grilled chicken allows you to assemble a variety of different, fresh-tasting meals throughout the week, which is the true secret to making the habit stick.
I Compared the Quality of 5 Different Meal Kit Delivery Services (Worst to Best)
My week of testing meal kits revealed a big difference in quality. The worst service sent me produce that was on the verge of going bad and had a recipe with several missing ingredients. The mid-tier services were fine but had boring, repetitive recipes. The best meal kit service, however, was a clear standout. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, the recipes were creative and easy to follow, and the final meals were genuinely delicious and taught me new cooking techniques. It felt less like a subscription box and more like a fun, interactive cooking class.
Ranking the Most Common and Frustrating Things About Tipping Culture (Worst to Best)
Navigating tipping culture can be an awkward dance. A common frustration is the pre-calculated tip suggestions on a bill that start at 20%. More frustrating is the pressure to tip for a simple counter-service transaction where very little service was provided. The most frustrating thing, however, is the lack of transparency and the fact that the burden of paying a living wage is placed on the customer instead of the employer. It turns a simple act of gratitude into a complicated and often guilt-ridden math problem at the end of every meal.
I Tried to Make My Own Pasta From Scratch for the First Time: A Messy Ranking (Worst to Best)
My first attempt at making pasta from scratch was a humbling, flour-covered disaster. The worst part was my initial attempt at kneading, which resulted in a sticky, unworkable blob that glued itself to my counter. A better, but still flawed, attempt was rolling out the dough, which ended up being uneven and too thick. The best and most triumphant moment, however, was successfully cutting the dough into beautiful, silky strands of fettuccine. Even though it wasn’t perfect, cooking and eating pasta that I had made with my own two hands was an incredibly satisfying and delicious experience.
Ranking the Best and Worst Toppings for a Pizza (Worst to Best)
As a pizza purist, my topping ranking is controversial. The absolute worst topping, in my opinion, is anchovies. The overpowering salty, fishy flavor hijacks the entire pizza. A more debatable but still bottom-tier topping is pineapple; its sweetness just doesn’t belong. The absolute best pizza topping, however, is fresh basil, added after the pizza comes out of the oven. Its bright, aromatic flavor perfectly complements the rich tomato and creamy mozzarella without overwhelming them. It’s a simple, elegant addition that elevates a good pizza to a great one.
I Compared the Taste of 10 Different Instant Ramen Brands: A College Student’s Guide (Worst to Best)
My instant ramen taste test sorted the champions from the chaff. The worst was the cheapest store brand, with noodles that tasted like cardboard and a broth that was just salty water. The middle of the pack were the standard, familiar brands that are decent but uninspired. The undisputed champion was a premium brand from Japan. It had chewy, substantial noodles and a rich, complex, and deeply savory broth that tasted almost as good as a restaurant. It proved that for just a little more money, you can have a truly satisfying and delicious instant ramen experience.
Ranking the Most Important and Overlooked Health Benefits of Different Teas (Worst to Best)
Exploring the world of tea revealed some surprising health benefits. An overlooked benefit is the ability of peppermint tea to aid digestion and soothe an upset stomach. A more well-known but still important benefit is the calming, sleep-promoting effect of chamomile tea. The most important health benefit, however, comes from the high concentration of powerful antioxidants called catechins in green tea. These compounds have been linked to a wide range of health benefits, from improved brain function to a lower risk of chronic diseases, making green tea a true super-beverage.
I Tried to Go on a Keto Diet for a Month: My Cravings Ranked (Worst to Best)
My month on the keto diet was a battle against my cravings. The absolute worst and most intense craving, especially in the first week, was for something as simple as a piece of fruit. My body screamed for the sweetness and familiarity of a banana or an apple. A less intense but persistent craving was for crunchy, carby snacks like potato chips. The most surprising part was that after the initial “keto flu,” my craving for sugary desserts almost completely vanished. The desire for simple, wholesome carbs, however, remained the biggest challenge.
Ranking the Most Delicious and Disappointing Desserts From Around the World (Worst to Best)
My global dessert tour had some sweet victories and bitter defeats. The most disappointing dessert was a famous European pastry that looked beautiful but was surprisingly dry and bland. The middle ground was American-style cheesecake—delicious but often overwhelmingly rich. The most delicious and perfect dessert I’ve ever had, however, was a simple scoop of pistachio gelato from a small shop in Italy. The intense, authentic pistachio flavor and the incredibly smooth, creamy texture was a moment of pure, unadulterated bliss that no fancy, complicated dessert has ever been able to top.
I Compared the Taste of 5 Different Non-Alcoholic Beers: A Sober Ranking (Worst to Best)
My non-alcoholic beer taste test had a clear winner. The worst NA beer tasted like sweet, unfermented grain—essentially, bread-flavored soda water. The mid-tier options tasted like a watered-down version of a cheap lager. The best non-alcoholic beer, however, was a craft IPA that was genuinely delicious. It had the hoppy bitterness, citrusy aroma, and satisfying mouthfeel of a real craft beer, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything except the alcohol. It proved that non-alcoholic beer has finally evolved from a sad substitute to a legitimately tasty beverage.
Ranking the Most Common and Annoying Things About Grocery Shopping (Worst to Best)
A trip to the grocery store is a journey through minor annoyances. A common frustration is the shopper who is oblivious to their surroundings, blocking the entire aisle with their cart. More annoying are the long checkout lines with only a few registers open. The most annoying thing about grocery shopping, however, is getting home and realizing you forgot the one key ingredient you went to the store for in the first place. That moment of defeat, staring into your pantry, is a uniquely frustrating experience that no amount of careful list-making can always prevent.
I Tried to Make Sushi at Home for the First Time: A Humiliating Ranking (Worst to Best)
My first attempt at making sushi at home was a comedy of errors. The worst part was trying to make the sushi rice, which I turned into a sticky, mushy paste. My first attempt at rolling resulted in a sad, loose log that fell apart the moment I tried to slice it. My best and most successful roll of the night was still misshapen and ugly, but it held together and was, to my surprise, edible. It wasn’t pretty, but that small victory in a sea of humiliating failures tasted incredibly sweet.
Ranking the Best and Worst Condiments to Have in Your Fridge (Worst to Best)
A well-stocked fridge is defined by its condiments. The worst condiment is that half-used jar of a weird, specific chutney you bought for one recipe three years ago. It’s just taking up space. A better but still non-essential condiment is something like relish. The best and most essential condiment, however, is a good quality Dijon mustard. It can be used in salad dressings, marinades, and sauces, or simply spread on a sandwich. Its versatility and ability to add a sharp, complex flavor to almost anything makes it the undisputed MVP of the condiment shelf.
I Compared the Taste of 10 Different Energy Drinks: A Jittery Ranking (Worst to Best)
My highly caffeinated energy drink test was a journey into artificial flavors. The worst drinks were the ones that tasted like a syrupy, chemical mess and gave me an unpleasant, jittery buzz followed by a massive crash. The middle of the pack were the classic flavors that were tolerable but overly sweet. The best energy drink, surprisingly, had a lighter, cleaner taste with notes of real fruit. It provided a smoother, more focused energy boost without the jitters, proving that an energy drink can be effective without tasting like a science experiment gone wrong.
Ranking the Most Important and Overlooked Steps to Making a Perfect Grilled Cheese (Worst to Best)
Perfecting the grilled cheese is a science. An overlooked but crucial step is to shred your own cheese; it melts far more evenly than pre-shredded varieties. A more important step is to butter the outside of the bread, not the inside of the pan. The most important and surprisingly overlooked step, however, is to cook it on medium-low heat. It’s tempting to crank up the heat for a faster sandwich, but low and slow is the only way to get a perfectly golden, crispy crust while ensuring the cheese inside is completely melted and gooey.
I Tried to Eat Only Local and Seasonal Food for a Month: The Challenges Ranked (Worst to Best)
My month of eating locally and seasonally was a rewarding challenge. The hardest part was giving up my morning coffee and bananas, as those items simply don’t grow where I live. A more manageable challenge was learning to cook with unfamiliar vegetables from my local farm share. The best and easiest part was the incredible quality and flavor of the food. A fresh, seasonal strawberry tastes infinitely better than one that has been shipped from thousands of miles away. It was a delicious reminder of the amazing bounty that exists right in my own backyard.
Ranking the Most Common and Gross Things Found in Restaurant Kitchens (According to Chefs) (Worst to Best)
According to chefs I’ve spoken to, some kitchen realities are grosser than others. A common but less horrifying issue is cooks not using tasting spoons properly. A grosser and more frequent problem is the buildup of mold and slime inside the ice machine, a place that is rarely cleaned properly. The absolute grossest and most common thing, however, is the state of the “clean” rags used to wipe down surfaces. They are often used for multiple tasks without being sanitized, making them a major source of cross-contamination.
I Compared the Taste of 5 Different Veggie Burger Patties: A Meat-Lover’s Verdict (Worst to Best)
As a meat-lover, my veggie burger test had a surprising outcome. The worst patties were the ones that tried too hard to imitate beef but ended up with a strange, rubbery texture and a weird aftertaste. The middle of the pack were the bland, mushy patties made primarily of beans. The best veggie burger, by a long shot, was one that didn’t try to be meat at all. It was a hearty, flavorful patty made from mushrooms and black beans, with a great texture and a savory, delicious flavor that was fantastic in its own right, proving that veggie burgers are best when they celebrate vegetables.
Ranking the Most Impactful and Overrated Food Trends of the Last Decade (Worst to Best)
Looking back at the last decade of food trends, some were more flash than substance. The most overrated trend was putting activated charcoal in everything, from lattes to ice cream; it looked cool on Instagram but tasted like nothing and had questionable health benefits. A more impactful trend has been the rise of gluten-free products. The most impactful and important food trend, however, has been the growing movement towards local, sustainable, and plant-based eating. This shift in consciousness has fundamentally changed how we think about our food, where it comes from, and its impact on the planet.