If you spend any time on TikTok, Instagram, or pretty much any social media, you’ve probably seen your fair share of popular food trends. And some are certainly better than others. Redditor BreezyBlossomDrift asked, “What cooking trends are actually worth the hype?” Here’s what people said.
1.
“The dense bean salads on TikTok. Calling them dense is a bit odd, but they are easy, healthy, and store well for meal prep.”
2.
“The TikTok breakfast wrap. Use a pan that’s the same size as your tortilla. Preheat oiled pan, scramble two eggs in a bowl, add eggs to hot oiled pan, lay tortilla on top of uncooked eggs, when eggs are firm, flip, add cheese in a line down the middle, trifold sides over cheese, cook til cheese melts and tortilla to desired crispiness.”
3.
“Instant Pot meals. Pressure cookers are handy as heck in general, and making them electric and easy to use has really gotten people into them again.”
4.
“The Emily Mariko salmon bowls. They’re a staple in our house that my kid is obsessed with.”
5.
“Chili crisp in oil. Is it trendy? Yes. Is it delicious on almost everything savory? Also, yes.”
6.
“Airfryers in general. I thought they were just a gimmick that would take up counter space that I’d never end up using. Then I got one for Christmas, and I use it at least four times a week. Want to heat up leftovers? Air fryer. Want to make a side or a dinner for one without heating up your whole oven/house? Airfryer. Want something crispy fast? Airfryer.”
7.
“No knead bread. The Mark Bittman / New York Times no-knead bread is basically 95% as good as most of the loaves you could get from artisan bakeries.”
8.
“Charcuterie everything. I’ve started doing ‘charcuterie’ for breakfast, and it’s been a game changer. Just some crackers with good cheese and balsamic glaze, plus some fruit and nuts. Have it with a protein shake mixed with coffee,e and it’s between 40-50 grams of protein plus some fiber. And it doesn’t get boring because you can mix up all the flavors.”
9.
“Frozen veggies. Frozen veggies are the real MVP. They have the same nutrients as fresh, zero guilt, and they don’t judge you for forgetting them in the fridge for ten days.”
10.
“I’ve noticed Eric Kim on New York Times Cooking has been punching out a lot of super simple recipes that feature one powerhouse condiment/seasoning as the star of the show (gochujang, miso, hoisin, etc) with only a couple of other ingredients and a base like noodles or rice. They are so easy to bulk up with some steamed/sauteed greens and a protein without spending more than 15 minutes in the kitchen, and they are pretty cheap. It’s great to see examples of how cooking doesn’t have to be elaborate with ten or more ingredients and a 30-plus minute commitment. I have been cooking that way for a while, but I have seen a lot of people who don’t have the intuition for it and get overwhelmed with trendy cookbooks and blog recipes.”
11.
“Pizza beans. I saw them all over Instagram, but they have become a favorite dinner when my husband is away. Protein and fiber-rich, filling, and cozy.”
12.
“The TikTok pasta with tomatoes, feta, olive oil, and pasta. It’s so good for how simple and easy it is, it’s the one recipe I have committed to memory, I’ve made it so many times.”
13.
“Flaky maldon salt. It seems silly to pay that much for salt until you use it. It makes everything better.”
14.
“That Dubai chocolate (milk chocolate with pistachio filling) is actually really awesome.”
15.
“Overnight oats! I eat them cold in the summer and l can heat them up in the microwave for the winter. And l can change the toppings every morning to add texture.”
16.
“Mason jar salads. I make eight salads for the week and put them into mason jars. Yes, you have to dump them in a bowl. The mason jars keep the salad fresh for four or five days. I can prep lunches for my family and not have to make salads every morning.”
17.
“Personally, I’m all for the ‘lazy girl dinner’ movement. They are realistic meals that don’t require 30 ingredients or two hours of prep.”
18.
“Cream cheese recipes. Cream cheese is awesome and can be added to Crockpot or Instant Pot meals to make them creamy. Cream or milk splits, so using cream cheese is a smart substitute.”
Blue green
19.
“Lasagna soup. My kids love it, my husband loves it. It takes 30 minutes and minimal effort to put together, and it’s warm and cozy on cold nights!”
20.
“The viral Parmesan crusted potatoes. Honestly, I could eat those every day for the rest of my life. They are pure heaven.”
Do you have something to add? What is a recent food trend you’ve tried that was (or wasn’t) worth the hype? Tell us about it in the comments or in this anonymous form.