Your food dislikes -- items or categories or methods or recipes?
When you think about the foods that you dislike, are they more likely to be specific ingredients or flavors, or do you dislike whole categories of foods? Or is it more likely that you might like a dish in general, but be vehemently opposed to a particular recipe or method for making that dish?
For example, I dislike raisins and coconut in most circumstances. Licorice flavor is iffy. I like fennel seeds in Italian sausage and I like star anise in Chinese food, but I don't like licorice-flavored sweets at all.
I know people who will dismiss whole categories of food, rather than specifying ingredients that they dislike. For example, they don't like Mexican food, or Chinese food or they don't like casseroles or stews or anything involving a sauce. Or they don't like anything green. Or they don't like anything that swims.
I can't actually think of a whole category that I dislike.
As far as particular recipes/methods, I know someone who will eat spaghetti if the spaghetti and sauce are served in separate bowls and diners mix the ingredients on their own plates. But she thinks that if they are mixed in the serving container it is absolutely gross, and she won't touch it.
I suppose that a preference for rare or well-done meat falls into the same category, and I'll say that I prefer a steak to be cooked to a particular doneness. But although it's a strong preference, if someone served me an overdone steak, I wouldn't throw my hands in the air and proclaim that is was gross and refuse to eat it.
There have been, however, particular meals that I haven't been fond of. But those wouldn't stop me from trying the same thing again, perhaps in a different venue. And there are some combinations of items that I'm a little skeptical of. Like chocolate covered frozen bananas. It just doesn't appeal, even though I like both chocolate and bananas as separate entities, and I like them combined in other dishes.
What about you?
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29 Comments:
If it's so hot and spicy that it burns my lips, tongue, and throat, then I can't taste anything and I'm not only not interested, I'm kinda p.o.'d that you'd deliberately put me in pain without warning me. My acid reflux doesn't like it either.
I've discovered that I really, really don't like ricotta cheese. It ruins cheesecake completely for me. I can tolerate it in lasagna or stuffed shells if there is lots of parm, mozzarella and sauce to disguise it, but the texture and taste still come through. I love cottage cheese, so how does any of this make sense? I have no idea, but if it has ricotta, I'll pass.....forever.
PerkyMac at 2:44PM on 07/22/08
The only foods I dislike are canned tuna (smelly), grapefruit juice (bitter), mussels (bad cooking class experience), and raw onion (but it's growing on me.) I don't think those have any correlation, and I like to think I'm flexible and adventurous enough to be able to walk into any restaurant and find something to eat, which isn't the case for my picky friends who cast off certain food groups as "gross."
I know a lot of people who dislike seafood, but it's mostly due to the fact that they grew up in a region where fresh, well-prepared seafood wasn't available. I don't blame them; I would be grossed out if my only exposure to seafood was Red Lobster and frozen fish sticks! One of my friends was raised to believe a meal isn't complete without some sort of meat (annoying rhyme, sorry).
One dish I'm not a fan of is spaghetti and meat sauce. It always seems so watery and bland to me, plus I like a noodle to be able to hold a sauce, so those two together don't work for me.
LiveToEat at 3:09PM on 07/22/08
Hm, I don't know, would overcooked meat be a category? I've eaten my share of it (out of politeness), but I dislike it very much. It's not gross, but to me, it's certainly not enjoyable. For that matter, I rarely declare any food "gross", as there is probably someone out there who likes it (it's just the way I was brought up, in fact, I hear my Gran saying, "You should never say 'gross' or 'yuck' about food! You can always just say that you dislike it instead":-)).
I can't eat overcooked pasta even out of politeness.
I generally don't eat cooked fish. I do try a bite here and there, but nothing has "converted" me so far, although I did like steamed Chilean sea bass with soy-sesame sauce, there was no "fishiness" to it whatsoever. That said, I love shellfish, and have no problem with sushi (I do have to dip my sushi in soy sauce, so I wonder if it's a factor here).
I detest beets and I will never even try them again to see if I may be wrong about them (a kindergarten trauma).
I dislike bananas, but I do try them from time to time, only to discover that I still don't like them. However, I do like banana bread. In fact, there are quite a few things that I wouldn't eat on their own, but I will accept (and perhaps, enjoy) them as an ingredient - I wrote yesterday about peanut butter, which I'm not fond of on it's own, but at the same time, I love peanut butter mouse and will enjoy a slice of peanut butter cheesecake. I dislike melons, but recently I had a chilled cantaloupe and lobster soup, and it was exquisite.
I do not eat dried or cooked fruit, with very few exceptions - it's a texture thing. Funny though - I like apfelstrudel, but cannot eat apple pie. Again, I tried.
Like Perky, I cannot eat super-hot foods, it burns my taste buds and all I can taste is fire.
There are plenty of things I don't eat, but I do not usually dismiss whole categories of food, and for the most part, I do give foods I used to dislike, a try - it worked with cottage cheese, aubergines, mushrooms and hummus, to name just a few. Oh, I rarely eat processed foods - this probably does qualify as a category, but that's a whole other discussion.
I can easily think of more, but I reckon it's time to stop.
brooke29 at 3:22PM on 07/22/08
I had to pause and think about this one. I was originally going to name specific foods that I dislike, and then I realized that in many cases, when they're prepared differently or combined with skill and other ingredients, foods I "don't like" can wow me.
So I would say that rather than ingredients themselves, I dislike spice/flavor combinations. Almost any original food's texture and flavor profile can be altered, and it's the one the chef highlights that makes a difference. In that sense, I suppose I'm closer to those people who say "I don't like Indian/Mexican/whatever" because many ethnic foods use particular spice combinations. While I'm not picky enough to dismiss a whole cultural palate, it's definitely certain flavors that throw me off.
Pammeh at 3:33PM on 07/22/08
I have some rice issues. I like plain jasmine rice or basmati, or even long grain white. But I don't like brown, short grain, or risotto. Nor arancini, nor paella.
But I also dislike saffron and balsamic vinegar. I feel that these items "take over" whatever dish they're added to, both in taste and appearance. They're too assertive for my palate.
Kerosena at 3:35PM on 07/22/08
I have texture issues. I hate slimey, greasy, or any combination thereof. Mayo, okra, or cold fried foods.
beth1 at 3:49PM on 07/22/08
I absolutely hate jello. I don't know why, but it just gives me the shivers and even though I'm the laughingstock of my family, I will not eat it under any circumstances. I also don't care for raw onions. Cooked onions are ok as long as they are chopped well and not in big pieces. (I don't mind if they are used in cooking dishes, but I will eat around them if possible.)
anntr at 4:47PM on 07/22/08
Like beth1, I have issues with texture. Won't eat any type of rice, lima beans, oatmeal, grits and the like.
Like Perky, I am not a fan of overly spicy foods.
I am a pretty open minded eater when it comes to flavors, but I don't care for dill or tarragon.
As for Jello? Bleh!
izatryt at 4:57PM on 07/22/08
Interesting question....I have some food dislikes and a few allergies as well. If I am served a food that I am not fond of, I will generally eat it (I can still hear my grandmother telling me to be a polite guest). If it's something I am allergic to, then I would not eat it.
I also have texture issues...jello, cottage cheese...not my thing.
I like bananas, but don't like them in anything (bread, smoothies, icecream)
I don't care for organ meats.
I like most cuisines in general and wouldn't rule out a whole cuisine.
I don't care for tarragon much, but will try something that has tarragon.
I am always open to trying new foods and combinations. I recently tried chocolate goat cheese (quite yummy with strawberries). Last winter I tried a chocolate rosemary truffle and was amazed by the combination and it's now a favorite.
I find that as I get older, I enjoy many things that I did not previously, so I do keep my options open and generally I am pleased with the results.
I recently had blue cheese in something and while not really something I liked...it wasn't bad, so who knows.
I do get annoyed when I have guests for dinner and they turn their nose up at something I've prepared....especially when they make such a fuss and they really don't know that they don't like it. Okay, so not really annoyed....totally peeved!
Pawsinhand at 5:26PM on 07/22/08
Good topic question as always db! :)
There are almost no individual food items I don't like (of what I have been able to try, plenty of "fancier" or less available foods have yet to cross my lips...) but certain combos ick me out.
Corn. I love it on the cob, I will even (if I have to) eat a pile of it cooked from frozen, or in mixed (but plain) veggies. Other than that it absolutely makes me ill to look at in a dish. I don't know why, but I will not eat a dish that has corn kernels in it. Not soups, chili, rice dishes, puddings etc. Yet I love anything made from corn meal. Those soft corn puddings I often see served would be fantastic without the whole kernels. Corn chowder...bleh. Don't even show me canned corn. Just can't do it. I have tried to figure out why this is, as it is mostly texture and visual appeal, not taste. Must have been a childhood soup trauma or something, but it just cannot be overcome.
Eggs. I don't eat them in a breakfasty way very often, but I can sometimes, if I am in the right mood. Once in a great while I can do chopped hard-boiled in a good pasta/tuna salad etc, and I love the hard yolk part. But other than that, I do not want to see chunks of eggs in my food. Not in fried rice and absolutely not in Indian food, which makes me sad. So many dishes at Indian places look great, but then I see egg in them (I don't mind as garnish, I can pick it off) and I can't do it.
Don't even get me started on when they put raisins (yum) with egg in those dishes!
Overcooked can be a category, but that usually only happens when I am eating at another person's house, so it is not really a big deal as I am not there to critique the food, but to see friends. The only foods I simply cannot bear when soggy and overcooked are peppers (bell/colored) and that is texture again.
Like db said, there are certain other foods/combos that don't appeal to me as much as those same foods in other ways or separate, but no others than just ruin a meal and destroy my appetite. Most things I CAN eat, it becomes a matter of choice, rather than horror. :D
sadiepix at 5:32PM on 07/22/08
Soup. I can't stand soup. The taste, feel, look, stench. Blech. There is nothing appealing about it. No matter what kind it is. I don't even bother looking at the choices on a menu, and friends know better than to offer me any.
sfgoo at 5:32PM on 07/22/08
In general, I don't like fruit/meat combos. Hate pineapple with meat (teriyaki, sweet and sour)....I flip the page on those recipes real fast! But I do like apples with pork if there are lots of carmelized onions, and a tart berry and port combo with duck, so maybe i need to slow down on my recipe judgements....and look for not-too-sweet offerings. I wonder how a red onion/cranberry "marmalade" would be for pork roast....hmmm.
I feel so introspective now! Navel-gazing, (but not navel oranges, please!)
Cary at 6:02PM on 07/22/08
Wonderful topic db--but I must disagree that 'overcooked meat' is a food dislike. I'm a vegetarian, but I certainly dislike over or undercooked string beans from a can, although I love them when they are well-prepared.
To me, a food dislike is something that gives you the willies even when it's properly or well-prepared. Jello, as it does with others, just freaks me out. (although I'm not sure it's a food)!
I guess it is unfair to say 'I don't like Italian food' because it can appear under so many guises--I can say, I don't like the way Italian-American food is usually prepared here, with heavy red and white sauces, massive portions, and so forth--but I usually just say 'I'm not fond of Italian unless it's very good' to avoid making it complicated. But it can be annoying when people dismiss whole categories, like 'I hate vegetables, I hate Chinese and Japanese food,' and so forth.
Another category not so much a dislike is what PerkyMac said--food that gives causes pain, which for me is very spicy food, heavy dairy (gives me hives), food with lots of garlic and onions.
Foods that I just hate, even if well-prepared and made with real ingredients: gravy, ham steak (back when I ate meat), whipped cream, fruit-based ice cream and sherbets, and coconuts. So that I suppose is more 'foods' than categories.
HeartofGlass at 6:12PM on 07/22/08
Personally, the only significant food dislike I have is olives.
Now my boyfriend, he definitely has categorical food dislikes. He won't eat foods that are messy or foods that require too much effort. No ribs, fried chicken, buffalo wings, corn on the cob, popcorn, or shellfish. I keep on trying to tell him that he is neurotic. I have gotten him to eat and like other foods that he would never eat before though, including rabbit, mushrooms, hush puppies, and sushi, much to the amazement of his mother. While he tells me that the fried oyster was "the worst food he's ever eaten" I still have hope for the future.
agk685 at 6:31PM on 07/22/08
Jello... especially LIME jello. I made it through the movie "Psycho" with my ability to take a shower intact, but when I saw the movie "The Blob", it was all over for jello and me. Especially LIME jello. Cold... green... slimy... and, from what that movie showed -- very, very dangerous! I just really don't like jello.
And, there's more! :
I love spicy food, but not so spicy it renders me breathless. I've never understood that. It just is not pleasurable. It's like intentional acid reflux.
Then, there is my distaste for cilantro. I guess I had a bar of soap shoved into my mouth one too many times as a kid to appreciate that taste.
I also don't "get" the love of Thai food, or for sushi. I don't enjoy either.
Cool Whip, "instant" foods, cheese whiz, canned soup... anything processed, really.
Wonder Bread. Know what artists and museums use to clean paintings? They ball up wonder bread and rub the paintings with it like an eraser. 'Nuff said.
Overly sweet foods, desserts, candies.
Bottled salad dressings.
White chocolate. Buyer, beware! -- It's not chocolate at all. It used to be considered a waste product of the chocolate-making process, but now it's flavored with vanilla and a LOT of sugar, and pawned off on an unsuspecting public as "Chocolate".
Brownie at 7:09PM on 07/22/08
I don't like very strong ingredients, e.g., onions, garlic, cilantro, because they are strong (offensive) smelling or tasting. When onions are cooked down until they no longer crunch in the tiniest bit, I will eat them.
I don't like greasy food. I don't like really buttery foods, nor do I care much for deep fried food. A lot of deep fried foods tends to be salty.
I HATE salty foods because I can't stand the flavor of salt or the way it ravages my throat a few hours later.
I don't like severe temperature ranges in my food. I usually sit and wait until my soup is warmer than room temperature. I prefer my food to be just off of room temperature -- cool or warm. Cold is fine if it's ice cream; icy, I don't dig.
Similarly, I can't stand overly sweet or sour things too. I hate hate hate that lemon/orange chicken that you get at Chinese restaurants. That stuff makes me gag. It is 1) deep fried 2) salty 3) overly sweet. This is probably the reason why I don't care for most candy and chocolates.
I don't like bitter food, like bitter melon. I am a bad example of an Okinawan. *hangs head in shame*
I don't care for most poultry. I hate poultry skin for the most part. The taste of fat T-O-T-A-L-L-Y turns me off in all meats - I don't care how it's prepared, it's disgusting tasting. I hate wings because they're not worth my trouble. Wing pieces always get thrown out. Turkey is the poultry product I hate the most because of the metallic flavor, for a lack of a better description.
Don't eat much pork because most preparations are usually too greasy. Bleah.
I hate overcooked food, but soup is my favorite meal. Go figure. I'm extremely, I mean EXTREMELY, anal about noodle doneness.
I will not eat certain vegetables raw like broccoli and cabbage (bad gas).
Even with this long list of dislikes and a few hatreds thrown in there, I'll try anything at least once.
Cassaendra at 7:13PM on 07/22/08
Oops, forgot:
Don't eat animals anymore. But, oh, how I miss bacon! And, pancetta....
Brownie at 7:13PM on 07/22/08
@db: You must be reading my mind..I was going to post a topic just like this. My co-workers and I had a discussion about it today. They are always amazed at me and my eating habits...
That said, this could get lengthy...
Jello-it's something that will NOT cross my lips, alcohol or no alcohol. It reminds me of chicken fat in my mouth. AWFUL. Don't care for jelly either-I'm a jam/preserves girl.
Fruit: I do not like any berries except for Strawberries. I do not like Cherries, Coconut, or any fruit that is not ripe. I will only eat bananas if I am in the mood (I ate wayyyyy to many as a child)-but LOVE banana bread (I would eat this everyday if possible). Any other Banana dessert I will not try because I do not like it all that much. I will not eat Kiwi by itself but love it in/on things. I like Prunes but not Prune Juice. I like raisins mixed in Trail Mix and Bread-that's it; I don't like them plain or on/in Cinnamon Rolls and Cookies.
Nuts: LOVE them (except macadamia) but HATE them in/on anything. I think the taste gets ruined. Nothing worse than eating a brownie and then chomping down on a nut. However, I am a BIG FAN of Moosetracks and Rocky Road Ice Creams.
Fish: Will not eat it. Adore shellfish including oysters,clams, mussels, etc. I will also eat Fish and Chips from the local real English Pub.
Veggies: I do not like asparagus at all. No peas, snap peas, or lima beans. Love baked beans. Love edamame. Do not like peppers. Love sweet peppers. No onion family. (I will eat and just pick out if I can) I will use it though and have onion powder at all times. No tomatoes. I will cook with them however. Here's the kicker: I LOVE SALSA. I think I would kill someone if I did not have salsa on hand at all times. LOVE Guacamole. LOVE Chili.
I will stop now. Please don't hate me...:)
Butrflygirly at 7:53PM on 07/22/08
Wanted to defend myself: I will try things at least once though! Even if there are items in it I don't care for...Does that help my case??
Butrflygirly at 7:56PM on 07/22/08
i mostly have a texture issue -- that's why i like the flavor of bananas, just not them in their real state because the texture grosses me out. this is also why i struggle with a lot of fish. sushi is fine, rare beef i adore, but that mushy steamed fish texture is a problem. veggies that are boiled and mushy i hate, but i will eat any vegetable stir-fried.
@Cassaendra, i would be scared to cook for you!! but at least you know what you like :) :)
megannesta at 9:02PM on 07/22/08
In my opinion milk, as a drink, should be abolished. I didn't like it as an infant either, so please don't give me grief about growing bones/aging bones or small children! Cottage cheese would be next to go -- I refuse to ingest anything that looks like spit-up. I have yet to taste sushi (and probably won't) and although I still enjoy an occasional piece of bacon, I'm eating less and less meat these days. Other than that -- no, wait! bananas have a 5-minute window of eating opportunity, then they become bread or they're trashed -- I'm as fair-minded about food as anyone. No, wait! Did I mention mayonnaise?
dakotarose at 10:00PM on 07/22/08
Raw greens - salads specifically. I am really not a fan of salads...
I'll eat them out of politeness (so many a time I've eaten at friends houses, and the meal would be meat and carbs, and the only veggie concession was a bag of pre washed greens and bottled dressing. I weep).
In certain cases, I'll eat for the flavor, say if I were at a nice restaurant and someone offered me a taste of salad, I would go for it.
But in general, I was never raised on raw greens, and I staunchly believe that there are better ways to incorporate vegetables into the meal rather than treat them as such an afterthought.
fuuchan at 12:21AM on 07/23/08
Now that Jello has been mentioned a few times, I've got to say that I'm not fond of that either, but it's not something I run across very often, so I don't think about it much.
It's not like I hate jello, really, it just seems kind of pointless. I think I've gotten over the jello horrors of my childhood, so if some ended up on my plate accidentally, I'd eat it. But I wouldn't waste the energy to actually put it on my plate.
On the other hand, I bought some Jello recently with a mad plan to use it as an ice cream add-in, but I never got around to the experiment. I'll have to give that some more thought again.
dbcurrie at 12:51AM on 07/23/08
as for food catagories, there is nothing i wont try, usually multiple times. there are some recipes i dont care for, and there are some people i dont trust to cook for me. Aboutthe only thing i can think of as disliking outright is cilantro, although thats not really true, because a very small amount in the right application is good. hmmm i guess i'm just not that picky, which explains my ex :-S ;-)
huneybumper at 7:33AM on 07/23/08
I have a passionate hatred of bananas, in any form or even tiny bit of the flavor. The smell even makes me nauseous. GROSS. Its not a texture thing for me I eat plenty of wierd stuff but bananas make me gag. I am also not a fan of rasins. So two of the childhood go-to healthy snacks were out of the question for me.
Not a big fan of excessive mayo/sour cream that sort of thing and I can't eat yogurt from one of those diet fruity things. I love yogurt in savory things and enjoy frozen yogurt, but not the sweet refigerated kind yech!
I have issues with overcooked veggies and actually prefer many raw, but I am usually willing to try them. I'm still not a fan of cooked peas or lima beans, but I love to eat raw peas from the garden. Also not a big fan of the sweet+meat idea, maple bacon?- not so much. I also dont like pineaple and ham, but I can usually pick around it. I still try that kind of stuff, its just not my thing.
Other than these few things I am a quite adventerous eater and will try pretty much anything, as long as there are no bananas involved.
Linz0 at 8:50AM on 07/23/08
I hate anything that tastes fuzzy - i.e. made with peaches, bananas or tequila. Peaches and bananas are fine as the intact fruit unit, though...
cowprintrabbit at 9:19AM on 07/23/08
I dislike onions (in most circumstances) and also raisins. I'm usually turned off if either is a main component in a dish (although I'm more lenient with onions because I don't always have a choice!)
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 10:36AM on 07/23/08
I don't care for any food, or food discussion, that's pretentious, no matter how carefully nuanced.
srhcb at 10:01PM on 07/23/08
Jello? okay BUT......as vodka shooters!!!! I like poultry and pork only (except at times ham if it is too salty). My dislikes are red meat (I don't know why), organ meats, and anything gamey, but love blood sausage, headcheese, pepperoni, smoked sausage bolona, thuringer ect. Dislike all fish (except smoked salmon I like). I dislike oysters (except smoked in stuffing or once in awhile on pizza), clams and mussels. But I like scallops, shrimp, crab and lobster. I love all sorts of salsas (heat rules) but dislike the sharpness in horseradish sauce or wasabi. I dislike any raw tomatos, but love tomatos IF cooked. As for pastry I dislike bearclaws and fruitcake. Dairy I pretty much love everything. Fruits (except tomatos) I like everything. Veggies love all. Love all breads. Legumes, pastas and rice I like in small doses. As far as a certain country fare, nope I like it all, but my favorite would have to be Mexican with Vietnamese or Indian close behind. Least favorite, any country where the majority of their dishes are bland. Let you leave that up to y'all's imagination lol.
pjracz10 at 11:08AM on 07/29/08