Eat It Like This, Not Like That
We're not trying to shame you for accidentally eating certain foods incorrectly; trust us, we've likely all been there. Whether it's not pre-soaking chia seeds or snacking on Pringles wrong-side up, there are tons of mistakes we've made without knowing. In this list, we highlight 20 particular foods and how to eat them right.
1. Bananas
If you're like most, you probably peel bananas from its stem. But the proper way to eat this yellow fruit is actually by pinching and pulling it open from its tip, the flat end. Tearing it this way also ensures you won't get as many of those pesky strings.
2. Cupcakes
Tired of getting frosting all over your nose and face? Next time you eat a cupcake, cut it in half horizontally before sandwiching the cake half with the icing in the middle. Now you have the perfect cream-to-cake ratio in every bite.
3. Chicken Wings
Instead of getting your hands and cheeks messy, try this hack for chicken wings: pull away the end cartilage, twist the bone, and then watch all the meat in the middle just slide out. Voila!
4. Mangoes
This juicy fruit is delicious no matter how you eat it. But if you want to get all the flesh, the best way is to cut away the core and then slide both halves along the rim of a glass. Afterwards, slice up into smaller blocks before digging in.
5. Strawberries
If you're the kind of person who cuts off a good chunk of a strawberry to rid the leaves and stem, you're doing it wrong. Instead, use a straw to poke it through the middle, starting from the bottom up. The top will just pop out.
6. Sushi
Sushi is traditionally eaten with clean hands or chopsticks, and—while it might come as a surprise—soy sauce is used sparingly. Authentic Japanese restaurants also typically dot the insides of sushi with wasabi, so there's no need to make your own concoction. But if not, add a tiny dollop to your piece before dipping it into soy sauce, fish side down.
7. Chia Seeds
Before you eat that bowl of oatmeal you just sprinkled chia seeds on, stop. Chia seeds are meant to be soaked in liquid and left to expand before consuming. They're ready to eat once they're gel-like. It's not too big of a deal if you're only putting a few flecks into your food, but if you're adding a heaping spoonful or more, dunk that into some water first.
8. Kiwis
Did you know the fuzzy skin of this fruit is edible? It might seem off-putting, but eating kiwis whole, peel and all, actually provides more fiber and nutrients than just scooping out the pulp alone.
9. Ramen
Ramen is meant to be eaten by enjoying the broth first, where all of the flavor is. Noodles come next—remember to slurp it, not chew it off—which can be paired with toppings in each bite. Avoid dunking your toppings in the soup or adding extra condiments, which will mask the original taste.
10. Burgers
Like most, you probably eat burgers right-side up. But a better way is to actually eat it upside down so that all the juices inside your sandwich get absorbed by the top bun, instead of getting the thinner bottom bun soggy.
11. Soup Dumplings
If you can stand burning your mouth and throat, you could technically swallow soup dumplings in one go—but that's not recommended or safe. The right method to eat soup dumplings is to carefully place it on a spoon, nip the skin to suck out the liquid, then devour the whole thing.
12. Oranges
Want to eat oranges without all the mess? Here's a hack: slice off the top and bottom, then slit into the center on one side before rolling it out.
13. Pizza
You likely won't face this problem with smaller slices of pizzas, but when you have a slice that's too big, fold it in half. It might not seem like a conventional way of eating pizza, but it's more common than you think, especially in New York. After all, you don't want your cheese and toppings sliding out, right?
14. Pringles
The curve of these chips makes them fun to eat because they fit perfectly over your tongue. But—wait. You're eating it wrong. Pringles are meant to be eaten flipped the other way, like a saddle, because most of the seasoning actually sits on the top.
15. Oreos
Instead of twisting your Oreos open and dunking each side into milk, pierce the creme with a fork. This way, you can soak the whole cookie without getting your fingers dirty, and you can put the whole thing in your mouth.
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16. Soda
Drinking from soda cans with a straw can be a struggle; those straws always feel like they'll fall out of the wide opening. But there's a trick: after cracking your drink open, pull the tab inwards over the mouth before inserting your straw. There you go, now your straw stays in place!
17. Boiled Eggs
Boiled eggs are a hassle to peel. To make your job breezier, add some baking soda to your water, which increases the pH level of both the water and the egg whites. This helps loosen the shells so they're easier to pull apart.
18. Ice Cream
If your ice cream is always rock solid when taking it out from the freezer, don't put your poor spoons to the test. Run the metal under hot water to heat it up for a smoother scoop, or stick the entire ice cream container in a plastic bag so it doesn't get as frosty.
19. Tacos
The heart of a taco lies in its filling, and when every bite you take makes it fall apart, it's a sad ordeal. Next time, wrap your entire taco in a piece of lettuce. This way, you're getting extra veggies, and the green blanket can catch the toppings that spill out.
20. Spaghetti
Eating spaghetti with a fork and spoon isn't just to look fancy. Instead, twirling your pasta into a spoon makes it more efficient to eat. It also makes each bite a perfect mouthful and less messy.
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