# Best one first or save the best for last? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 15, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808 "2024-10-15T01:21:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/1 "2024-10-15T01:21:28Z")
You get a variety pack of popsicles and there’s one flavor that’s your definite favorite. You get served a dish with side dishes and there’s one part of if you just absolutely love. Whatever it may be- we’ve all been in situations where we have to decide when to go for the best one or the best part Do you start with your favorite right out of the gate? Save the best for last? Try to spread it out? Stick it somewhere in the middle? Is there a logic to your choice or is it just how you’ve always done it? ---
**Author:** ![RollOutTheBarrel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rolloutthebarrel/32/1649_2.png) [@RollOutTheBarrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RollOutTheBarrel)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/2 "2024-10-15T01:39:27Z")
I save the best for last. It gives me something to look forward to. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/3 "2024-10-15T01:43:17Z")
Best for last. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/4 "2024-10-15T01:45:09Z")
Best for last here as well. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/5 "2024-10-15T01:46:10Z")
Another best for last. Every time. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/6 "2024-10-15T01:48:49Z")
Save the best for last. You always want to end on a high note! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/7 "2024-10-15T01:56:03Z")
I agree. Best for last. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/8 "2024-10-15T02:03:45Z")
Save a bite/portion of the best for last, but otherwise mix it up! Some days, you actually discover you love something else as much or more. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/9 "2024-10-15T02:31:30Z")
Best for last, UNLESS it’s a situation of competition. For example, box of popsicles and both I and my brother like the same flavor best (historically, now of course we’re both old enough now to buy what we want and are in different states, natch)? Eat the best first, as each of us would normally be limited to no more than one a day. But if I’m competing only with me, myself, and I, best for last again. ---
**Author:** ![Jebbilene](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jebbilene/32/3414_2.png) [@Jebbilene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebbilene)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/10 "2024-10-15T03:11:32Z")
For popsicles, I’d mix them up, have my favourite interspersed with the less preferred options. With food on my plate, I have bits of different things, but focus on my favourite parts, so that if I get full, I don’t force myself to eat something I don’t really want, just because it tastes good. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/11 "2024-10-15T05:53:51Z")
I save the best for last, and then when I get there I discover my wife ate it before I could. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/12 "2024-10-15T06:05:43Z")
Best for last. > [@Cervaise](#): > > and then when I get there I discover my wife ate it before I could. I’ll hide it if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/13 "2024-10-15T07:44:46Z")
Best for last, no matter what dish I’m eating. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/14 "2024-10-15T07:51:31Z")
Best one first every time, you might drop dead and then you wouldn’t finish your meal. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/15 "2024-10-15T20:37:33Z")
Best for last here as well. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/16 "2024-10-15T21:16:35Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > Best one first every time, you might drop dead and then you wouldn’t finish your meal. This was a definite saying in our house! But it mostly only applied to things that you’d only eat one of a day (or at least a time.) So you eat the best popsickle first, but if you’re chowing down on a selection of three different cookies? THEN you eat the best one last, as the “dessert of the desserts.” ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/17 "2024-10-15T21:24:53Z")
Generally I’ll spread everything out through a meal. There are circumstances where that breaks down though, and it can go either way, simply to maximize enjoyment. For example, if we’re eating out and I’ve (accidentally) over-ordered, I’ll go for best first, or at least early, because I’m obviously not going to leave the best; and if I’m uncomfortably full I won’t fully enjoy the best. Or, if I’m having a night on the whisky, it’s lovely to finish off with a favorite. Because yes, it _ **can** _ be nice to save the best til last. j ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/18 "2024-10-15T21:31:29Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Save a bite/portion of the best for last, but otherwise mix it up! Me too. Especially for something like a steak dinner - I try to save a bit of steak for the last bite, but not the whole thing last ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/19 "2024-10-15T22:14:12Z")
This is what i do with dinner. For something I’m going to keep long enough that some of it might spoil our get stale, like a box of fancy chocolates, i start with the best. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808/20 "2024-10-15T22:15:32Z")
I eat the red popsicles first and hope someone else likes the purple ones. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-first-or-save-the-best-for-last/1008808.md?page=2)