# What would taste better in 1960 than it does now, and what would taste worse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361 "2016-02-17T18:30:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/41 "2016-02-17T21:25:34Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > French fries! Although they were unhealthy in all kinds of ways, old-school French fries tasted wonderful. > ) Likely Lard and Tallow would be better for you than some of those franken-fats they are now often fried in. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/42 "2016-02-17T21:25:55Z")
> [@solost](#): > > McDonald’s fries are one thing I can remember tasting delicious when I was a kid, but at some point started tasting like cardboard. Though as Qagdop and others have mentioned, when actually comparing memory to now it’s hard to separate what’s actually different and what’s changing taste buds, changing neuron pathways and nostalgia filtering. Of course in a lot of cases it is the obvious reason of [changing ingredients](http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/09/us/mcdonald-s-to-settle-suits-on-beef-tallow-in-french-fries.html). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/43 "2016-02-17T21:29:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > We used Log Cabin, which was only 10% or so real maple syrup. Outside Canada and the maple producing states, i think few ever saw or used real maple syrup. Maple syrup was at it lowest production in the 1970’s and 60’s. > [Making the Grade: Why the Cheapest Maple Syrup Tastes Best - The Atlantic](http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/11/making-the-grade-why-the-cheapest-maple-syrup-tastes-best/239133/) When I was growing up(60s), we didn’t even buy syrup. Brown sugar, water and [Mapleine](http://www.mccormick.com/Spices-and-Flavors/Extracts-and-Food-Colors/Extracts/Mapleine-Imitation-Maple-Flavor). ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/44 "2016-02-17T21:31:38Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Both chickens and red delicious apples have had the taste bred right out of them. Forget red delicious. Eat Opal apples. Best apples I’ve ever had. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/45 "2016-02-17T21:31:44Z")
Better today: Spices. Most folks in the 1950’s and 60’s had salt, pepper and maybe a couple others, and what few herbs they had were desiccated and tasteless. We were considered adventurous as my Mom used Paprika and Dad use Lawry’s seasons salt. Fresh produce: better and worse. When it was strawberry season, you had great berries, the largest of which was maybe thumb sized, full of flavor. They had to be used that day or the next and the season was less than a month. After that-frozen or nothing. Today we have oversized and not as tasty berries- available year around and chap for several months. Which is better? Us in SoCal sent Mission Pack oranges for our relatives in the cold states, since they couldnt get oranges year around! Worse; Soda- HFCS, 'nuf said. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/46 "2016-02-17T21:32:57Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Both chickens and red delicious apples have had the taste bred right out of them. Red Delicious apples are the same. Newer apples are tastier. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/47 "2016-02-17T21:33:55Z")
> [@](#): > > School lunches. Our school made everything from scratch. Fresh rolls made with yeast and government butter. Scratch made pies and cakes and cookies. You had a much better school cafeteria than we did. I can remember the fried bologna sandwiches, and the fish sticks every Friday. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/48 "2016-02-17T21:35:56Z")
> [@TexCat](#): > > **Better today** : [ul] > [li]TV dinners, though perhaps it’s just the microwave that makes them seem better.[/li][/ul] I remember the TV dinners my dad gave me had slices of real turkey and roast beef instead of the turkey and beef loaves they use today. The meat was often dry and tough to chew, but it was loaded with flavor! ---
**Author:** ![TexCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/texcat/32/9041_2.png) [@TexCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TexCat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/49 "2016-02-17T21:38:46Z")
I had totally forgotten about fish sticks. They were pretty awful. Do they still have fish sticks on Friday? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/50 "2016-02-17T21:39:52Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > You had a much better school cafeteria than we did. I can remember the fried bologna sandwiches, and the fish sticks every Friday. Yeah. I went to grade school in the late 50’s. Food was crap. We looked forward to hot dog and hamburger days until the kids played around with the ketchup and mustard bottles, so the only condiment was ketchup, relish and mayo all mixed and served\* or not.\* (insert yuckie emoticon here) “Spring Surprise” was ancient surplus canned veggies all mixed. Bread was a cheap Wonder knock-off. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/51 "2016-02-17T21:40:14Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Pork had to be cooked at high temperatures for a long time to get rid of the trichinosis. For the years 1997 though 2001 there were 72 reported cases of trichinosis in the USA. Only 22 cases directly implicating pork products and of those 22 only 12 were linked to commercial pork products. I will still eat my center cut loins and tenderloins “just under medium”…thanks for the tip though! [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5206a1.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5206a1.htm) Also…here are the nationally recognized cooking temperature standards for the USA.[Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature | FoodSafety.gov](http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/mintemp.html) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/52 "2016-02-17T21:44:21Z")
As one who grew up in the 60s, I would say sweet corn (maize) tastes better today due to the newly developed varieties. (I know some people think the new stuff is too sweet.) Ditto for apples; the number of apple varieties you can readily get nowadays is about an order of magnitude greater than back then. On the other hand, watermelons and peaches have taken a drastic turn for the worse. (Again, I’m talking about what’s readily available in supermarkets.) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/53 "2016-02-17T21:52:10Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Better: Olive oil, because the limited imports back then were not bogus products suffering at the hands of corruption As I understand it the Olive Oil racket of adulterating with cheep crap, then mislabeling and lying goes all the way back to Roman times. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/54 "2016-02-17T21:52:40Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Both chickens and red delicious apples have had the taste bred right out of them. Yeah even in my lifetime Red Apples have sunk in quality. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/55 "2016-02-17T22:21:23Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Both chickens and red delicious apples have had the taste bred right out of them. > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Forget red delicious. Eat Opal apples. Best apples I’ve ever had. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Red Delicious apples are the same. Newer apples are tastier. > [@Quimby](#): > > Yeah even in my lifetime Red Apples have sunk in quality. I’m not really contributing to the intent of this thread, but want to comment on this. Way back when (in the 80s) I used to work for a produce company in Tulsa. There is nothing like the smell of walking into a chilled storage room the size of a small airport hanger filled with cases and cases of apples. It’s incredible. The same is true for the Orange room, but since there is fewer varieties it was more of a walk in type cooler, but it smelled pretty good too. 🙂 30+ years ago, and I’d love to go back to the warehouse just to walk into that giant room filled with apples. It’s indescribable. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/56 "2016-02-17T22:47:21Z")
If you shop in the right places at the right time of year and know how to spot them, you can find a few really good tasting Red Delicious apples. Incredibly crisp and juicy with an amazing mixture of sweetness and tartness. One problem is that the name applies more to a category of apples rather than one specific variety. Almost all of what you find labeled “Red Delicious” are a modern agribusiness concoction rather than anything like an original. Anyway, most commonly sold fruits and vegetables have been bred for size, shelf life, easy picking, etc. Not for flavor. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/57 "2016-02-17T22:48:29Z")
I think what we’re all forgetting is that with a few exceptions, you can still get just about anything you could get in 1960, but now it’s overwhelmed by mass produced crap. The things I most vividly remember from that era are sugared soft drinks, tallow-fried french fries and honest-to-goodness cheese. Of those, only the tallow frying seems to have disappeared completely. Cheap cheese has undercut the real stuff, but the real stuff is still available. One thin I do miss is the banana cream filling they used to use in snacks cakes and the lard-based fillings in Hydrox and Oreo cookies. Vegetable shortening just can’t replace lard! ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/58 "2016-02-17T23:06:47Z")
Homemade pie crusts made with lard. Oh my gosh, SO good. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/59 "2016-02-17T23:19:58Z")
Oreos made with lard. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361/60 "2016-02-17T23:34:00Z")
Kenji at Serious Eats did a double-blind taste test and people generally preferred HCFS Coke: [The Food Lab, Drinks Edition: Is Mexican Coke Better?](http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/09/the-food-lab-drinks-edition-is-mexican-coke-better-than-regular-coke-coke-taste-test-coke-vs-mexican-coke.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-taste-better-in-1960-than-it-does-now-and-what-would-taste-worse/746361.md?page=4)