# What's the most expensive thing I can put in the 22 oz. take home box from the Golden Corral Buffet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 24, 2015, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393 "2015-09-24T11:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vulgate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c37758/32.png) [@vulgate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vulgate)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/1 "2015-09-24T11:30:05Z")
Golden Corral (or the Golden Trough as one former employee I know likes to call it) has a deal where for $1.99 they will give you a 22 oz (I assume this is the amount of water it’s capable of holding) container to fill with whatever you want from the buffet to bring home. What is the most expensive thing I could fill it with? I assume it would need to be something fairly dense and something that could sort of conform to the shape of the box. Here’s a pic of the box: [http://www.goldencorrallumberton.com/](http://www.goldencorrallumberton.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/2 "2015-09-24T12:02:36Z")
Weapons-grade uranium? Might be difficult/risky to carry home though. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2015, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/3 "2015-09-24T12:03:53Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > Weapons-grade uranium? Might be difficult/risky to carry home though. And don’t take too much. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/4 "2015-09-24T12:48:15Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > Weapons-grade uranium? Might be difficult/risky to carry home though. Ah, I think that would be the meatloaf… Seriously, I think they have steak some nights, so that would probably be the most value-added. The rest of the food pretty much is assembled on the ‘lowest-bidder’ premise. Which doesn’t stop me from eating there on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/5 "2015-09-24T13:17:59Z")
This reminds me of a similar question you sometimes confront in Israel: how many french fries can you stuff into a pita with falafel (they do that over there) but leave room for the other freebies you’ve stuffed in there. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/6 "2015-09-24T13:37:52Z")
Are you asking about the menu or the ER bill? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/7 "2015-09-24T13:42:27Z")
Lobster: $10-$12 per pound. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/8 "2015-09-24T13:46:49Z")
Your dignity. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/9 "2015-09-24T14:05:03Z")
Escargot! There was a time we would joke that Kroger was providing **Cost Cutter Escargot** in the Generic Foods aisle. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/10 "2015-09-24T14:08:42Z")
Since this is (arguably) about a restaurant, let’s move it to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/11 "2015-09-24T14:09:42Z")
From the menu if there was a way to cut the meat off the pork ribs and fit it in there, that would be the most expensive. Otherwise, the steak would be the most expensive and easier to cut up and stack in the box. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/12 "2015-09-24T14:14:09Z")
According to the online menu, the steaks are cooked to order. I’ll bet the place doesn’t consider them a buffet item and won’t let you order one for the take-out box. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/13 "2015-09-24T14:15:10Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Ah, I think that would be the meatloaf… > > Seriously, I think they have steak some nights, so that would probably be the most value-added. The rest of the food pretty much is assembled on the ‘lowest-bidder’ premise. > > Which doesn’t stop me from eating there on occasion. Here’s the standard [buffet menu](http://www.goldencorral.com/menu/): > [@](#): > > Everyday Menu Items > > Assorted Steamed Vegetables > Awesome Pot Roast > Baked Potatoes > Banana Pudding > Bourbon Street Chicken > Broccoli > Cabbage > Carrot Cake > Carrots > Cauliflower > Chocolate Cake w/ Chocolate Frosting > Clam Chowder > Coleslaw > Corn > Fresh fruit > Fried Chicken > Fudgy Brownies > Green Beans > Greens > Grilled-to-order USDA Sirloin Steaks (\*dinner only) > Macaroni & Cheese > Macaroni Salad > Mashed Potatoes & Gravy > Meatloaf > No Sugar Added Chocolate Pudding > Pizza > Potato Salad > Rotisserie Chicken > Seafood Salad > Soft Serve Ice Cream > Spaghetti > Sugar Free Red Gelatin > Sweet Potatoes > Timberline Chili > Yeast Rolls > 50+ Toppings on our Fresh Cold Salad Bar It seems to me that sirloin steak would be the clear winner if available. I was going to suggest that seafood salad might be a possibility, but it apparently includes [imitation crab](http://www.thehungryhoarder.com/2012/10/01/golden-corral-seafood-salad-copycat/) rather than more expensive ingredients. Lobster is not available in the buffet. ---
**Author:** ![vulgate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c37758/32.png) [@vulgate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vulgate)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/14 "2015-09-24T14:16:56Z")
I was thinking it might be some kind of cheese from the salad bar… feta/blue/parmesan? Or maybe filling the container with M&Ms from the ice cream topping station. ---
**Author:** ![Dingbang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@Dingbang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dingbang)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/15 "2015-09-24T14:32:53Z")
I thought I’d heard that fresh fruit was the costliest item on a salad bar, for the restaurant. Probably not what you’re looking for when you want to maximize your treasure box, but the fruit might be what would make the manager most peeved. I had a friend a while back who saw buffets as a challenge, like a battle between him and the restaurant. He would eat sparingly for a couple days before, then at the buffet he would choose entirely based on what he thought was the most costly to the restaurant, whether he enjoyed it or not. A strange person in many ways. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/16 "2015-09-24T14:47:58Z")
Fill it with steak and then hold it under the chocolate fountain to fill the voids with liquid. You don’t want to leave any value on the table here. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/17 "2015-09-24T15:33:22Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Fill it with steak and then hold it under the chocolate fountain to fill the voids with liquid. You don’t want to leave any value on the table here. Filling a void with chocolate doesn’t work. Take it from one who knows. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/18 "2015-09-24T15:39:01Z")
Dignity? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/19 "2015-09-24T15:44:15Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > I thought I’d heard that fresh fruit was the costliest item on a salad bar, for the restaurant. Probably not what you’re looking for when you want to maximize your treasure box, but the fruit might be what would make the manager most peeved. > > I had a friend a while back who saw buffets as a challenge, like a battle between him and the restaurant. He would eat sparingly for a couple days before, then at the buffet he would choose entirely based on what he thought was the most costly to the restaurant, whether he enjoyed it or not. A strange person in many ways. What sitcom (or sitcoms)–and it definitely was in an essay in _Me Talk Pretty One Day_ by Sedaris–where one of the characters says in a restaurant, “You see that bread? Don’t eat it. That’s how they get 'cha.” And derive great satisfaction from that. (Sounds like a _Seinfeld._ Of course, most of us have been told, or come to the conclusion, that filling up with the bread, no matter how good it is, detracts from the amount of time/pleasure before satiation on the rest of the meal. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393/20 "2015-09-24T15:46:30Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > Filling a void with chocolate doesn’t work. Take it from one who knows. OK, that was funny. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Fill it with steak and then hold it under the chocolate fountain to fill the voids with liquid. You don’t want to leave any value on the table here. My recipe for chocolate moose is quite similar to this. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-i-can-put-in-the-22-oz-take-home-box-from-the-golden-corral-buffet/732393.md?page=2)