# Your most shameful culinary practices **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 23, 2021, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498 "2021-03-23T15:42:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/21 "2021-03-23T17:10:05Z")
Nobody is going to tell anyone about this, right? šŸ™ I like ketchup. I drink Nikolai Vodka. I buy box wine. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/22 "2021-03-23T17:16:37Z")
But do you buy box ketchup? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/23 "2021-03-23T17:19:09Z")
I will occasionally make myself what I call ā€œwhite trash turkey dinnerā€: - A pack of sliced turkey breast lunchmeat - A box of Stove Top stuffing - A jar of turkey gravy Make the stuffing, then, while it sits for five minutes to ā€œset up,ā€ put the turkey and the gravy in a microwave-safe bowl, and warm it up. Then, put the turkey and gravy on top of the stuffing. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/24 "2021-03-23T17:19:36Z")
Nothing wrong with box wine. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2021, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/25 "2021-03-23T17:24:05Z")
I donā€™t think margarine is a terrible product these days. Edit: Iā€™m not ashamed of this, but a lot of people seem to think I should be. Of course. I love butter, but sometimes I use margarine or ā€˜vegetable based baking spreadā€™ or ā€˜plant butterā€™ whatever nonsense-du-jour name it has. Itā€™s not bad. Itā€™s a perfectly serviceable product to substitute for butter, when a buttery taste is not required or would not be noticed (or for people who cannot eat dairy). Most of the bad things people say about it are either irrelevant like ā€˜margarine originally contained chopped cow udders!ā€™ or outright untrue like ā€˜it was made to fatten turkeys but it killed themā€™ or simply arenā€™t coherent statements, like ā€˜itā€™s one molecule away from plasticā€™ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/26 "2021-03-23T17:35:43Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Edit: Iā€™m not ashamed of this, but a lot of people seem to think I should be. Based on your user name, I would expect you to be willing to eat anything. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/27 "2021-03-23T17:38:57Z")
I often use imitation crab and lobster in recipes. I love real crab and lobster and I can taste the difference when Iā€™m eating them by themselves. But if Iā€™m making something like chowder or seafood lasagna, the differences between real and imitation get lost in the other flavors and it seems foolish to me to spend five times as much money for something I wonā€™t even taste. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/28 "2021-03-23T17:50:00Z")
Sometimes I donā€™t feel like even putting dirty plates in the sink so Iā€™ll just stick them in the fridge until morning. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/29 "2021-03-23T17:51:34Z")
Mayo sucks as a condiment. Mustard rules! Now to the real crime to make the mayo crowd cringe- I _ **LIKE** _ Miracle Whip. It tastes far better than mayo. I like it on my bacon and tomato sandwiches. I like it on Hoosier style tenderloin sandwiches, and itā€™s the bomb on Thanksgiving afternoon turkey thigh meat sandwiches! That label says ā€œsalad dressingā€- the salads meant are chicken, egg, and ham salads, where Miracle Whip excels since it tastes like mayo does after sweet pickle relish and mustard are added in . ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/30 "2021-03-23T17:51:56Z")
I like my eggs cooked **hard**. Absolutely no runny yolks, period. I donā€™t like mustard on my pastrami or corned beef, mayonnaise is perfectly adequate there. Horseradish sauce &/or steak sauce will never see any steak I eat. If I cook my steak too long and itā€™s no longer rare, Iā€™ll eat it anyway, and like it. Iā€™ve been known to use condensed ā€˜cream ofā€™ soups to make sauces. I use pre-mixed spices mixes, (but theyā€™re from Penzey;s, so thatā€™s okay.) I use a 10" chefā€™s knife for _everything_. Iā€™ll see myself out. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/31 "2021-03-23T18:12:17Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > ketchup goes on mac n cheese. But ONLY when it comes from a box Absolutely! I only use it on original Kraft mac n cheese. I wouldnā€™t try it on even the deluxe type with the pre-made cheese sauce. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/32 "2021-03-23T18:35:29Z")
> [@abcdefghij](#): > > But do you buy box ketchup? I once purchased an ā€œinstitutional sizeā€ box with a plastic bladder filled with ketchup at a close-out, so yes. > [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Nothing wrong with box wine. I agree. Better for the environment as well, I hope. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2021, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/33 "2021-03-23T18:51:58Z")
Preach it, brethren and sistren! Mac & cheese gets BBQ sauce and relish. Box wines range from the ā€œThis really sucks!ā€ to ā€œDamn, this isnā€™t half-bad.ā€ Stick with Bota and youā€™ll be fine. Thereā€™s a box of their Old Vine Zinfandel in the fridge as I type. My standard make-it-at-home pizza uses Jiffy pizza mix for the crust. Like **Bumba** , my eggs must be fried **hard**. I want to be able to frisbee them across the room if I so desire. Liquid yolk is Evil. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/34 "2021-03-23T18:52:28Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Wait, is that not bad enough? Okay: I wait until everyoneā€™s left the kitchen, then I drink the broth from the tuna can instead of draining it down the sink. Youā€™re not supposed to drain it down the sink; youā€™re supposed to give it to the cats. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/35 "2021-03-23T19:09:53Z")
I always wash raw mushrooms rather than just brushing off the dirt. 'Shrooms are half water anyway, so whatā€™s a little more? I donā€™t use bleach to clean cutting boards after cutting up raw chicken. Piping hot water, dish detergent, and a stiff scrubbing brush is fine. I canā€™t stand the smell of bleach in the kitchen and on surfaces that touch foods. Instant gravy mixes are fine. Add stuff to them if you must have them fancy. The hell with lean hamburger. It tastes like dry ground-up cork. I started buying the fattier stuff at Costco and my meatballs and meatloaves are tasting much better. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/36 "2021-03-23T19:25:04Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > I donā€™t use bleach to clean cutting boards after cutting up raw chicken. Piping hot water, dish detergent, and a stiff scrubbing brush is fine. I canā€™t stand the smell of bleach in the kitchen and on surfaces that touch foods. I donā€™t even do that. A quick wipe with a dirty sponge, and Iā€™m good to go. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/37 "2021-03-23T19:36:16Z")
I just put it on the floor and the dog licks it clean. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2021, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/38 "2021-03-23T19:39:08Z")
Not allowed red meat for medical reasons. Every now and again I have to cook up chicken drumsticks in spare rib sauce, just for a fix. (But it has to be Lee Kum Kee rib sauce - so do I get a pass?) j PS: I have also worked out how to do cheese on toast in a microwave. For those days when grilling something is too much like hard work. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/39 "2021-03-23T20:02:47Z")
> [@Bumbazine](#): > > Horseradish sauce &/or steak sauce will never see any steak I eat. Might I suggest using horseradish as part of a rub? Believe it or not, the cooking process makes it sweeter. Love it, love it, love it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498/40 "2021-03-23T20:06:15Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Mayo sucks as a condiment. Mustard rules! > > Now to the real crime to make the mayo crowd cringe- I _ **LIKE** _ Miracle Whip. It tastes far better than mayo. I like it on my bacon and tomato sandwiches. I like it on Hoosier style tenderloin sandwiches, and itā€™s the bomb on Thanksgiving afternoon turkey thigh meat sandwiches! That label says ā€œsalad dressingā€- the salads meant are chicken, egg, and ham salads, where Miracle Whip excels since it tastes like mayo does after sweet pickle relish and mustard are added in . Heh. When i was a kid, my mom ALWAYS bought Miracle Whip instead of mayonnaise. Given what I knew of her penchant for stretching the food budget as far as it would go, I always presumed that it meant MW (or off-brand ā€œsalad dressingā€) always cost less than itā€™s mayo counterpart. So, when I married and set up housekeeping with **kaylasmom** , I set out to buy Miracle Whip. **Kaylasmom** IMMEDIATELY put a stop to that, and I went for nearly thirty years before I learned that the two products cost the same. I guess Mom just liked Miracle Whip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-shameful-culinary-practices/938498.md?page=3)