5 TikTok Food Trends We Regret Trying And 10 That Totally Delivered
TikTok has given us plenty of viral food moments—some wildly delicious, others… not so much. While some trends are worth adding to your weekly lineup, others leave you wondering why you ever thought feta in a block would make sense. Here’s a roundup of 5 food trends we wish we could un-eat, and 10 that absolutely lived up to the hype.
1. Cloud Bread
Imagine biting into a pillow and tasting less than air – that’s cloud bread. Its fluffy texture makes it camera-ready, but once you take a bite, you’re left with a mouthful of eggy disappointment. The aesthetics are dreamy, yes, but this trend is more about style over substance.
Often tinted with food coloring to create a pastel wonder, cloud bread quickly rose to fame. Yet, despite its visual appeal, the taste fails to impress. It’s a culinary cloud that evaporates into nothingness as soon as it touches your tongue. Next time, stick to a loaf with heart.
2. Nature’s Cereal
A breakfast that masquerades as healthy but leaves you longing for toast, Nature’s Cereal combines fresh fruit with coconut water and ice cubes. Initially, it paints a picture of refreshment and vitality, promising a morning boost like no other.
However, the taste experience is fleeting, akin to sipping a diluted juice box rather than a satisfying meal. While visually appealing with its vibrant colors, it lacks the substance to keep you full. This trend may hydrate, but it doesn’t satiate. For breakfast, maybe just stick to pancakes.
3. Raw Bell Pepper Sandwiches
Who knew a sandwich could be crunchy chaos? Replacing bread with raw bell peppers might sound innovative, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. Though packed with healthful crunch, the cold, raw bite distracts from the filling.
The vivid colors certainly catch your eye, presenting a rainbow of veggies, but the taste is another story. With every bite, it’s a fight between wanting it to work and realizing it doesn’t. While healthy, this sandwich lacks harmony, proving that sometimes, the classic bread is unbeatable.
4. Lettuce Water for Sleep
Promising sleep with a sip, lettuce water is a trend that tests the limits of herbal tea creativity. Steeping lettuce leaves may seem like an easy sleep aid, but the taste? Pure lawn clippings.
The mild aroma does nothing to convince you of its effectiveness. Instead, it’s a bitter reminder that not all home remedies are worth the effort. Though the idea of sipping your way to slumber is attractive, unfortunately, this trend fails to deliver the peaceful night it touts. Herbal teas remain the safer bet.
5. Feta Pasta Bake (Overhyped Version)
When simplicity meets overhype, you get the feta pasta bake. The viral sensation, involving baking feta alongside cherry tomatoes, promised an easy, creamy delight. However, what emerged was a salty, tangy overload that left tastebuds reeling.
The dish is visually delightful, with bubbling tomatoes surrounding the block of cheese, yet the texture fails to transform into the luscious sauce as imagined. Without balance, it’s just feta’s tanginess taking the lead. A little tweaking can make it palatable, but without it, the dish fizzles under its own hype.
6. Baked Oats (Blended Version)
Imagine having cake for breakfast with none of the guilt—baked oats offer just that. Blended into a batter-like consistency, they bake into a delightful, nutritious morning treat. Add-ins like cocoa, banana, or peanut butter elevate this dish to new heights.
The aroma as they bake is nothing short of inviting, promising a start to the day that feels indulgent yet wholesome. This trend marries health with flavor, making it a breakfast option that delights as much as it satisfies, proving that not all trends are passing fads.
7. Salmon Rice Bowl
Inspired by @emilymariko, the salmon rice bowl transforms leftovers into a culinary masterpiece. Combining salmon, rice, avocado, and a dash of soy sauce and sriracha, it creates an explosion of flavors.
Its simplicity is its genius; each ingredient complements the other, offering a balance of richness and spice. It’s a dish that speaks to both convenience and taste, turning the mundane into a gourmet experience. A quick zap in the microwave, and you’re greeted with a meal that’s as satisfying as it is nourishing.
8. Tortilla Wrap Hack (Four-Quadrant Fold)
The tortilla wrap hack redefines the way we think about wraps. By cutting a tortilla into quadrants and folding it into a compact package, it turns lunch into an art form. Each section can house different flavors, making every bite a new surprise.
Easy to assemble and perfect for meal prep, this hack saves time without compromising on creativity. Grilled to perfection, the wrap becomes a portable feast that’s both filling and fun to eat. It’s a testament to TikTok’s ability to make everyday meals extraordinary.
9. Pesto Eggs
Pesto eggs bring a burst of herbaceous flavor to breakfast, elevating the ordinary into something extraordinary. By simply frying eggs in pesto, the edges turn crispy and aromatic, infusing the dish with fresh basil goodness.
It’s a simple twist that transforms egg dishes, offering a vibrant start to the day. The pesto’s richness melds beautifully with the yolk, creating a symphony of taste. This trend shows how a small culinary tweak can lead to a big payoff, making breakfast exciting and inviting.
10. Whipped Coffee (Dalgona)
Whipped coffee, or dalgona, is a quarantine kitchen craze that’s stood the test of time. Whipping instant coffee, sugar, and water until it forms a cloud-like foam, it’s then spooned over milk for a photogenic treat.
Each sip is a dance of creamy texture and robust coffee flavor, making it a refreshing alternative to the usual cup. It’s a trend that combines fun with flavor, proving that sometimes the simplest ingredients can be the most satisfying. The effort is minimal, but the enjoyment is substantial.
11. Hot Honey on Everything
Hot honey, with its sweet and spicy profile, is the condiment that elevates everything it touches. From drizzling over pizza to glazing fried chicken, it adds a fiery kick that takes flavors to new heights.
The combination of sweetness meeting heat creates a balance that’s addictive. It’s a trend that encourages culinary exploration, inviting you to try it on a variety of foods. Simple yet effective, hot honey brings excitement to every meal, proving that a little heat can make a big difference.
12. Baked Feta with Pasta Tweaks
With a few tweaks, the baked feta pasta becomes a dish worth savoring. Balancing the feta with cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a splash of pasta water, it transforms into a harmonious feast of flavors.
The once overpowering tang becomes a creamy backdrop that allows other ingredients to shine. It’s a lesson in culinary balance, showing that sometimes altering a recipe can lead to delicious outcomes. A viral sensation turned culinary staple, this dish finds its place in the world of flavor.
13. Pancake Cereal
Pancake cereal combines the fun of breakfast with the whimsy of childhood. Tiny pancakes, cooked to a golden perfection, are served in a bowl like cereal, complete with syrup and milk.
This trend captures the imagination, offering a playful twist on a classic dish. It’s a breakfast that’s more about the experience than practicality, delighting children and adults alike. While it might not be the quickest to prepare, the fun factor makes it worth the effort. Breakfast is, after all, the most important meal of the day.
14. Crispy Parmesan Potatoes
Crispy parmesan potatoes redefine side dishes with their rich flavor and perfect texture. Roasted atop a layer of parmesan, each slice emerges with a golden, cheesy crust that’s both crunchy and savory.
The simplicity of the ingredients belies the depth of flavor they deliver, making each bite an indulgent experience. It’s a trend that transforms the humble potato into a star component, showing that sometimes, the best culinary creations are the simplest ones. Elegance is found in the crunch.
15. Folded Kimbap Sandwich (Korean Sushi Hack)
The folded kimbap sandwich is a Korean-inspired twist that brings sushi to the sandwich world. Using seaweed sheets to wrap rice, vegetables, and proteins, it creates a convenient, handheld meal.
This trend combines tradition with innovation, offering a fresh take on sushi’s portability. Each bite is a blend of flavors, with the seaweed providing a satisfying crunch. It’s an ideal lunch option, showcasing how traditional ingredients can be reimagined in delightful ways. Perfect for those on-the-go moments.