40 Ingredients That Instantly Ruin a Dish
Most people have an ingredient or two that they completely cannot stand—and in some cases, these ingredients can completely ruin an otherwise delicious dish.
The following list highlights the most common foods/ingredients people claim can really spoil their appetite. Do you agree with any of them?
Cilantro
Apparently, Cilantro has a distinct taste that isn’t a favorite for many.
Non-Crispy Chicken Skin
The majority of people asked said that their chicken skin must be crispy/crunchy, even if the chicken is slightly overcooked as a result.
Chewy chicken skin must be avoided at all costs.
Eggplant
According to many people, eggplant has “spongey” texture that they just cannot get past.
Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese has a unique texture that people cannot ignore. One person even said, “it looks and tastes as if someone chewed up cheese and then spit it out.”
Bleu Cheese
Another cheese that isn’t a favorite is Bleu Cheese. The most common complaint here is the smell—especially when it has been heated up.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are definitely one of those ingredients that people say can most definitely ruin an otherwise delicious dish.
Aside from the earthy taste, the texture is too much for most people—both raw and cooked, which happen to be different, but equally as troublesome.
Canned Tuna Fish
Some love it, but many despise it. It has been dubbed as the “human version of cat food.”
Fennel Seed
A popular ingredient most people can do without. Some say they can detect it in anything, that’s how distinct the flavor is.
Banana
While many people love bananas, there’s a fairly large group of people who simply cannot stand the wet, mushy texture.
According to some reviews, any food packed with bananas will also take on the flavor of bananas.
Artificial Sweeteners
Apparently, artificial sweeteners (most commonly Stevia), is easily detectable in most dishes—and not well received.
Celery
Another food that many people enjoy, but a surprisingly vast group does not. Those who dislike celery say it doesn’t matter how it is prepared, it is not desirable no matter what.
Aside from the sometimes-bitter taste, the stringy texture is too much for many.
Coriander
Coriander is an herb added to many dishes, but those who have an aversion to coriander say it tastes like soap.
Raisins
There’s nothing worse than a surprise raisin. Especially when you’re expecting chocolate chips.
Many people claim they are wary of different cakes too because of past experiences with surprise raisins.
Onions
Raw or cooked, onions have a strong flavor that many people cannot stand. Even the tiniest piece can ruin a meal.
Sliced Tomato
Many people claim they’ll eat a tomato on its own, but to slice it up and put it on a burger or sandwich? No way!
The juices seem to be the biggest problem—soaking into whatever they can, making everything else taste like tomato too.
Mayonnaise
Again, another product that lots of people love. But those who don’t say the biggest problem is that most food establishments often put too much of it on the food.
Dill
Dill has a strong flavor, and if it’s not added to the right dish, it can certainly ruin it.
Pickles
Many people are bothered by pickles. Apparently, it’s a combination of strong flavor, weird texture, and strong smell that bothers the pickle-haters.
Also, you can’t just take pickles off and expect to have solved the problem. Much like tomatoes, the juices take over anything the pickle touches.
Beets
The bright red, crunchy veggie tastes very similar to the soil it grew in. Everyone is in agreement with this one.
Does anyone actually like beets?
Green Bell Peppers
Green peppers are nothing like their sweet siblings, the red, yellow and orange peppers. Green ones are often very bitter and their flavor takes over pretty quickly.
Olives
Olives are an acquired taste for sure. Their smell and flavor will dominate the food on your plate, so be careful those juices don’t spread.
Liver
Many people say if you don’t like liver, you haven’t had it cooked properly. But according to peer reviews, it truly doesn’t matter.
Liver has an interesting texture that people just cannot handle.
Black Licorice
Black licorice is said to be only enjoyed by anyone over the age of 80.
All jokes aside, black licorice is nothing like red licorice, the strong taste of black licorice is just too much for most people.
Oatmeal
While the taste can be yummy, depending on flavoring added, the general mushy texture of cooked oatmeal is enough to turn people away from it in all forms.
Avocado
There are so many people who want to enjoy the healthy benefits of avocado but simply cannot get past the earthy smell and soft texture.
Brussell Sprouts
Apparently, no amount of butter and seasonings can take away the bitter taste of brussels sprouts.
Public Domain Pictures, Pexels
The Fatty Part of Any Meat
There are people who will devour every piece of steak. There are people who will chew on the bones to get every last chunk of pork chop.
And then there are the people who will leave half of their dinner behind because there’s too many fatty parts.
The chewy texture is too much for many people.
Meat with Bones
Another popular complaint in the meat department is bones. Apparently, some people will only eat chicken if it comes in the form of a breast. If they have to eat meat off a bone, they will choose something else.
This goes for all types of meat, too.
Marshmallows
Interestingly enough, there are a number of people in the world who do not like marshmallows.
Marshmallow Peeps are the number one problem, but there are some people who won’t touch a s’more either.
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe, and even honeydew, are two melons that many people cannot stand. Aside from the taste being the main problem, their soft, slimy texture is also too much for people.
31. Asparagus
Asparagus is said to have a woody taste to it. And some people just can’t do it, whether it’s steamed, boiled, fried or barbecued—it’s just not good.
Some say if its undercooked it’s too crunchy, and if it’s overcooked then it is too soft—and it’s a fine line between both.
Garlic
Garlic is one of those ultimate tastes that you either love or hate. Not only is the taste extremely strong, but the smell is too. Many people say if you eat a lot of it, you will start to smell like it too—which is enough for people to say, “no thanks!”
Milk
To people who hate milk, watching you down a cold glass of the white, creamy liquid is enough to make them gag.
Most people who don’t love milk will make the exception for chocolate milk or milk in cereal—they just won’t drink is straight.
Spicy Food
Well, this is obvious because it’s so common. Spice is something not everyone’s taste buds were made to handle well. What may be mild to you can be extreme to others.
This is so common that most spicy food comes with a warning.
Peanuts/Peanut Butter
Peanuts have a distinct flavor that not everyone enjoys. In fact, some people will fake an allergy because they truly hate the flavor that much.
Apparently, it’s easier to just say they’re allergic than to explain that they don’t like peanut butter.
Shellfish
Perhaps it’s the fishy taste and smell that most people don’t like about shellfish. But apparently some people say they won’t eat anything that “looks like a giant bug.”
Sushi
As with shellfish, sushi has that aquatic taste that you either love or hate. You don’t often hear people saying sushi is “just okay.”
Eggs
Eggs can be cooked in several different ways, creating a different texture (and even taste) each time. So why don’t people like eggs?
Apparently, it’s the fact that they are baby chickens who didn’t get the chance, that bothers people the most.
Aside from that, the look of raw eggs can be fairly off-putting too.
Capers
Most people say capers have a unique, acquired flavor—that certainly does not belong in all dishes.
When paired properly, they can be okay. But most people say once it’s in the wrong dish, the whole dish is ruined.
Cheese
Although we’ve already mentioned a couple specific kinds of cheese, this one encompasses all cheeses.
There are so many different kinds of cheeses, and all of them have a unique flavor to them. It is rare to find someone who likes ALL kinds of cheese.
