Top 10 Foods You're Eating Wrong

How do you eat a kiwi? Some people eat it with the skin on like an apple… but that’s a bit of a scratchy mouthful of hairy fruit for most tastes. People generally approach it one of two ways - either they painstakingly peel it and then slice it up, or they cut it in half and scoop out the contents. The former is rather time consuming, the latter is a messy operation. To enjoy a kiwi with minimal mess and maximum enjoyment, cut off both tips, then slide a spoon in between the fruit and skin. Spin it around and the center will pop right out. Cut it into medallions and enjoy!

This particular Chinese dish, also known as Xiao Long Bao, can feel like a no-win dish for the uninitiated. Afraid of spilling the contents, you’ve likely popped one into your mouth, only to bite down and have to deal with a mouthful of scalding hot liquid. On the next one, afraid of a repeat experience, you may have tried to bite it in half - only to make a mess and burn your chin. Here’s the key to enjoying this meal without a trip to burn ward: bite or poke a small hole in the dumpling, allow the steam to escape and then slowly suck out the broth. THEN eat the dumpling itself.

Ahhh… the dreaded but delicious candy apple. Hated by dentists the world over, this “sticky finger-maker” is a carnival favorite that kids and adults alike have trouble saying no to. Like so many other treats on a stick… candy apples get messy. But here’s a tip for you: stop trying to eat it like a popsicle or lollipop. Either grab a second popsicle stick, or push the existing one all the way through, and hold it sideways. By attacking the treat like corn on the cob, you not only get better grip, but also a more natural, comfortable, apple-eating angle.

We know… no one likes to be told how to eat a chicken wing. It’s a messy meal no matter how you approach it and part of the enjoyment is just embracing the fact that you’re gonna get covered in sauce. Don’t worry… in this case, we’re not so much telling you that you’re doing it wrong, as helping you to do it better. By breaking the cartilage at the widest part of the wing, you can separate the large and small bone cleanly from one another and pull them out, giving you access to every little bit of that delicious meat. And really, who doesn’t want more chicken wing for less work?

Alright, bear with us on this one because it’s bound to raise a few eyebrows. But according to some sources, including The Atlantic, the apple core… is a myth. Call us crazy, but they make a compelling case for eating the apple in its entirety, and we’re convinced that the apple core may be little more than a product of humankind’s natural tendency towards wastefulness. Yes, the center is slightly tougher, and there are going to be a few seeds (which is safer for you to spit out). But just try it for yourself - start eating from the bottom and you’ll hardly notice any sort of core. It’ll just be a ball of apple goodness. Best not to eat the stem though...

You likely spent a long time learning to wield chopsticks so you could enjoy sushi out in public without embarrassing yourself. Well, we’ve got some good news, and some bad news. It wasn’t all for nothing- you should use chopsticks for sashimi. However, whenever handling a roll, be it maki or hosomaki, you’re actually supposed to use your hands. Now, to be fair, using your hands for sushi at your local restaurant is probably going to get you some sideways glances because chopsticks are the Western standard. But traditionally, in Japan, sushi rolls are finger food! Also… never put ginger on the sushi, or touch the ginger to soy sauce. Ginger is a palate cleanser.

Drop the knife and nobody will get publicly humiliated! You should NEVER be cutting your spaghetti. If it was meant to be in small pieces… they wouldn’t have made it long in the first place. Stick your fork in the pasta, and use your spoon as a support to help you twirl the noodles around your fork into a neat little bundle. If you’re not interested in the art of eating this particular dish, stick with other types of pasta! But it’s heartbreaking to see beautifully cooked spaghetti getting chopped into Lipton chicken noodle soup-sized bits.

Breaking down either of these delicious sea creatures is no small feat, and without proper technique, it can be messy, loud, and quite frankly, a little frustrating. First of all, get your tools. Leave the hammer in the garage though - you just need a small seafood fork and cracker. Start by breaking either the lobster or crab down at the joints. Then break these sections in the middle, either gently with the cracker or your hands. For the claws, you’ll definitely want to use the crackers, but don’t overdo it. Just remember, while the shell is hard, removing it doesn’t have to be. A delicate touch is crucial.

For all our accomplishments as a species, our technological advancements and more specifically, culinary exploits, we humans still make some basic but glaring mistakes when it comes to eating food. Case in point - bananas. How do you eat one? Probably break it at the stem and start peeling, right? If so, you’re doing it wrong! The banana is a lovely and considerate little fruit that comes with a convenient handle, and the first thing we do... is break it. Instead, hold it by the handle and peel from the other end. Just pinch the banana at the base and it will peel as easily as stem side usually does for you.

Alright, this might not be the traditional way to eat a cupcake, but there’s no denying the fact that it’s an improvement on the old approach. When you eat a cupcake, you want that sweet combination of cake and frosting. But the dimensions of a cupcake inevitably leave you with a base of cake and no more frosting to wash it down. The solution… is progressive, but don’t be intimidated. Twist the cupcake in the middle, effectively ripping off the bottom half, then, put it on top of the icing. Now you’ve got yourself a perfect little cupcake sandwich. Enjoy!