Some foods are just better when you buy them ready-made rather than trying to make them at home. Whether it's the time, effort, skill, or special equipment needed, certain items simply don't justify the hassle. Here are some popular foods that are often more convenient and enjoyable to pick up from a store or restaurant - all according to foodies on popular internet forums. But I have to say, I agree with all of them!
Pho
This delicious Vietnamese noodle soup takes a lot of time to make and requires you to simmer your own broth for 12+ hours. And you still will probably not make it as well as the Vietnamese takeout place! Just get the takeout instead.
Bagels
Just as for a lot of other baked goods, there's a lot of of technique and experience that goes into making a great bagel. It might be worth trying out if you live in an area where you don't have any good bagel shops - but if you live in a city like NYC, why would you even bother trying?!
Tater Tots
As one foodie in an internet forum said: "There is no way to improve them, even a Michelin chef can't." - and as someone who has tried it, I can only agree. Homemade versions can be good and very tasty, but they are NOT tater tots.
Ramen
Cooking authentic Ramen takes a long time, and requires many special ingredients. You can make decent versions at home, even in a rather short amount of time, but they will never quite measure up to your neighborhood ramen joint. Of course, cooking ramen from scratch can be a fun project to do once or twice, so don't let this discourage you. But for regular meals and that true authentic flavor? Just opt for takeout instead.
Ketchup
The past decade has seen lots of artisan ketchup versions pop up at both farmer's markets and regular supermarkets, and there are lots of recipes for how to make your own at home. But are they really as good? In my experience, they're tasty enough - but just not quite the same as regular store-bought ketchup. One user in an online forum sums it up nicely: "Yeah, stop trying to make ketchup good! It's not supposed to be good! It's supposed to be sugary vinegar and tomato paste. Leave it alone." I couldn't agree more.
Ravioli
Ravioli is a classic Italian dish often served in restaurants. Making homemade ravioli from scratch requires skill and time, as it involves creating fresh pasta dough and perfectly sealing the filling. I believe that professionally crafted ravioli, with high-quality ingredients and expertly executed fillings, generally outshine homemade versions, in terms of both taste and texture. Not to mention, all that time saved!
However, as with ramen - making it yourself can be fun, if you do have the time. So save the ravioli making for a rainy Sunday when you have time to mess up, and stock up on store-bought versions for weeknights!
Pad Thai
Pad Thai is a beloved Thai stir-fried noodle dish known for its sweet, salty, and savory flavors. While it's a popular choice at Thai restaurants, achieving the perfect balance of flavors and the distinct "wok hei" (wok's breath) flavor that comes from high-heat cooking is difficult at home. Additionally, it can be difficult getting hold of authentic Thai ingredients, which will also affect the overall taste and authenticity of homemade Pad Thai.
Croissants
Croissants are notoriously difficult to make, and to achieve that perfect light interior and crispy, flaky, exterior you need a lot of practice. Do you know who has this? Bakers! So while becoming adept at making croissants at home might be a fun project for serious home bakers, if baking is not your true passion you're better off getting them at the bakery.
Puff Pastry
Just like croissants, making puff pastry is something of an art. And a time-consuming one at that! Most of those that have tried making it themselves have quickly reverted back to the store-bought version, and supposedly most bakeries don't even make it themselves anymore.
Candy
Some candy is delicious homemade - like chocolate truffles. But let's face it, most candy is more chemicals and less regular food ingredients - so making it at home just won't be the same. If you are going to eat candy, just go ahead and buy it at the store instead, and save yourself the time.
Sushi
Considering that the training to become a real sushi chef takes close to a decade, this one might not be surprising. While you can make some cute, homemade rolls that quickly fall apart and slap some salmon on badly cooked rice - why would you? Just cooking the rice is a time consuming process, and the end result still won't be anywhere close to as good as takeout.
American Chinese Food
This takeout favorite might seem easy enough to copy at home - but many foodies report their attempts lacking in flavor and that special "something". Now, that special something is probably MSG, and while you can buy this and use at home as well, the use of the right cooking techniques and, let's face it, lots and lots of oil just makes the restaurant version tastier.
Source: Reddit
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