10 Most Controversial Cooking Opinions

Nothing spices up a dish like controversy. Well, maybe salt and pepper, but controversy doesn't hurt, either.

From Gordon Ramsay to Emeril Lagasse and especially Paula Dean, what famous chef hasn't dipped their toes into controversy? Several wanna-be television chefs shared their most controversial culinary takes, stirring the melting pot in the process. Let's see what you think of these controversial cooking opinions.

1. There is such thing as too much cheese

In particular, those pizza ads showcasing slices being pulled apart with cheese strings stretching aren't that appetizing. Cheddar, feta, ricotta, brie, mascarpone—whatever your cheese of choice, can you ever get enough?

One endorser of moderate cheese consumption describes excessively cheese dishes as "boring and unpalatable" Do you agree?

If you do love cheese, try this Cheddar cheese bread rolls, and this Feta and watermelon salad.

2. Fresh spices are overrated

Hip-hop, wine, art, spices. Which one of these four thingsis not typically better when it is older? It's spices. Nevertheless, one at-home chef feels strongly that older spices add more than enough zest to spend money on fresh herbs for every meal.

Check out this air frier drumsticks and this easy jerk chicken for great spice combinations.

3. Give me measurements

One directions-needy amateur chef laments when recipes call for "adding spice to taste" or measuring by the heart. Sometimes the heart doesn't know what it wants, including when measuring cayenne pepper, salt, or any other spice.

Learn the ins and out of measuring and conversions.

4. There are no unique recipes anymore

That "twist" that your favorite online recipe peddler claims are their own? It's not. That "family recipe" is the same recipe that thousands (millions?) of other amateur chefs use and brand as an inherited culinary heirloom.

Time is a flat circle, and no recipe is genuinely original. At least, that's what hundreds of jaded culinarians say on the internet.

Check our readers' favorite recipes.

5. The method may no matter

The art of cooking? Please spare me the hippy-dippy mumbo jumbo. Food is math. If food + taste buds = good, you've succeeded. No matter how lowbrow or unartistic your preparation methods may be, the final taste is the sole metric.

See how to make the easiest white rice in Instant Pot.

6. Cleaning before eating, always

How tough is it to savor every bite if a sink of dirty dishes looms in the backdrop? One person who does both the cooking and the cleaning explains that they must clean as they cook to enjoy the meal.

7. Beans do go in chili

Apparently, a contingent of chili enthusiasts claims that beans have no business in chili. However, one Texas earned rousing endorsements from many other chili lovers when they professed that beans do, in fact, have a spot in the chili bowl.

*Cue blown gaskets in the anti-bean chili forums*

If you like chili, you'll love this spicy bean soup.

8. Bacon isn't all it's cracked up to be

Is bacon just "fine," as one unimpressed at-home chef claims? Or is bacon worthy of the cult following it has earned? Countless bacon-centric marketing campaigns from dining institutions across the nation suggest the latter.

This commenter's claim that bacon isn't all it's cracked up to be is, without a doubt, controversial.

But if you like bacon, you'll love this bacon-wrapped chicken roll.

9. Pineapple and pizza belong together

According to one commenter who sparked a debate that dates back to 1962 (pineapple pizza's birthday), pineapple unequivocally belongs on pizza.

As sure as the sun's rise, you can bet that millions of people (including many Hawaiians) fervently disagree with the take.

Pineapple fans will love this sweet and sour pork with pineapple.

10. Jarlic works fine

Jarlic, or garlic in a jar, does fine when a dish needs flavor. But is pre-minced garlic as fresh as hand-cut cloves? Of course not. But how much time will you save throughout your life by using jarlic for even a fraction of your meals?

One lowbrow home cook isn't too good for the jarred stuff. Proving the controversial nature of the statement, a dissenter stated that the liquid used to preserve jarlic fundamentally changes the taste, making jarred garlic a no-go.

Whether you use garlic, jarlic, or garlic powder, you'll love this lemon and garlic chicken.