Buffets offer so many different options of food, but not all of these dishes are worth picking up and putting on your plate. Some buffet food can be nutritional and tasty, while others might leave you feeling unsatisfied. Understanding which buffet foods are good and which aren’t can help improve your dining experience and your health. Here are nine foods to avoid and nine dishes to pile onto your plate to ensure you have a delicious and beneficial buffet experience.
Cold Pizza
Pizza is a favorite food for many, but it’s never as good when it’s left to go cold! Cold pizza often lacks the delicious taste and texture of a freshly baked pizza. When it goes cold, the cheese can become rubbery and the toppings can lose their appeal. There’s also a higher risk of bacterial growth if the pizza isn’t stored properly. The WHO reports that “an estimated 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food.”
Overcooked Pasta
Overcooked pasta is soggy, mushy, and all-over unappetizing! On top of this, the nutritional value of the pasta reduces and reduces the longer it’s cooked, meaning overcooked pasta is much less nutritional. The sauces accompanying the pasta will also not stick to the pasta properly if it’s overcooked, which can diminish the flavor of the dish. Overcooked pasta is best left off your plate at a buffet.
Whipped Cream
Whipped cream isn’t good for you at the best of times, with loads of sugar and empty calories in every mouthful, but it can be even worse at a buffet! Whipped cream can quickly deflate and become watery if it’s not fresh. Non-homemade versions of whipped cream that are typically the type used at buffets also may contain artificial additives and preservatives to keep it fresh. It’s probably a good idea to avoid any desserts with whipped cream the next time you visit a buffet.
Soggy Fries
Nobody likes soggy fries! Over time french fries can lose their crispiness and become limp and greasy (ew!). If you see soggy fries at a buffet, it’s a clear sign that they’ve been left out for too long or haven’t been cooked properly in the first place. Fries that have gone soggy will also have an even higher fat content as they will have absorbed more of the oil. Stick to healthier options and skip the fries at the buffet to avoid disappointment.
Wilted Salad
Salad can be a great healthy option at a buffet, but there are some cases where you should steer clear of the salad instead. If the salad appears wilted and lacks the fresh, crisp texture that it should have, it’s likely been left out for far too long and has gone past its best. As salad loses its freshness, it also loses its nutrition, so there are no benefits to eating wilted salad. Salad can also harbor bacteria if it’s not refrigerated properly!
Dry Chicken
Chicken can often not be very nice at buffets, as it tends to become dry over time. The moisture and flavor are stripped away as the chicken sits out, and this can give the chicken an unappealing texture and make it difficult to chew and swallow. There’s nothing worse than chewing on dry chicken! Even if you drown it in sauces or gravy, it’s hard to bring moisture back to dry chicken.
Seafood Dishes
According to Business Insider, “buffets can be hotbeds of germs and bacteria that can cause foodborne illness, which affect 1 in 6 Americans each year.” Seafood dishes in particular can be pretty dangerous at buffets, as they’re tricky to keep fresh and at proper temperatures. Seafood can also quickly become overcooked and rubbery when left out at a buffet, and it loses its flavor when it sits out for too long.
Stale Bread
You might think it’s hard to go wrong with bread, but once bread goes stale, it can be pretty unappetizing! As bread goes stale, it loses its soft, chewy texture and turns hard. Stale bread also lacks flavor and freshness. There’s nothing enjoyable about stale bread, and it can even be difficult for your body to digest. So, if you’re going to a buffet, leave the bread off your plate if it’s not fresh.
Bland Vegetables
You might turn to the vegetables at a buffet if you’re on a diet or trying to eat healthily, but this can be a bad idea in some cases, as vegetables can be a bit hit or miss at buffets. Vegetables can sometimes lack seasoning and proper cooking techniques, resulting in them being bland and flavorless. As well as this, vegetables are easily undercooked or overcooked, which can give them a bad texture.
Grilled Vegetables
In contrast to bland vegetables, grilled vegetables can hold onto the smoky, charred flavor that improves their natural taste. If they’re grilled, vegetables can also more easily maintain a better, slightly crunchy texture. Vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber and you’re more likely to pile them on your plate at a buffet and make the most of their nutritional benefits if they look and taste good.
Custom Stir-Fry
It’s a good day if you stumble across a custom stir-fry station at a buffet! This section that some buffets offer allows you to pick from a variety of ingredients and sauces to create your own stir-fry, and the ingredients are typically then cooked to order. The stir-fry station often includes a mix of protein, vegetables, and healthy oils. The ingredients are also usually cooked quickly at a high heat, which helps preserve the nutrients and flavors in the dish.
Chilled Seafood
If a buffet is serving chilled seafood like shrimp, oysters, and crab on ice, it’s likely to be much safer and tastier, as it’s being kept at the correct temperature. Seafood is also very nutritious, being high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in calories. This food is a delicious, light, and refreshing option to pick up at a buffet, and as long as it’s on ice, there’s no reason not to go for it.
Signature Desserts
The New York Times says “these big, communal all-you-can-eat spreads faltered amid pandemic fears, but inflation and a hunger for an experience are giving them a new life and variety.” One of the tastiest and most unique foods that you can get at a buffet is their signature desserts. These desserts are often made from high-quality ingredients with rich flavors and have creative presentations that almost look too good to eat!
Gourmet Cheeses
Some buffets offer different gourmet cheeses with a wide variety of textures and flavors, like creamy brie or sharp cheddar. Cheese is a great choice at a buffet, as it’s a rich source of calcium and protein and has various health benefits. On top of this, cheese is delicious! Gourmet cheese can also pair well with fruits, nuts, and bread to make a great dining experience.
Carvery Meats
If you come across a carvery station at a buffet, make the most of it and fill your plate with succulent, tasty meats! Carvery stations often have high-quality cuts like roast beef, turkey, and ham that are juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. With different meats available, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, and this can provide a substantial protein source to balance your buffet meal.
International Food
Buffets can be great places to try something new and explore different foods from other countries. They tend to offer a diverse selection of food that allows you to taste different cuisines in one setting, and there’s often an array of healthy and exotic ingredients that you don’t typically see elsewhere. You should jump on this chance to try new flavors and dishes from around the world and expand your palette when you’re next at a buffet!
Fresh Bread
Unlike stale bread, fresh bread is one of the most popular foods at a buffet. It feels pretty luxurious to start your dinner off with some fresh bread, and at a buffet, you can do this until your heart’s content! Just make sure you leave room for everything else. Top-quality buffets bake bread daily for a soft, warm addition to the meal, and there’s usually a choice of whole grain, sourdough, and specialty bread to compliment soups, salads, and main dishes.
Soup of the Day
Typically made with fresh, seasonal ingredients at good buffets, the soup of the day offers a warm and comforting option for an appetizer or even a main course. Whether it’s tomato soup, mushroom soup, chicken soup, or any other kind, make sure you grab a bowl to have the best buffet experience. There are often many options including creamy bisques and hearty broths, so there’s always something to suit everyone’s preferences.
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