Fun facts and fascinating trivia about historical, bygone, and modern foods for people who love eating food.

Chew on This

Weird History

Great design tickles a certain place in your brain when you see it. And unfortunately, impractical design has the opposite effect - probably annoying you far more than it should. Add hunger into the mix, and you can get some really strong emotions (and perhaps <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-food-myths/setareh-janda">mistaken beliefs</a>) tied to how food is packaged.&nbsp;Sometimes, logical <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historians-answer-questions-about-food/setareh-janda">reasons</a> exist for what seem to be frustrating package designs. (Who knew that air in chip bags served a purpose?) On the other hand, you might be disappointed to find out that some of the biggest grievances in the snacking product design world come down to a company being stuck in its ways - and not really wanting to innovate. (Here's looking at you, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/food-facts-rethink-what-we-eat/melissa-sartore">hot dog industry</a>.)&nbsp;Vote up the designs that make the most sense.

The Actual Reasons Food Is Packaged The Way It Is

General

Why Food Is Packaged A Certain Way

Emily Mast

Part of the fun of traveling is stuffing your face with the cuisines and treats of the locals. These lists rank the most delicious, must-try foods wherever you'll be.

Food Around the World

Old Stuff

Some foods trigger <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/american-food-that-makes-the-rest-of-the-world-gag/will-morgan-1">unequivocal American pride</a> - the hot dog, hamburger, macaroni and cheese, apple pie. So you might be surprised that these and other “American” foods were, in fact, created elsewhere. Sometimes they were even popular in other countries, but the US eventually seemed to take credit for the culinary invention. Serving as a melting pot of cultures, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ethnic-foods-invented-in-america/lauren-glen">United States has long taken traditional foods</a> from other countries and put its own spin on them.Although these foods are not any less tasty because they're not American-bred, you might hesitate the next time a friend asks if you want to get some “American” grub. &nbsp;

Foods We Thought Were American But Were Actually Invented Somewhere Else

Food

'American' Foods That Were Invented Elsewhere

White Claw

Made with only 100 calories a can and infused with a range of bold flavors, White Claw Hard Seltzer is one of the most popular <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-bud-light-seltzer-flavors/bottoms-up" target="_blank">hard seltzer lines</a> on the market. That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;re ranking the best White Claw flavors. What does White Claw taste like?&nbsp;Our &quot;experts&quot; have provided short taste profiles for each flavor below. While they&#39;re all very different types of flavors, most White Claws are sweet, crisp, and yummy.&nbsp;

What&rsquo;s your favorite Crook and Marker flavor? With refreshing options like Raspberry, Mango, and Black Cherry, these drinks contain just 2g of carbs a can and are made with natural flavors.&nbsp;

Be sure to vote up the top White Claw Hard Seltzer flavors (including <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/new-white-claw-flavors-twitter-reactions/erika-valverde" target="_blank">all the new flavors</a>, like Pineapple and Clementine) so other readers can see which options to sip first.

The Best White Claw Hard Seltzer Flavors, Ranked

Ranking All 11 White Claw Flavors, Best To Worst

Bottoms Up

The Things We Miss Most

Nostalgia for the movies, TV shows, stars, music, food, fashion, and toys of the decade that was already so long ago.

Revisiting the 2000s

Nostalgia

Almost everyone recalls their first bite of a delectable <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/90s-lunch-facts/pierce-nahigyan" target="_blank">Dunkaroo</a>, dipped in confetti-colored creme. Maybe you even washed it down with a caffeine-loaded, citrusy <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-happened-to-surge-soda/zach-seemayer" target="_blank">Surge</a>, or followed it up with a giant bowl of French Toast Crunch&nbsp;cereal. Remember when Trix was still fruit-shaped, or when Altoids had tangy fruit flavors? Do you recall your first taste of Planters Cheez Balls? Or the decidedly superior Rice Krispies Treats? Or the delectable, melt-in-your-mouth Oreos O&#39;s cereal?

These <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/discontinued-90s-snacks/pierce-nahigyan" target="_blank">tasty discontinued foods</a> will give you serious nostalgia, and make you&nbsp;wish you had a time machine&nbsp;so you could go back and stockpile your favorites, or just get one more taste. The drinks and snacks of the 2000s were loaded with some of the most unforgettable flavors and textures of all time.

Although these snacks are sadly no longer with us, they will live on forever in our memories.&nbsp;

The Tastiest Discontinued Food/Drink Items From The 2000s

Discontinued Foods from the 2000s | List of 2000s Snacks They Don't Sell Anymore

Candice Darden

Avocado toast, goat cheese, alternative meat dishes - these are all what we'd consider <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/21st-century-food-fads-to-avoid/carly-kiel?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">21st century food trends</a>.But did you know the bases of these dishes have been around a long time? In some cases, thousands of years?&nbsp;Our ancient human ancestors were no different from us <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/elizabethan-era-food/emily-mast">in wanting tasty dishes</a>, so they created some of the staple recipes that we take for granted today. From pancakes to pot pie to popcorn, different people in various pockets of the world were responsible for creating (or stumbling upon) some of our favorite foods today.&nbsp;So which food do you think will be the oldest? Read on to find out.&nbsp;

Dishes That Are Much Older Than We Realized

Surprisingly Ancient Meals

Sometimes we're in a rush when it's time to eat. Unfortunately, for the 52nd week in a row, we forgot to do our meal prep last Sunday and we're hungry now. There's nothing in the fridge. The delivery apps all have a 75- to 190-minute wait, plus $45 in transaction fees. All signs point to us <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-fast-food-founders/tracey-graham">hitting the drive-thru</a>.&nbsp;Sure, this sounds like a depressing scenario, but it doesn't have to be. Fast food, like any other type, can have qualities we celebrate and enjoy that make our mealtime a pleasure. True, there's the whole “feeding the giant corporate machine” aspect of many fast-food franchises, but plenty of smaller regional choices also exist, and for many of us, even bad fast food can conjure warm fuzzy nostalgia. Some places even have good food!

Fast-Food Franchises Whose Food People Actually Like

Restaurant

Will Morgan

Smothered in chili or covered in cheese; crinkly cut or shaped into tots; eaten as a complete meal or as a side dish at a popular <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-fast-food-founders/tracey-graham">fast food chain</a> - the world seems to have been fascinated with the many ways to enjoy a fried potato since they were first introduced centuries ago.&nbsp;Who would've thought a relatively plain root vegetable would carry such <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/different-pizza-styles-in-america/setareh-janda">culinary nuance</a>? Popular throughout the world with seemingly endless variations in serving suggestions and cut styles, the fried potato holds a coveted spot in historical records and modern cuisine. From its legendarily humble beginnings to its debut at White House dinners and eventual adoption as a street food favorite, this list features everything we learned about how people eat french fries.&nbsp;

Things We Just Found Out About How People Eat French Fries

Lauren Glen

Whoa Facts

Snacks and fast food can make up a considerable amount of what we eat in a day. If we're in need of a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-popular-junk-food-kids-every-decade/oliver-pretl-drummond">quick bite</a> between meals, nothing is more satisfying and delicious than some chips, candy, or a similar treat. Fast food is - well, fast and convenient - making it a tasty option when we're in a hurry or just too lazy to cook.Many good eats passed our lips this year - and many facts about those foods crossed our paths, too. We learned about some of our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/fast-food-to-eat-every-day-big-mac-taco-bell/dave-schilling">favorite fast-food restaurants</a>, individual ingredients, and even how we might actually be <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/food-you-have-been-eating-wrong/donn-saylor">eating food wrong</a>.&nbsp;We can't wait to see what we learn next year! In the meantime, take a look at some of the most fascinating food facts we learned in 2022 and vote up the ones that definitely leave you hungry for more.

17 Facts About Snacks And Fast Food We Learned That We're Still Nibbling On

Melissa Sartore

Myths & Legends

Few elements of health are as prone to misrepresentation as food. To some extent this is understandable, given how central food is to every aspect of human life and how connected it is to general health and well-being. Thus, it is very common to see various foods <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/healthiest-superfoods/chef-jen">referred to as “superfoods”</a> and for dieters to try to avoid certain <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/snack-fast-food-facts-2022/melissa-sartore">things like snacking</a>.&nbsp;However, while some common ideas about various health foods do hold up to scrutiny, there are a surprising number that have been shown to be either misleading or sometimes outright wrong. In food, as in life, there are rarely easy answers.&nbsp;

The Biggest Myths About Health Food

Thomas West

Food History

The 1990s was the era of grunge, independent films, and the dawning of the world wide web, but what was it like at the grocery store? For generations, people have commented on the rising cost of groceries, but when factoring in inflation, some items are actually cheaper today than they were in the 1990s. Food prices in 1990 were often similar to today&#39;s prices - which one would hope for since it wasn&#39;t all that long ago - though some items have actually come down in price in the past 30 years.

Have you ever wondered, &ldquo;how much was a loaf of bread in the 1990s?&rdquo; How about the price of eggs? This list will break down <a href="http://https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=12&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjL-JT44NnoAhWQhJ4KHatpA1cQFjALegQIBxAB&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnaldc.nal.usda.gov%2Fdownload%2FCAT91960192%2FPDF&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LzA_fIuaI7cfmaiGusyVK" target="_blank">1990 food prices</a> by listing the average price back then, the 1990 price factoring in inflation &ndash; using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics&#39;s <a href="https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=0.60&amp;year1=199001&amp;year2=202003" target="_blank">inflation calculator</a> &ndash; and today&#39;s cost for the same items.

Vote up the grocery store items that you think have the best 2020 value and vote down any food that you&#39;d rather go back in time to purchase.

How Much Grocery Store Items Cost In 1990 Vs. 2020

Jude Newsome

Then & Now

In the last decade, we've seen some <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unusual-food-experiences/melissa-sartore">pretty wild variations of food</a> emerge as people feel more comfortable sharing their experiments with friends and the world on social media.&nbsp;But have you ever thought about what the original versions of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-delicious-foods-in-the-world">popular dishes</a> tasted like? Was chocolate always so sweet? Did ancient people enjoy a crisp pot pie as much as we do? Did sushi use to be way saltier? (Spoiler: yes.)So which of these dishes would you have indulged in their original form? Which would you prefer to eat today's version of?

What The Original Versions Of 12 Popular Dishes Actually Tasted Like

Original Popular Dishes

Graveyard Shift

To prepare for the peak of the holiday season, here is a list of the best things to eat&nbsp;at Christmas dinner. While Turkey is the traditional entree for Thanksgiving, Christmas entrees can range from a rack of lamb to a honey glazed ham but it can be a bit more difficult to pick&nbsp;the right sides. These Christmas sides&nbsp;are sure to go well with any entree you choose. Look for your favorite Christmas side dishes on the list below where&nbsp;you will find both sweet and savory sides. There are also healthy options on this list of Christmas side dishes if you have any family members with dietary restrictions. You can also use this list if you need help deciding what to bring to a Christmas potluck or holiday party.

Vote up your favorite Christmas sides on this list and feel free to add any Christmas foods&nbsp;that you think are missing.

The Most Mouth-Watering Christmas Side Dishes, Ranked

The 50+ Best Sides For Christmas, Ranked By Deliciousness

Ranker Food

Entertainment

If there was a food that defined an entire generation of kids that grew up in the '90s, it would definitely be Lunchables, the meat, cheese, and cracker (and sometimes pizza) combo that was just as easy to buy as it was to take to school. There’s been a lot of talk about the nostalgia that surrounds the semi-lunch item, but less chatter about how Lunchables changed advertising or how Lunchables changed food and how millennials conceptualize meals. If you want to take a trip down memory lane, or if you’re just here for the wacky Lunchables statistics, keep reading to learn some processed facts you didn’t know about Lunchables. Lunchables in pop culture have taken on an almost mythic quality. Aging millennials can lapse into a discussion about trading sandwich toppings just as easily as they could back when their second-grade lunch bell had just rung. If you’re hankering for a turkey, cracker, and processed cheese sandwich, open up these Lunchables facts and try to save the dessert for last. Read through this list for some fascinating and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/sons-of-anarchy-facts/joanna-varikos?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">surprising facts</a> about everyone’s favorite almost-lunch. And if you have any special memories of noshing on Lunchables, or a particular method for evenly distributing your meat, cheese, and crackers, tell us about it in the comments.

Processed Facts You Didn't Know About Lunchables

Not a Lunchables Kid

Jacob Shelton

Going out to eat can be one of life's simple pleasures. Depending on the circumstance, it can be a grand luxury, such as a nice evening spent over a lavish dinner with family and friends. Or it can be a quick respite from a hectic day, something as simple as taking a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-fast-food-brands">nostalgic bite into a fast-food</a> burger during an all-too-short lunch break. But, as is always the case when venturing out into society and dealing with other people, things can go wildly off kilter at a moment's notice.These are some of the strangest experiences Weird History: Food readers have had in restaurants.

Weird History: Food Readers Talk About Their Strangest Restaurant Experiences

Spellbook

A staple of diets in many parts of the world and one of the most beloved foods, cheese has risen in popularity over the years. People plan entire events around cheese, from fondue parties to wine-and-cheese galas. Whether cheese is used as an ingredient or featured as the main event, the<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-very-best-cheese "> many different variations</a> of this milk-based wonder are plentiful.Astrological signs, like cheeses, are diverse, too. Just as party hosts and professional cheesemongers enjoy spending time thinking of how different flavors and notes will work together, professional astrologers and amateur astrology fans alike spend hours studying natal charts to see how each of the 12 zodiac signs show up to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-quality-according-to-zodiac-sign/matt-manser">proverbially flavor a person’s personality</a>. How would it look, or taste, to pair each of the 12 tropical zodiac signs with their own cheese?&nbsp;If you <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://astro-charts.com/tools/new/birth-chart/">look at your whole chart</a>, could you build a harmonious cheeseboard from your big three or big five? Keep reading to find the sweet or savory in your stars.&nbsp;

The Perfect Cheese Pairing For Each Zodiac Sign

Lauren Poe

Every <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/each-state-essential-food/melissa-sartore">state has a food</a> it is known for, and we often take pride in claiming that our home makes some of the best barbecue, seafood, or pies in the nation. Still, when Ranker asked readers which food they could eat for the rest of their lives, Chinese food, spaghetti, burritos, and sushi were some of the dishes that ranked at the very top of the list. Part of what makes these foods so appealing is that they seem special, helping us feel like we are experiencing ethnic foods without having to leave home. Are we really, though?&nbsp;It turns out that some of our very favorite “ethnic” foods actually originated right here in our own country. While a few resemble dishes from their supposed countries, others were conceptualized entirely in the United States. This list exposes the fascinating, real, and very American origins of some of our very favorite “ethnic” dishes.

Foods Americans Think Are Ethnic But Were Actually Invented In The States

Food lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of food lists and rankings.

Food lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for top 10, top 100, best of, funny, factual lists of any kind

Food lists on Ranker

Foods lists on Ranker

Kit Kat

Twix

Snickers

Pizza

Chinese Food

Cheeseburger

Lettuce

Cucumber

Cheese

Ruffles Cheddar Sour Cream

Pringles Sour Cream and Onion

Cool Ranch Doritos

We all gotta eat, right? Lists of your favorite things to stuff in your face, ranked.

Food Glorious Food

It’s a question asked by kids at sleepovers and by bored office workers around the world. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Don’t blurt out the first thing that comes to your head, because the answer may not be as simple as you think. Maybe pizza is the first thing you think of, but can you truthfully say that you won’t miss the satisfying, perfect bite that you only get with a giant plate of nachos? This entire list is a Sophie’s choice of delicious food, and it will drive you insane with just a glance, setting your stomach rumbling. If you think you’re up to the challenge, throw out your concept of healthy eating, undo the top button on your jeans, and vote up the one food that you would eat for the rest of your life.Foodies have long discussed the one best food they would happily eat until they departed this mortal coil. Some people get fancy with it and choose a forever meal of a lone quail egg. Other folks, who aren’t afraid to get trashy with their bad selves, decide they’re going to eat nothing but bean burritos until eternity. But now it’s your turn to decide what one food you’ll eat for the rest of your life.Vote here on your favorite forever food, and if there’s some weird regional grub that isn't already listed, run it up the flag pole and see if anyone salutes it.

Steak

If You Could Only Eat One Food for the Rest of Your Life...

Favorite Foods | Food You Could Eat for Every Meal

We get it—chocolate is basically irresistible. Now, repeat after us: "Hi, I'm [your name here], and I'm addicted to chocolate."

Chocoholics Anonymous 

Lists that rank the many delicious and decadent things you shove into your mouth by the handful, straight from the bag, off the stick, out of the bin, etc. Yum.

Snacks, Sweets, Candy & Treats

Chocolate

A list of the Best Chocolate Bars, including ones you can get delivered to your door with these <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-chocolate-subscription-boxes/ranker-shopping" target="_blank">popular monthly chocolate subscription boxes</a>.&nbsp;What chocolate bars are considered the best by consumers? Browse through our list of the best chocolate bars to see which tasty chocolate bars are the most popular, and which ones are on the bottom of the list. If you see a favorite chocolate bar on the bottom of the list, go ahead and vote for it to raise it to a higher spot on the list of popular chocolate bars. You can also add a special chocolate bar if you don’t see it listed here.Wondering which new chocolate bars might send you to Chocolate Heaven? By looking at the top-ranking spots, it will be easy to find new favorite chocolate bars to try. You can copy and paste from this list of chocolate bars to make your very own list of your favorite chocolate bars. From the well-known Hershey’s brand to Willy Wonka, there are multiple taste sensations to try! And, with different flavors and varieties such as chocolate bars with peanuts added, you won’t run out of new chocolate tasting options for a long time.Plan a special evening for trying several of the new chocolate bars listed here. What are your favorite candy bars? If you try new ones that you’ve never tried before, you are sure to find that new special chocolate bar to feed your chocolate addiction.

Hershey's Special Dark

The Best Chocolate Bars

Best Chocolate Bars List

Lists that rank the salty, seasoning-covered treats you reach for when you just need a little hit of that sweet sodium.

Salty & Savory Snacks

poll

You can't eat just one. Or even just one bag! This list of the greatest chips of all time ranks the most delicious chips (both corn and potato!) based on their size, texture, flavor, crispness, and packaging. Many chip lovers still hold on to their early love affairs with chips and few of us can honestly say we've watched a movie and NOT devoured an entire bag of this delicious snack food. But here's the real question: what are the best chips in the world? We need to know, and your votes will help determine not just the top 10 chips, but the complete list of chips and ultimate ranking of most popular chips. Have <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-snacks?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the best snacks</a> delivered to you with these <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-subscription-boxes-for-snack-lovers/ranker-shopping" target="_blank">popular monthly snack subscriptions</a> and the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-international-snacks-subscription-boxes/ranker-shopping" target="_blank">best international snack boxes</a>.The Dorito, Frito, and Lays lovers fit into this category. (For Dorito lovers, there is a whole separate debate going on about what is the best Dorito flavor). Others have moved on to artisanal chips, organic or natural chips, and gourmet chips. These chips are undeniably delicious, but when you have a craving for a greasy potato chip, do you really want something that is &quot;all-natural&quot;? That's a question you'll have to answer for yourself, because this list has them all!How do you rank the greatest chip of all time? Do you go by dip-ability? Or the flavor of the chip by itself? Do you go by the size of the chip? Do healthy chips make better chips? All these very important questions could have mind boggling answers that shake the very foundations of science, snacking, and reality! The goal of this list is to put all of our chip-loving minds together and decide what is the absolute most delicious, best chip in the world. Go!

The World's Most Delicious Chips, Crisps &amp; Crunchy Snacks

Best Chips in the World | List of Top Chips Flavors

Ranker Community

Ready for a real health hack that will give you results you've never dreamed possible? It's easy: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." (-Michael Pollan) Vote for your faves.

Rabbit Food

Vegetarian

The very best salad ingredients, be them veggies, cheese, meats or other items, are the essential components that when combined transform the individual items into a real salad. Alone, these items are all delicious, but when you add them together and toss them with a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-salad-dressings/chef-jen" target="_blank">delicious salad dressing</a>, a yummy salad is created.

In fact, it&#39;s the salad ingredients or toppings that distinguish one salad from another. Take the Caesar salad&nbsp;for instance and it&#39;s traditional toppings of Parmesan cheese, romaine lettuce, croutons and a garlicky dressing. Greek salads&nbsp;are the same with the likes of feta cheese, tomatoes, onions, pickled beets, peperoncini peppers, cucumbers and an olive oil-oregano dressing making these individual items combine to create something better than the sum of the original parts.

Whether you&#39;re a fan of traditional salads like the Waldorf&nbsp;or the classic cobb or just a simple garden salad with lettuce, tomato and dressing, it&#39;s safe to assume we can all agree that the ingredients make the salad. We&#39;ve all seen the salad bars stocked with a wide variety of vegetables, cheeses, meats, nuts and dressings, and just as there are endless options for salad toppings, there are endless combinations for which to create out own definition of a perfect salad.

Perhaps that flexibility and the fact that there is no wrong way to make a salad, is what makes salad a wonder food. As an added bonus, for the most part, unless you pick fatty dressings and high-calorie toppings, salads are also healthy (often rich in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/a866biroiq5A76687F576A97AAA" target="_blank">proteins and nutrients</a>). That&#39;s a double bonus if we ever saw one.