Is Food Tastier When Someone Cooks for You or When You Cook it Yourself?
I cook almost every day at home because I work from home. When I worked outside, I sometimes picked up food from stores or restaurants.
How often do you eat out? For me, not much. I used to eat out more often when I was in Japan because it was so convenient. Since moving to this area, it's simpler to cook at home. However, it can be challenging to think of new recipes constantly, so I sometimes look up good ones for inspiration.
As for whether food tastes better when someone else cooks it or when I cook it myself, I have mixed feelings, about 50/50. Sometimes, I feel so lucky when someone cooks for me or when I eat out at a restaurant. On the other hand, I feel really accomplished when I cook something delicious myself. That sense of success adds to the enjoyment.
My husband often helps or cooks for us when I'm burned out or too tired after work. It's such a relief to just sit and eat sometimes. The other day, he made baked chicken and homemade French fries. He used olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper for the fries, and he's thinking about adding Old Bay seasoning next time, which contains a blend of 18 spices.
For the baked chicken, he used cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, a dash of cayenne pepper, and Panko breadcrumbs.
Why Food Tastes Better When Someone Else Cooks It
One of the reasons is the element of surprise. When I cook for myself, I can often predict the taste, but when someone else cooks, there's an excitement of wondering.
Relaxation is also another factor. Since there's no hassle of cooking, you can fully focus on enjoying the meal, which might make it taste better. I often panic when cooking multiple dishes at the same time, so not having to worry about that makes the experience more enjoyable..
Just knowing that someone took the time to cook for me can make the food taste even better.
Why Food Tastes Better When I Cook at Home
I can adjust the seasoning and flavors exactly to my liking. I can't eat food that's too salty, so cooking at home lets me control that. I also choose the freshest ingredients based on my mood that day. Using homegrown vegetables makes it even better! And, of course, there's the "I did it!" feeling after cooking. Adding a special flavor of satisfaction.
So, which side are you on? I still can't choose one over the other. I think I need both in my life!
Japanese 日本語
ご飯は作ってもらうほうが美味しいか？自分で作る方が美味しいか？
家で仕事をしているのもあって、ほぼ毎日家で自炊をします。外で勤務していた時は、ときどきお店やレストランからお持ち帰りをして、ご飯やおかずを買ってくることもありました。
みなさんはどのくらいの頻度で外食しますか？わたしはめっきり外食することが減りました。日本は便利なのでどこでもおいしいものが手に入りますよね。このあたりに住むようになってからというもの、家で作る方がマシと思うようになりました。ところが、自分で常にレシピを考えるというのはなかなか大変です。ときどきおいしそうなレシピからヒントをもらうことも多いです。
誰かに作ってもらうほうがいいのか、それとも自分で作る方がいいのか…。どちらもいいので、どちらか一方に決めるのは難しいです。ときどき、誰かに作ってもらうことや外食することがとてつもなくありがたいことに感じます。その一方で、自分で自由においしく作ることができる自炊もやっぱり気楽でいいなと思います。
主人はよく料理を手伝ってくれますし、仕事でぐったりしているときは作ってくれます。ただ座って食べるだけでいい時は、本当に助かります。先日、鶏肉を焼いて、手作りポテトフライを作ってくれました。オリーブオイル、パプリカパウダー、塩こしょうをまぶしてオーブンでポテトフライを焼きました。次回は１８種のスパイスが入ったオールドベイを振りかけようと考えているようです。
鶏肉の方はクミンパウダー、パプリカパウダー、塩こしょう、海塩ペッパーを少々ふりかけ、パン粉をまぶしたようです。
作ってもらう方が美味しいわけ
誰かに作ってもらうと、ちょっとしたサプライズ感がありますね。自分で作る場合は味の予想がつきやすいですが、作ってもらうと「どんな味かな？」というワクワク感がある気がします。
そして、リラックス感。作る手間がない分、食事に集中できていつもよりもおいしく感じることもあるような気がします。さらに、誰かが自分のために時間をかけて作ってくれたと思うだけで、味が何割か増すこともありますよね。
自分で作る方が美味しいわけ
味のカスタマイズができ、自分の好きな味付けにできるのは大きなポイントだと思います。私はしょっぱすぎる味付けが苦手なので、家では塩加減やスパイス具合も自由自在にできるのがいいです。その日の気分に合わせて新鮮な食材を選べるのも利点です。畑でとれた野菜を使うなら、なおさら最高ですね！作り終わった時の「達成感」も味を引き立てるスパイスになるのではないかと思います。
みなさんは、どちら派ですか？私はやっぱりどちらか一方には決められそうもありません。
Thank you for reading!
お読みいただきありがとうございます。
I love to cook, but am much happier when someone else does the cleanup!
Sending you an Ecency curation vote!
This!!
That should be a hard-fast rule 😭. Especially if there's no dishwasher in the house! 😁
👍👍
Thank you! Ah ha, that sounds like a nice idea. We can relax after cooking and filling if someone cleans up for sure!
It's a good question. I love my wife's cooking, especially shogayaki or steak with shoyu, sake & mirin. Very simple, but so good. I prefer my curry to her's though so I usually cook it.
Like you said though, it's nice to have someone else cook, like going out to dinner. And when that dinner is cooked good, it's so nice.
Good on your husband for taking care of you once in a while. Food looked good.
Shougayaki!! My brain is filled with thoughts of shougayaki after reading your comment. Your wife's shougayaki must be so good! 😋
Actually, I wanted to make shougayaki as soon as I read this, but I didn't have any shouga at home, so I used kimchi instead. It was good, but I'm still thinking about shougayaki. Yes, it's definitely nice to have someone else cook for us!
Hmm. That's a good question. I think if the other person is skilled in the culinary arts, it's better for them to cook the meal. But if they're average or below average, better off to do it yourself so everyone can enjoy it 😆.
It's nice your husband gave you a break from cooking 😊.
Yeah, that's a good question, but it's hard to pick a side. Your opinion makes very good points. Yes, I was lucky to have a break from cooking that day!
I prefer it cooked by my mother, the taste is more than anything. Btw, your dish looks very appetizing, I need to try this recipe. I hope I succeed.
I totally agree with you! A mother's cooking is the best soul food in the world for many people, for sure! I'm curious about your mom's best dish. I wish I could share these French fries through the screen!