It’s a trauma that still hurts me to talk about. At first glance, this recipe had everything to please: inexpensive ingredients, easy to reproduce steps, a tempting final result… At least on paper (read: the feed Instagram). Because what was my disappointment in seeing, not without bitterness, the deception of which I had just been the victim. This sweet potato gnocchi recipe turned out to be as bland as the taste of life after spending two hours in the kitchen for nothing. Trapped, I quickly discovered that I was not the only one, according to the indignant comments that accumulated under the publication.
That day I made a promise to myself: never fall for it again. Because if the algorithm knows me by heart, exposing me all day to ultra-targeted and ultra-aesthetic recipe tutorials, we must accept that, vice versa, I know nothing about it, nor about the veracity of the pseudo-treasures of taste whose merits it praises me.
5 tips to know what is worth testing
It was therefore with joy that I came across an article from the American media Good + good, where Instagram food writer and recipe creator Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner gave her sage advice on how to no longer be fooled by pretty, creamy pasta dishes that are more aesthetic than tasty. What emerges are five tips to apply religiously to avoid disillusionment.
Check the legitimacy of the person behind the video
“If I see a recipe that seems attractive to me, I also look at the background of whoever created it. Did you go to culinary school? Did you work in the kitchen or in a restaurant? His recipes have been published elsewhere that on his Instagram feed? These criteria are promising » explains Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner to our colleagues. Self-taught cooks, however, should not be banned. In this case, looking at the comments under the posts (unlike me) can be a good indicator.
See if there is a version of this recipe elsewhere
The expert recommends doing a little research to see if a similar recipe exists elsewhere. If not, it could be a sign that the ingredients used don’t mix so well.
Check if the ingredient proportions hold up
Another simple reflex is to see if the advertised aspect ratio seems consistent. A recipe that requires a whole glass of paprika, hammers Good + goodit should warn you.
Identify whether the creator of the recipe shares their failures
According to the expert, transparency is an excellent signal. Creators who share “a failed cookie batch or a “meh” daal, you can infer that they have high standards for the recipes they post and which ones they toss into oblivion. In other words, they could be more reliable”.
See Instagram recipes as inspiration, not gospel
Last piece of advice, and not least: Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner recommends not following Instagram recipes to the letter but trying to adapt them to your own tastes, bringing your own knowledge, if possible. The best defense against disappointment, because you are never better served than by yourself.
Add Madmoizelle to your favorites on Google News so you don’t miss any of our articles!
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
