Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become influential in shaping culinary trends and tastes across the globe. With a vast user base in countries like the United States, Indonesia, and Brazil, these platforms are reflecting and driving diverse food preferences. Here’s a look at the top five food trends that dominated social media over the year, showcasing a blend of creativity, nostalgia, and fusion cuisine.
1. The Cottage Cheese Comeback
Cottage cheese, once pigeonholed as a bland diet food from the 1990s, made an unexpected comeback on social media. Food influencers rediscovered this high-protein dairy product, showcasing its versatility in numerous innovative recipes. From being used as a dip mixed with mustard to being incorporated into chocolate chip cookies with protein powder, cottage cheese’s revival on platforms like TikTok reflects a broader trend of reimagining traditional foods in contemporary ways. Eater.com highlighted this trend, noting the wide range of unexpected and creative uses of cottage cheese that have caught the attention of millions online.
2. Smash Burger Tacos: A Fusion Favorite
The love for burgers and tacos gave birth to a delicious hybrid: the Smash Burger Taco. TikTok user Brad Prose innovatively combined these two favorites by using a tortilla instead of a bun, creating a taco-style burger that quickly gained popularity. This culinary creation involves smashing a tortilla into a pan with a cooking egg, then adding ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and other toppings, finally folding it into a taco. This fusion dish exemplifies how social media fosters culinary innovation and cross-cultural experimentation.
3. Hwachae: Korean Fruit Bowl Punch
The Korean hwachae, a refreshing fruit bowl punch, gained traction as an aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-make summer treat. Featuring watermelon, strawberries, strawberry milk, Sprite, and plenty of ice, this pink punch is a visual and taste delight. Its popularity was propelled by Korean influencer Amy Flamy, whose TikTok video showcasing the hwachae garnered widespread attention. This trend reflects the growing influence of Korean cuisine and the appeal of visually striking, easy-to-prepare dishes on social media.
4. Feta Eggs: A New Twist on a Classic
Following the viral success of baked feta pasta, feta eggs emerged as a new sensation. This simple yet delicious dish, first introduced by recipe developer Grace Elkus on TikTok, involves melting feta cheese in a pan, adding seasonings like chili oil or tomato sauce, and then cooking an egg in the mix. The combination of creamy feta and eggs, often spiced up with chili flakes, resonated with a broad audience, highlighting how social media can repurpose familiar ingredients into new culinary trends.
5. Ice Cream Fruit Roll-Up: A Nostalgic Reinvention
The Fruit Roll-Up, a staple snack from the 90s, experienced a resurgence with a twist. TikTok users began using these chewy fruit snacks to wrap ice cream, creating a sort of fruity burrito that turns crispy when frozen. This inventive snack, akin to ice cream mochi but with a crunchy texture, demonstrates the power of nostalgia in driving food trends on social media. It also underscores the platform’s role in encouraging experimental and playful approaches to food.
Conclusion
These top five food trends illustrate the dynamic and evolving nature of culinary preferences shaped by social media. From reinventing old favorites to creating fusion dishes, social media platforms are not just reflecting but actively influencing what and how we eat. As users continue to experiment and share their culinary creations, we can expect more innovative and diverse food trends to emerge in the future.
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