With the holiday season underway, there are many great foods to feast on. While some foods are a staple of their respective holiday and offer a great meal, others are unhealthy and disgust the palate. Here is the rankings of the best and worst traditional holiday foods:
Tier S:
Turkey:
Holiday food tier list
Turkey deserves its reputation as the best holiday food. The versatile meat is the face of Thanksgiving. The ability to cook Turkey in various ways, from roasting to frying or smoking, offers a wide range of flavors and textures to suit different tastes. Turkey’s excellence has led the public to call Thanksgiving “Turkey Day”.
Tier A:
Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows:
Sweet potatoes with marshmallows is one of the best Thanksgiving sides. This dish strikes a perfect balance between savory and sweet, offering a comforting and indulgent addition to festive meals. The contrasting textures, with the softness of the sweet potatoes and the slightly caramelized, crispy marshmallows create the most underrated Holiday treat.
Latkes
Latkes also deserves its title of being one of the best holiday foods. THey are symbolic of the oil used in the origin story of Hanukkah. Latkes, which are typically eaten on Hanukkah, consist of a potato pancake that can be accompanied by anything from apple sauce to sour cream. Latkes, which are good both hot and cold, are a delicious part of the Hanukkah celebration.
Tier B:
Gingerbread House
Gingerbread Houses are a staple of the holiday fun. The assembly of a gingerbread house can foster lifelong memories with family and friends. However, the construction of gingerbread houses doesn’t always go as planned.The fragility of the gingerbread pieces poses a challenge, often resulting in structural instability and collapse, potentially causing frustration during the building process. While it is tempting to eat the sugary treat, it can be stale or crunchy. Still, gingerbread houses are a fun activity to partake in during the holiday season.
Stuffing:
Stuffing is regarded as a quintessential dish during Thanksgiving meals, offering a flavorful and comforting addition to the table. The versatility in its ingredients: bread, herbs, vegetables, meats and spices, contribute to the appeal. However, when not prepared right, it can be overly heavy or soggy. Its significance lies in its ability to evoke nostalgia and tradition. However, its enjoyment can be subjective based on individual palate preferences.
Tier C:
Candy Canes:
Candy canes, while iconic, are not as great as they seem. It is difficult to consume and it is hard to open making the candy less enjoyable. While eating a candy cane, one might find that it is hard to rip off the outer plastic on the candy cane. Additionally, the candy can get very sticky and disgusting. While a staple of the Holiday season, candy canes don’t live up to their iconic status.
Pumpkin Seeds:
Pumpkin seeds, despite the nutritional value that they provide, are not great due to their taste and texture. The shell or husk of the seeds can be tough and difficult to chew, which makes it hard to eat. The natural flavor of the seeds are too mild and require seasoning or flavoring to make them somewhat good. Additionally, the process of cleaning and separating the seeds from the pumpkin pulp can be time-consuming, which makes the task of consuming the already mid food even less worth it.
Tier F:
Candy Corn:
Candy corn, despite its iconic status during Halloween, is overrated due to its overly sweet taste and waxy texture. The intense sugary flavor is overwhelming. Its lack of variety in taste and poor texture make it the worst candy available on Halloween. Additionally, the artificial nature of its ingredients and the high sugar content make the unhealthy treat not worth it.
Gravy:
Gravy, often used to complement turkey, doesn’t deserve its spot on the thanksgiving table. Its horrible taste only worsens turkey. Gravy is too heavy and overpowering and it is ultimately disgusting. Nothing ruins a Thanksgiving meal more than when a family member dumps way too much gravy on your Turkey.