Food hacks
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Avoid eating hot food from gas station grillers due to potential lack of freshness.
Food is not always changed out as often as expected.
- Some specific chains like Wawa, Kwik Trip, and Buc-ee's are reported to have clean facilities and fine food.
one person who lived it
Know the ingredients of secret menu drinks so you can describe them to staff.
Staff will make the drink if you can list the ingredients, but few customers actually know them.
one person who lived it
Avoid entering restaurants right before closing time.
It inconveniences staff and may result in angry, half-hearted service and subpar food quality.
- Based on ten years of food service experience.
one person who lived it
Ask for chicken wing sauce on the side when ordering takeout or delivery to keep the wings crispy.
Condensation from steam in the container makes wings soggy if sauced beforehand.
- Some stores charge extra for sauce on the side.
- You may not receive enough sauce to cover the entire order.
one person who lived it
Order condiments on the side when buying fast food for large groups.
Many people are allergic to or dislike mustard and mayo, while those who want them can use packets.
one person who lived it
Always accept a bottle of water when offered.
You never know when you will be thirsty.
one person who lived it
Present reasonable requests politely to sales teams to get help.
Teams are more likely to bend over backwards for polite, reasonable requests.
- Lying and getting caught causes them to shut down completely.
one person who lived it
Be cautious about eating food at carnivals or festivals.
Vendors may reuse discarded plates and cups to cut costs, and the food quality can be poor with contamination risks like dead bugs.
one person who lived it
Add salt to fries immediately after they are cooked for better flavor adherence.
Salt added afterwards does not stick as well as salt applied while the fries are still hot from the vat.
one person who lived it
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Avoid ordering hot food at large UK chain cinemas.
The food is often reheated beyond legal limits and tastes old.
one person who lived it
Do not worry about staff judging your fast food orders, as they generally do not care.
Staff view any order as an inconvenience requiring work, so specific choices like adding tartar sauce are irrelevant to them.
one person who lived it
Choose restaurants with smaller menus for everyday cuisine to increase the likelihood of receiving fresh ingredients.
Larger menus increase the chance that ingredients are frozen.
- This advice applies to everyday cuisine, not necessarily ethnic foods like Chinese or Sushi.
- Some large-chain restaurants claim almost nothing is frozen.
one person who lived it
Go inside to order fast food rather than using the drive-thru when requesting customizations like fresh food.
Using the drive-thru for special requests makes everyone else wait.
one person who lived it
Order a large quantity of the same item during slow hours to trigger fresh preparation rather than receiving pre-made food.
one person who lived it
Ask for a 'fistful' of condiment packets to receive a large quantity.
Workers understand this request and typically provide a large amount.
one person who lived it
If allowed, eat leftover bread from bakeries, but note that certain pastries containing dairy or eggs may be discarded rather than donated due to liability issues.
Liability issues regarding dairy or egg ingredients prevent donation of certain pastries.
- This is based on one person's former workplace policy.
one person who lived it
Use creative phrases like 'an irresponsible amount' or 'obscene amount' when requesting extra condiments.
These phrases usually get the point across.
one person who lived it