10 most hated foods in America: Are you brave enough to eat them?

Many Americans have strong opinions about food, especially when it comes to what not to put on their plates. The Consumer & Retail Society at YouGov recently surveyed thousands of people to rank the most hated foods in the U.S., and the results are pretty wild.

They started by asking people to name foods they despise, then ran a second survey to see how those foods stacked up with the general public.

I admit, several of these top 10 items aren’t on my dinner plate regularly. I kind of snub my nose at them, too.

So while compiling this list, I filled up my Instacart and ordered some of the most hated foods in America, so I could grill up recipes that actually taste good. Here’s what happened.

The top 10 most hated foods

Here are the results of the most hated foods, starting from 10 and building up to the top.

10. Blue cheese (21%)

The thought of moldy cheese isn’t exactly appetizing, but blue cheese isn’t rotten, it’s ripened. It’s funky, salty, creamy and perfect crumbled over grilled steak or melted into a burger. It’s actually my favorite salad dressing. If you’re hesitant to try it freshly crumbled, make your own blue cheese dip or dressing and add extra mayo and sour cream to cut the funk.

9. Sushi (27%)

It still surprises me how polarizing sushi is. Maybe it’s the raw fish thing, or the texture of seaweed or maybe folks just haven’t had the good stuff. If you’re hesitant, use grilled ahi tuna, instead of raw fish or try sushi made with beef AKA beefshi. Another fish-free option: California roll cucumber salad.

8. Caviar (27%)

Fish eggs aren’t exactly everyday food, so caviar is high on the hate list. It’s salty, weirdly crunchy and screams “expensive appetizer.” I’ll be honest, I’ve tried caviar many times, and I’m not a fan either. When they pop in your mouth and cover your tongue in fish juice, I’m out.

7. Chitterlings (28%)

Chitlins are a Southern classic made from pig intestines and yeah, they’re not for the faint of heart. I use intestines to make smoked sausage, but I’m a hard no at slow-simmered chitterlings. I just can’t get passed the smell.

6. Oysters (28%)

Slippery, salty and served raw, oysters are definitely an acquired taste. But once you get over the texture, they’re briny bites of the sea. If slurping it from a shell leaves you gagging, try making fried oysters and serving them on a surf and turf burger or try grilled oysters topped with crispy chile butter breadcrumbs.

5. Squid (29%)

Fried calamari? Most people are in. But the second you say “squid,” people squirm. When cooked right, squid, like octopus, is mild and slightly sweet. I love tossing squid steaks or squid rings on the grill for a quick char. All they need is a drizzle of oil, a pinch of salt and some lemon juice.

4. Tofu (29%)

Tofu is like the blank canvas of the food world. It soaks up whatever flavor you give it. Grilled tofu has a crispy exterior with a soft interior. The trick to keeping it from melting into your grill is to use extra firm tofu and to press out excess moisture. It’s a solid protein when you prepare it properly.

Let’s break down the top 3 most hated foods

3. Sardines (35%)

Sardines are another fishy item Americans love to hate. They’re high in omega-3s, sustainable but they can creep people out because they’re served whole. People eat the head, tail and bones. Personally, I remove the heads and tails when I cook grilled sardines. All they need is a drizzle of olive oil and a big pinch of salt.

2. Anchovies (36%)

Anchovies are packed with umami and salt. Most people wouldn’t slap a whole anchovy on their pizza, but they’ll gladly devour Caesar salad, which gets its flavor from anchovy paste. It’s a secret ingredient in sauces, dressings and marinades. So you may think you hate them, but do you? Really?

1. Liver (40%)

Liver scores the highest on the overall hate scale at 40%. It has as a bold, metallic flavor. Most of the time liver is soaked in buttermilk and flash fried in a skillet with onions. For my most hated food test, I marinated it and tried grilled liver, using really bold spices to cut the metallic taste. And honestly, I’m still not a fan.

Is it all hate or is there some love?

Despite all the hate, many of these foods have strong fan bases. Take sushi. While 38% said they hate it or dislike it, 41% like it or love it.

I think that’s the beauty of food. It’s personal, cultural and constantly evolving. The key is keeping an open mind and maybe grilling it before you judge it.