As an Australian living in the United States, some things took a bit of getting used to. I was eager to try new foods — especially things I'd only seen on TV, like Twizzlers, candy corn, and corn dogs. However, there are some things that I still find really confusing and would never touch. I'm sure there are Australian foods that Americans would never touch either, like Vegemite, so it's all about personal taste. Foreigners on a popular internet forum voted on which American foods were the most questionable; here are ten of them.
1. American Cheese
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Why is it orange? Usually, annatto coloring is added to get that color but why? Cheese in most other countries is pale yellow. One forum member says American cheese is designed to melt quickly. Another says they taste "fake and plastic." It definitely has its purpose on burgers and grilled cheese, but for self-proclaimed cheese connoisseurs, it's best to steer clear. Avoid it on crackers!
2. Outback Steakhouse's Bloomin' Onion
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Back in the late 80s, a group of Americans decided to create an Australian-themed restaurant. The various offerings confuse visiting Australians because they aren't anything we recognize — especially this Bloomin' Onion dish that people seem to rave over. You won't find it in any Australian home or restaurant menus. That's exclusively an American thing.
3. Krispy Kreme
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That Original Glazed donut is not only one of the most popular items in Krispy Kreme's repertoire. When Krispy Kreme opened in Australia, hour-long queues formed, but the franchise had to downsize within a year. I guess we didn't get the appeal. An American says, "A friend visited me from Italy and wanted to try Krispy Kreme donuts. He took one bite and said, 'Now I understand why Americans are fat!'"
4. Spray Cheese
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This one causes me to cringe instantly every time I pass it in the grocery store aisle. Is there actually any dairy product in that? Foreigners mainly know it due to seeing people spray it directly into their mouths in American films and TV shows. Apparently, even Americans wonder who eats the stuff.
One person suggested it was good for other use, saying, "The vet clinic I work at goes through the stuff like crazy. Put a little on the exam table, and it's great for distracting dogs and some cats during vaccinations and minor procedures like nail trims."
5. Twinkies
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People worldwide know the legend that Twinkies would still be edible even if they'd been sitting on a shelf for 100 years. "Sugar-enriched flour, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, polysorbate 60, and Yellow Dye No. 5. Just everything a growing boy needs," responds a forum member quoting Reginald VelJohnson's character Sgt. Powell from Die Hard.
6. Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecans and Marshmallows
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I feel like the person who came up with this was possibly pregnant and having odd cravings. One foreigner was convinced that this dish was a joke of some sort. An American responded that it was real and suggested it was more of a sweet dish like pumpkin pie. In Australia, we associate sweet potato and pumpkin as savory items. Trying pumpkin pie was an experience in itself for me.
7. Corn Dogs or Pancakes on a Stick
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I'm a fan of corn dogs. In Australia, we have a similar battered hot dog on a stick called a Pluto Pup in some places and Dagwood Dogs in others. Like the American counterpart, they go hand-in-hand with State Fairs. Pancakes and Sausage on a stick for breakfast? What on earth?
8. Biscuits and Gravy
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American biscuits always confuse foreigners because a biscuit is a cookie in the States. And it looks and tastes a lot like our scones in Australia — in fact, the recipes are very similar. However, we eat them with jam and cream, not gravy. My children confused me when they told me they wanted to try a chicken nugget in a biscuit with gravy. I think they were asking for something like a nugget with Oreos and gravy — eww.
9. Candy Corn
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The name sounds really good. When I first heard it, I thought it might have referred to caramel-covered popcorn, and I was disappointed when I first saw it. It seems to be a gummy candy, shaped like a piece of corn, and somehow seems sweeter than pure sugar — if possible.
One forum member says, "It's good in small doses; anything more is too much." "I can have a few, but there are weirdos out there that can devour a whole bag," another says.
10. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
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It's a savory and sweet thing between two slices of bread. It's weird. Peanut Butter sandwiches, yes! Jelly (or jam as we call it) sandwiches, yes! But together, I don't have much love for that. Yes, I've tried it, and several foreign forum members gave it a go too. Some said they liked it. I'll stick to Vegemite.
Source: Reddit.
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