topic Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food in Kitchen

Squeezing and Smashing Food

Chloe in Mercer — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 23:09:09 GMT

Every time a food product is presented, the host or product representative squeezes or smashes it. If it’s meat, they press it so hard to make the juices run, and they put one on top of the other to make it appear thicker. They do the same with cookies and other desserts. It’s frustrating and almost deceptive. Just show the product as it is.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

charsha — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 23:45:27 GMT

Oh! Just wait until you see Shawn squeeze and smash a coffee cake in a ball- Totally gross. Welcome @Chloe in Mercer

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Rosebud 06 — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:45:38 GMT

I remember seeing that show. I don't think I ever saw her on Gourmet holiday again. That was gross. I am sure My Grandmas didn't appreciate that display.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

TheMemphisVette — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:45:38 GMT

food phobias are real

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

skatting44 — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:14:48 GMT

Disgusting when they smash it up or keep pulling at the food

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Venezia — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:23:08 GMT

@Rosebud 06 wrote:
I remember seeing that show. I don't think I ever saw her on Gourmet holiday again. That was gross. I am sure My Grandmas didn't appreciate that display.

What??? You mean that's not how you eat your My Grandmas coffee cakes?

I've always done that! I thought that's how you're supposed to eat them, after watching it done on TV!!! I guess I'll have to go back to just slicing them.

(Did she really do that? For what purpose?)

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Carmie — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:24:22 GMT

Hmmm. It doesn't bother me one bit.

It's interesting what bothers some people and others pay no nervermind.

We all are different.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Venezia — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:26:53 GMT

I admit I switch off when they keep smashing things like cookies, cakes, bagels, chocolates, etc. down or any other soft food. Who does that in real life?

I don't have any phobias about food, but I just find it unappealing. I think we can all assume the aforementioned foods are moist. No need to squeeze them out of existence.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Sooner — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:32:48 GMT

I do this in real life. I break off a bite of cookie, squeeze my sandwich to keep things from falling out, and love to see those juices coming out of a good roast or steak when I cut it.

I smash my green peas sometimes to get the last of 'em on my fork. Bread often gets pulled off the loaf and eaten. Muffins get torn apart.

A lot of what I eat is in my hands--apples, berries, sandwiches, bites of roast when I am cleaning up. It's food. It doesn't care if I squeeze it and neither do I.

Don't you mash food to see if the juice runs clear especially poultry?

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Venezia — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:42:17 GMT

@Sooner - If I'm eating a cookie, like the ones they're showing as the TSV today - no, I don't squeeze it or press it into thinness. I just eat it, one bite at a time.

I think there's a difference between holding food securely to eat it (or pick it up from your plate) and the constant "mushing" of food items that they do in the presentations.

Obviously it doesn't bother everyone, but that doesn't mean the OP doesn't have a valid opinion.

It's interesting how we're all different. I also don't tear apart bread or muffins. I slice bread and cut muffins into smaller pieces. A lot probably depends upon how you were brought up.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Kachina624 — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 02:13:21 GMT

@Chloe in Mercer. QVC is expert at showing and subsequently selling food products. They know what they're doing. Pressing it is the only way to show that meat is juicy or a cookie is moist, which is what I want to know. It's not about thickness.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Carmie — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 02:44:46 GMT

For those who cut bread and muffins with a knife, that is considered bad manners.

I was taught correctly. My parents were strict on table manners.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Venezia — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 03:07:32 GMT

Oh my, I guess those of us who use cutlery have just never been "taught correctly". I must bow to the gods of all etiquette knowledge.

(And, BTW, my parents were also strict on table manners, and indeed all manners. They just don't coincide with some outdated, Victorian notion of the correct way to eat bread. My goodness, life is too short to be judged on how you eat bread.)

---

I just noticed that, thank goodness, we're "allowed" to butter an entire slice of toast before breaking it into tiny bite-size pieces! Somehow I can't see many modern families eating bread or other such products one tiny, buttered bite at a time.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

pigletsmom — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:18:34 GMT

People don't get that they're trying to show how juicy the meat is to people at home or how moist the cakes are?

And yes that's the proper etiquette for eating bread but I really can't be bothered. If I were at some nice restaurant I might and have in some settings where I didn't want to be the one looking like I had no manners.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

faeriemoon — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:15:00 GMT

I don't watch the food shows, but obviously I have seen food presented. The Q annoys me on many levels, but I have to say food squishing doesn't bother me. Obviously they're trying to show that something is either juicy, moist or full of whatever they've filled it with. I would think if you're interested in these shows you'd be interested in these demonstrations.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

wagirl — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:34:58 GMT

Yes, that man handling every food item has gotten old and then hearing about cookies every other hour--good lord---and then DV telling and re-telling all his stories on what his mom did with cookies, or snack mix, or whatever else-- back in the day---geez---thought he was off sugar and carbs---the whole, hours and hours of food---yikes!!!.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

shy bobcat — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:47:42 GMT

I'm bothered with pressing the meat. The red liquid is not appetizing to me.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

occasionalrain — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:12:11 GMT

I avoid those food shows because, like the OP, I find their handling of food disgusting.

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Desertdi — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:23:02 GMT

My late husband KNAWED on steak bones. They looked like polished ivory when he got thru with them...

Re: Squeezing and Smashing Food

Ladybug724 — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:32:30 GMT

I just assume all cake is dry as the desert unless it can be formed into a giant ball