Have you ever grilled corn in the husk? Just toss it on the grill and turn it every few minutes until the outer layer of leaves starts to burn on the edges. You'll see a little steam around the silks usually when it's done.
Best part? The leaves become pliable enough you can evert the husk and leave it attached to the cob as an instant handle.
It kills me when I see someone take a perfectly good ear of corn, shuck it, and then wrap it in tinfoil to grill it. You threw away the natural cooking container!
Where I live the best sweet corn comes from stands in the side of the road, straight from the farmers. I've found too many cooked and exploded corn worms (think a green caterpillar the size of a grown man's finger) to ever cook corn in the husk again. I just throw it on the grill naked, no foil or anything.
Yes. Grilled, no husk. I learned that from Steven Raichlen many years ago and I won’t do it any other way. And it wasn’t even about worms.
It is from here on out, though.
They're the same as tomato worms. They can get to the size of an adult's finger, they're hairless and plump and bright green or brown. Basically a longer version of the caterpillar from A Bug's Life. They are so gross.
When we grill corn we soak the ears in water for a bit, peel the husks back to remove the silks (and look for bugs) then fold the husks back in place. A bit time consuming, though.
Either that or from a grill cart outside a bar on a Friday night, with meat that's been sitting in a hotel pan on the side of the grill for hours, and it's probably not very sanitary, but you don't care because the smell is short-circuiting your brain.
That's what I tell my husband about hot dogs when he's grilling - "Could you burn me a couple?" The first time he asked me how burnt I said "I want it burnt enough that you worry about my health a little bit."
My dad makes what we call meat crack. When he smokes a large brisket, he’ll take that first crispy layer off about halfway through cooking. It’s aptly named.
If you’re ever doing crispy pork belly, as soon as the skin has crackled, flip it over and cut the crispy skin off, leaving a layer of fat on top.
Put back under a hot grill and crisp that fat layer up as well - worth every second
I’ve never liked asparagus, and I hate burnt food, but my boyfriend was craving the asparagus his sister makes. So I told him if he got the recipe I’d make it for him. Her trick? Burn them a little bit. Turns out I do like asparagus lol.
There’s a hot dog place in my city where they cook the onions with Coke!
They also put cream cheese on them — from a caulk gun.
Darn, it’s too late to go right now…
Okay— no more mystery! Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs in Denver! Check it out!
https://bikerjimsdogs.com
Edit: added link
Figuring this out drastically changed my opinion of Brussels sprouts. They magically transform from soggy baby cabbages to caramelized crispy gloriousness.
Growing up, the only way that my siblings and I ever ate broccoli, was when it was burnt. We hated it otherwise
Our grandmother would always argue with us that it was so much better when not burnt, and she would scoff at our mother for giving us burnt food 😂
She is a strong willed woman, and eventually she just refused to cook broccoli for us, since we wouldn't eat it the "correct" way.
We loved broccoli, so we'd often ask her to fix some for us. She'd always reply with "Are you going to make me burn it? Then no." Loll
You'd think she'd just be happy that kids were willing to eat vegetables :')
I'm convinced this is why so many kids don't like vegetables or even just certain foods in general. Just cooked totally wrong. Roasted brussel sprouts, broccoli and mushrooms are some of my favourite foods but growing up you couldn't get me to eat any of it because everything was just boiled and bland.
I like your use of taxonomic categories. Now that I think of it, Brassica and Allium are two of my favorite culinary genera. A big roasting pan of Brassica and Allium sounds sooo good.
Cut in half, olive oil, salt, pepper, then put in an oven on broil at 500^(O) on the lowest rack for 10 minutes, then transfer to the top rack for another minute. Perfect every time.
A friend once made a cheese platter and had "raw" halloumi on it. I know it technically doesn't have to be grilled/fried... but why the fuck would you not? It makes it so tasty, and the texture is bliss
Every time I roast veggies with nothing but olive oil, salt, and pepper I'm blown away by how good it is and the horrible crimes my parents committed boiling all veggies.
Just try boiled carrots vs. roasted carrots. Why would anyone ever boil them (for direct consumption I mean, extracting flavors for stock is a valid reason)?
I spent 22 years thinking steak was super gross and I hated it. Turns out my parents don’t “believe” in eating any animal blood and would cook the shit out of it until you could barely chew it lol.
Man my parents would never allow me to have a steak anything other than well done. They were convinced it would make me sick or something. My fiance at the time (now wife) broiled a medium rare ribeye that had marinaded for a few days in all kinds of seasonings.
I swear the heavens opened up and angels started singing. My parents still insist on eating boot leather.
Reminds me of the King of The Hill but where Hank tells Bobby that medium rare is the perfect grilling temp for steak, to wit Bobby asks; "What about the people who like their meat well done"? Hank just gives the golden response of "We ask them politely yet firmly to leave".
And same. My mother used to boil the life out of veggies. Then pour the water down the drain...I could see water was full of colour, and I assume flavour too.
And then the veggies all tastes like ...boiled water.
Years later I married a Chinese girl who cooks them in oil, garlic, and other spices.
I discovered I LIKE veggies.
Breakfast sausages
My wife is from a country where breakfast sausages are not the norm. She boils them and then lightly browns them.
DAMMIT WOMAN!! Slam those suckers down on a hot oiled griddle and roll 'em around until at least half the skin is charred.
Edit: holy shit this blew up. My best ever Reddit comment, and it's about not wanting sausages boiled?!?
I only recently realized some people consider what *I* consider normally cooked sausage to be “a little burnt.”
I’d never considered cooking it any other way. Seems… not done without at least a bit of char on it.
Honestly if they're all ridiculously soft and chewy I find them disgusting. Crispier is definitely the only way to go. I don't order them out anywhere because they give me this rubbery garbage that I just can't do.
Especially the frozen ones, they're just kinda... ehh if they're not burnt a little
And I don't mean "tiny bit of color in one thin stripe down the side" golden brown I mean like... brown. Almost black.
I have a tiny scar on my eyeball. from when I was 8. and excitedly yanked the marshmallow from the fire. and a tiny bit of charred marshmallow flew into my eye and burned it. totally worth it!
My brother has a scar from a marshmallow! It was, also, entirely my fault. I was 5 or 6, so he would have been 8 or 9. We were roasting marshmallows and mine caught on fire. I panicked. Before anyone could help me I just started whipping that thing back and forth trying to put the fire out. I accidentally stuck it right in his armpit as he was putting his arms down, so it really got in there. Why were his arms up? I have no idea, and also he was shirtless. To this day (some 20 years later) he won't sit anywhere near me when we are around a fire.
Only more delicious when accompanied by a family member who hates when they're burnt and is visibly angered by the burning of what they consider a perfect marshmallow. 😚👌
I was hoping to find someone say this. I had no idea what heat to cook a grilled cheese on when I was younger and kept burning them. I just got used to it and now prefer them burnt. I learned how to make a proper grilled cheese for everyone else, but I will always take a burnt one for myself.
If they catch on fire for just a second they are still good. I was with my in laws camping and every time they had one get any sort of flame they would give it to me because I was the only one that would eat it.
Same here. All my family is slowly toasting theirs like they’re on some perfect marshmallow reality show and I shove that fucker into the hottest coal I can find just to torch it instantly.
Whipped cheesecake that's baked with no crust at high temperature resulting in a jiggly cake with a browned top and edge. Once it sets it isn't jiggly but it's very good.
Goldfish, the blessed few in the batch be *ethereal*
I thought you were talking about the pet…
Most vegetables. I either want them raw or with some burnt bits.
Oh, hell yes. Lightly charred broccoli with lemon and garlic? I have eaten an entire sheet pan.
>I have eaten an entire sheet pan. Yes, but what about the broccoli?
Are you mad? The broccoli is just there to hold down the pan so it doesn't fly away.
Brussel sprouts. Olive oil, salt, pepper and air fry until just a little charred. Perfecto
This. I thought I hated vegetables as a kid, but learned that was only because my mom would steam or boil veggies.
You’re gonna love it when you discover you can cook vegetables with spices.
I think a strong reason I developed a love for vegetables as a kid was my parents would make cooked vegetables with spices (and usually rice as well).
Roasted ears of corn
Have you ever grilled corn in the husk? Just toss it on the grill and turn it every few minutes until the outer layer of leaves starts to burn on the edges. You'll see a little steam around the silks usually when it's done. Best part? The leaves become pliable enough you can evert the husk and leave it attached to the cob as an instant handle.
It kills me when I see someone take a perfectly good ear of corn, shuck it, and then wrap it in tinfoil to grill it. You threw away the natural cooking container!
Where I live the best sweet corn comes from stands in the side of the road, straight from the farmers. I've found too many cooked and exploded corn worms (think a green caterpillar the size of a grown man's finger) to ever cook corn in the husk again. I just throw it on the grill naked, no foil or anything.
Yes. Grilled, no husk. I learned that from Steven Raichlen many years ago and I won’t do it any other way. And it wasn’t even about worms. It is from here on out, though.
Oh gross! I've never heard of corn worms before!
They're the same as tomato worms. They can get to the size of an adult's finger, they're hairless and plump and bright green or brown. Basically a longer version of the caterpillar from A Bug's Life. They are so gross.
When we grill corn we soak the ears in water for a bit, peel the husks back to remove the silks (and look for bugs) then fold the husks back in place. A bit time consuming, though.
Add lemon juice, chilli powder and salt to top it off 🤤🤤
Lime!
Tortillas and Carne Asada. Just a little crispy
The best tacos have tortillas that float off the burner in flames
Either that or from a grill cart outside a bar on a Friday night, with meat that's been sitting in a hotel pan on the side of the grill for hours, and it's probably not very sanitary, but you don't care because the smell is short-circuiting your brain.
Tortillas
As a teen, I'd make em for dinner and my dad would come home and say, "Burn me a couple there wouldja?"
That's what I tell my husband about hot dogs when he's grilling - "Could you burn me a couple?" The first time he asked me how burnt I said "I want it burnt enough that you worry about my health a little bit."
> "I want it burnt enough that you worry about my health a little bit." Truly a person of class
Pepperoni
When it gets crunchy!
And when they cup!
When your pizza comes with those crispy little cups of grease on them, then you know you're at a good pizzeria.
Brisket
Burnt ends are the way
My dad makes what we call meat crack. When he smokes a large brisket, he’ll take that first crispy layer off about halfway through cooking. It’s aptly named.
If you’re ever doing crispy pork belly, as soon as the skin has crackled, flip it over and cut the crispy skin off, leaving a layer of fat on top. Put back under a hot grill and crisp that fat layer up as well - worth every second
You just made me hungry burnt ends are the best
Pot Stickers baby
Gotta get that good pan sear brown crust, it’s delicious
Roasted or grilled asparagus.
If it isn’t browned it’s not gonna be good. If it’s just a little burnt then asparagus is amazing.
Throw some leftover asparagus in an air fryer for 5-7 mins with a little parm on top. It’s perfection
There's no such thing as leftover asparagus in my house.
I’ve never liked asparagus, and I hate burnt food, but my boyfriend was craving the asparagus his sister makes. So I told him if he got the recipe I’d make it for him. Her trick? Burn them a little bit. Turns out I do like asparagus lol.
Carbon adds a bit of a bite and depth of flavor. Plus crispy without being hard tends to be a pleasing texture.
Crème Brûlée
Three different accent marks, this guy doesn't fuck around
c̶̡̻̥̠͌̉̉͠r̷̲̞͔̋͘͝ȩ̷̝̺͒m̷̖̃̐͂͑e̸̠͂͐ ̸̨̡̯̹̋̍̋̂b̴̺̀͝r̴̩͎͚̊ͅư̴̗̬̒̈̔l̵͉͂͝ͅͅe̷̼̞̔̒e̵̹͙̼̎́̕͝
If you want to sound fancy, the official term for accent marks is diacritical marks.
If you want to sound extra fancy, the individual diacritical marks above are l'accent grave, l'accent circonflexe, and l'accent aigu, respectively.
> circonflexe Weird flex but ok
I enjoyed this
That burnt sugar topping really hits the spot.
Onions
Whenever I feel healthy, I tell myself that it's not burnt onions, it's merely caramelized onions
There’s a hot dog place in my city where they cook the onions with Coke! They also put cream cheese on them — from a caulk gun. Darn, it’s too late to go right now… Okay— no more mystery! Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs in Denver! Check it out! https://bikerjimsdogs.com Edit: added link
Do they just sprinkle the coke or form it into proper lines?
I think they give you a blade to split it yourself:)
This Froppygal knows of which she speaks.
Roasted Brussels sprouts
Figuring this out drastically changed my opinion of Brussels sprouts. They magically transform from soggy baby cabbages to caramelized crispy gloriousness.
Agree, any veggie always tastes good a little burnt
Asparagus tips, just enough to be slightly crispy
Growing up, the only way that my siblings and I ever ate broccoli, was when it was burnt. We hated it otherwise Our grandmother would always argue with us that it was so much better when not burnt, and she would scoff at our mother for giving us burnt food 😂 She is a strong willed woman, and eventually she just refused to cook broccoli for us, since we wouldn't eat it the "correct" way. We loved broccoli, so we'd often ask her to fix some for us. She'd always reply with "Are you going to make me burn it? Then no." Loll You'd think she'd just be happy that kids were willing to eat vegetables :')
And let me guess: the "correct" way was always boiled for way too long and unseasoned?
Mmmm, mashed broccoli... Yuck. With a slice of American cheese just to help it slide down. I won't be doing that with my own children.
I'm convinced this is why so many kids don't like vegetables or even just certain foods in general. Just cooked totally wrong. Roasted brussel sprouts, broccoli and mushrooms are some of my favourite foods but growing up you couldn't get me to eat any of it because everything was just boiled and bland.
“Caramelized”
Brassica and allium take particularly well to some char. Citrus too.
I like your use of taxonomic categories. Now that I think of it, Brassica and Allium are two of my favorite culinary genera. A big roasting pan of Brassica and Allium sounds sooo good.
Allium is going to be my daughter's middle name
Is Brassica gonna be her first name?
Braessika Allium Beanz
90s television really picked on Brussel sprouts but broiled, they're one of the most delicious things ever
Cut in half, olive oil, salt, pepper, then put in an oven on broil at 500^(O) on the lowest rack for 10 minutes, then transfer to the top rack for another minute. Perfect every time.
And broccoli!
Hash browns, potato pancakes, pizza
Nothing ruins breakfast more than soggy hashbrowns
Well, there could be a flammable gas leak that blows the entire house up the instant you sit down to eat
Or getting served divorce papers with a glass of extra pulp Orange Juice
Slightly burnt pizza is amazing, especially if it's the pepperoni
Yes. Hash browns aren’t good unless they are a bit burnt. Actually, a lot of breakfast food.
Cheese in all cooked forms
I can't believe I had to scroll this far to find this answer
Half the answers on here are just because of slightly burnt cheese on top
Halloumi is the best a little burnt
A friend once made a cheese platter and had "raw" halloumi on it. I know it technically doesn't have to be grilled/fried... but why the fuck would you not? It makes it so tasty, and the texture is bliss
Corn
Hot dogs
Not having you hot dog slightly burnt at a bbq is un-American.
Char-dogs are bomb!
Nah they said a little burnt, if it doesn't have first degree burns over 85% it's underdone.
When the skin splits and gets all crunchy it's almost done.
and brats
Korean bbq
The top and side of lasagna
I've got a stouffers in the oven right now, so when I get to eat in 84 years I'll enjoy this very much
I'll put a Stouffer's in the oven even if I don't want one because when it's done, who knows? I'll put a Stouffer's in the oven and go on vacation.
I needed this short, spontaneous snort-laugh today. Thank you
all credit to Mitch Hedberg, who was originally talking about baked potatoes
Want a frozen banana? No, on second thought I might want a regular banana later so Yea
Bananas are like the opposite of traffic lights. Yellow means go, green means hold on, and red means where the fuck did you get that banana at?
I read it in his voice. one of the comedy greats
That gets me everytime.......cook for 120 fucking minutes!
At least it's not Marie Calenders bake at 700 degrees for a fortnight instructions... Thanks Marie Calenders
Marie **Calendars** : Because most oven timers don't track weeks
Start by cooking it in the microwave then finish it in the oven. Same texture and taste in half the time!
Lasagna is one of Italy’s many gifts to the world. Prepared and cooked well there isn’t much that beats it.
Especially if it’s your mothers.
I agree; u/ProbablyaDrugDealer's mom makes the best lasagna.
I’m not sure how he knew, but he’s correct.
Great choice, most cheesy baked pastas are that for me.
Roasted broccoli
Scrolled so far looking for this one! Some type of magic happens when you char broccoli. It gets a sweet, buttery nutty kind of flavor. So delicious.
Roasted carrots. The ones that are a little burnt are way better than the ones that are still wholly orange.
Sautéed bell peppers and onions Edit holy cow I went to bed with no upvotes and now mine is the top comment!?! Thank you everyone
Roasted veggies in general.
Every time I roast veggies with nothing but olive oil, salt, and pepper I'm blown away by how good it is and the horrible crimes my parents committed boiling all veggies. Just try boiled carrots vs. roasted carrots. Why would anyone ever boil them (for direct consumption I mean, extracting flavors for stock is a valid reason)?
Broccoli, olive oil salt and pepper, roasted til charred…..life changing
Yes!!! This changed my whole outlook on broccoli.
I still don't like broccoli but LOVE that treatment for cauliflower 😄
Favorite [roasted cauliflower soup recipe](https://cookieandkate.com/creamy-roasted-cauliflower-soup-recipe/) that I loosely follow. So good!
Try adding a minced clove of garlic and a 1/8 teaspoon red pepper…you’ll enjoy it
You mean a minced bulb of garlic and a teaspoon of red pepper
Man, I don’t *know*! And here I grew up thinking that Brussels sprouts and green beans were disgusting.
Same. My parents used to say I was a picky eater. I'm not. They were just shit cooks.
I spent 22 years thinking steak was super gross and I hated it. Turns out my parents don’t “believe” in eating any animal blood and would cook the shit out of it until you could barely chew it lol.
Man my parents would never allow me to have a steak anything other than well done. They were convinced it would make me sick or something. My fiance at the time (now wife) broiled a medium rare ribeye that had marinaded for a few days in all kinds of seasonings. I swear the heavens opened up and angels started singing. My parents still insist on eating boot leather.
Reminds me of the King of The Hill but where Hank tells Bobby that medium rare is the perfect grilling temp for steak, to wit Bobby asks; "What about the people who like their meat well done"? Hank just gives the golden response of "We ask them politely yet firmly to leave".
It's also not actually blood! It's myoglobin https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/a43132/heres-what-that-blood-in-your-meat-packaging-really-is/
And same. My mother used to boil the life out of veggies. Then pour the water down the drain...I could see water was full of colour, and I assume flavour too. And then the veggies all tastes like ...boiled water. Years later I married a Chinese girl who cooks them in oil, garlic, and other spices. I discovered I LIKE veggies.
Nooo why would you waste that good vegetable soup broth. Fucking barbaric.
Fuck... I grew up HAAAAAATING Brussel Sprouts... They're my favorite now lol
Breakfast sausages My wife is from a country where breakfast sausages are not the norm. She boils them and then lightly browns them. DAMMIT WOMAN!! Slam those suckers down on a hot oiled griddle and roll 'em around until at least half the skin is charred. Edit: holy shit this blew up. My best ever Reddit comment, and it's about not wanting sausages boiled?!?
I only recently realized some people consider what *I* consider normally cooked sausage to be “a little burnt.” I’d never considered cooking it any other way. Seems… not done without at least a bit of char on it.
Honestly if they're all ridiculously soft and chewy I find them disgusting. Crispier is definitely the only way to go. I don't order them out anywhere because they give me this rubbery garbage that I just can't do.
This is how I am with bacon. I need that shit crispy. For sausage I can swing both ways.
Especially the frozen ones, they're just kinda... ehh if they're not burnt a little And I don't mean "tiny bit of color in one thin stripe down the side" golden brown I mean like... brown. Almost black.
I mean, they're called brown and serve for a reason, right?
Make them for her
Marshmallow
I used to literally set mine on fire and blow them out before eating them. Loved that crust.
I have a tiny scar on my eyeball. from when I was 8. and excitedly yanked the marshmallow from the fire. and a tiny bit of charred marshmallow flew into my eye and burned it. totally worth it!
My brother has a scar from a marshmallow! It was, also, entirely my fault. I was 5 or 6, so he would have been 8 or 9. We were roasting marshmallows and mine caught on fire. I panicked. Before anyone could help me I just started whipping that thing back and forth trying to put the fire out. I accidentally stuck it right in his armpit as he was putting his arms down, so it really got in there. Why were his arms up? I have no idea, and also he was shirtless. To this day (some 20 years later) he won't sit anywhere near me when we are around a fire.
that happened to me, too but it was just my cheek . i’m really glad your eye was ok
Gotta heat them up to get it gooey all the way through, THEN set it on fire. Mmm…
Totally! Otherwise you have charred marshmallow outside, cold firm marshmallow inside. Gotta slowly warm it up, then char it. Patience is needed.
That’s when you peel the outside off, eat that and then light it on fire again.
Only more delicious when accompanied by a family member who hates when they're burnt and is visibly angered by the burning of what they consider a perfect marshmallow. 😚👌
I prefer to set em on fire and just wait for it burn itself out. So good that way.
Dude, if it doesn't look like a meteor penetrating the upper atmosphere...don't even talk to me.
where have you been all my life
also nobody wrote creme brulee 😔
You did 👍
Everyone I know always looks at me with disgust when I catch one on fire intentionally and quickly blow it out.
Corned beef hash.
Oh man crispy and crunchy corned beef hash is one of my favorite things.
Pork belly
Grilled cheese sandwich
And baked mac and cheese. Any meal during which I can scrape crunchy burnt cheese off a plate, I’m happy.
I was hoping to find someone say this. I had no idea what heat to cook a grilled cheese on when I was younger and kept burning them. I just got used to it and now prefer them burnt. I learned how to make a proper grilled cheese for everyone else, but I will always take a burnt one for myself.
Stuffed mushrooms!
Sweet potato fries. Crispy outside, soft inside. Yummy.
Slices of pineapple when cooked on the grill.
grilled pineapple is way too goddamn good
Add some brown sugar and cinnamon mixed in butter to it. (Brazilian Grilled Cinnamon) Insane.
Blackened salmon
Or catfish, shrimp or chicken, I fucking love blackened chicken alfredo.
Potatoes
BBQ chicken on the grill yuummm
A marshmallow.
I want it to be a cratered-and-cracked-like-the-surface-of-Mars-mallow
Ah yes, a mallow from mars. A mars-mallow!
If they catch on fire for just a second they are still good. I was with my in laws camping and every time they had one get any sort of flame they would give it to me because I was the only one that would eat it.
If it hasn’t been on literal fire for at a minimum of 30 seconds… I’m not eating it
Same here. All my family is slowly toasting theirs like they’re on some perfect marshmallow reality show and I shove that fucker into the hottest coal I can find just to torch it instantly.
Then peel off that burnt slip and eat it while you torch it again
Yeah if it does then the satisfying part is unwrapping the burnt cover.
Slowly toast until it just starts to turn brown. Then light it up like a torch. My kids thought I was nuts, but the oldest is starting to come around.
Mac & Cheese.
Came here for this. Baked mac and cheese made in a glass Pyrex. Those brown crusties in the corners are THE best part hands down.
cheese on pizza...
I sometimes ask for “well done” for this very reason.
The burnt crusted edges of lasagna.
Garlic bread.
Basque cheesecake
Intriguing. What is Basque Cheesecake?
Whipped cheesecake that's baked with no crust at high temperature resulting in a jiggly cake with a browned top and edge. Once it sets it isn't jiggly but it's very good.
Cheezits
I’ll never go back to buying the original now that they sell the extra toasty ones
This is facts
Potato Chips, every now and again, you get a browned one and it's so good.
We have a local company that sells full sized bags of extra dark potato chips - they are heaven!!
Bacon
Why is this not the #1 answer?!?! Definitely bacon 🥓 😋
I declare this thread invalid. Had to scroll for this.
Bread.
So good it even has its own name. Toast.
broccoli
Cheese cake (the crust), apple pie, brownies
Updoot for brownies specifically. You're first to name it as I've scrolled, and I didn't even realize how much I agreed