Nothing Beats Homemade
Sure, you could make pasta from scratch, but would you? Even if you had little to no time in the week? Well, for the older folks out there—who like sticking to the authentic stuff, thank you very much—homemade is the only option. They wouldn't bake a frozen pizza! After spending decades perfecting family recipes, choosing premade would be an insult. Here are 20 foods that many older generations would much rather make themselves.
Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash
1. Mashed Potatoes
We get it: sometimes, you just want it ready and done. But mashed potatoes are really not that hard to make, which means the older folks wouldn't dream of serving up the instant stuff at the dinner table. They prefer doing it right, and controlling the seasoning and texture themselves!
2. Chicken Soup
There's something particularly satisfying about a pot of homemade chicken soup, especially when you've been making the same recipe for decades. That's why older generations will never stray from their roots! They couldn't even imagine heating up something from a can.
3. Pie Crust
As tedious as making pie crust is, and as much as the younger folk would probably prefer the refrigerated, premade kind, experienced home bakers know that homemade crust tastes way better. Plus, to get that wonderfully flaky result, you have to exercise some patience.
4. Tomato Sauce
Convenient as jarred sauce is, ask any Italian grandma out there if they'd swap the premade kind for their authentic recipe. You'd definitely get a resounding no! Heck, they even enjoy spending an entire afternoon making several batches to freeze or preserve for later.
5. Meatballs
Again, tell your grandma you've made spaghetti and meatballs from jarred sauce and frozen premade meatballs, and she'd probably scold you for the next decade. Other than sticking true to their roots, older cooks often have strong preferences about the meat mixture and cooking method, after all.
6. Biscuits
Those refrigerated tubes of biscuit dough you can get at the supermarket? They're going straight into the trash if you show them to your grandma or grandpa. Homemade biscuits require relatively few ingredients, anyway, so you're far better off making them from scratch.
7. Coleslaw
Do you really need premade coleslaw? The store-bought kind can get pretty watery and nasty after sitting for a while. Making it fresh, though, keeps the vegetables nice and crunchy, and older folks love that they can adjust the dressing's sweetness, acidity, and creaminess according to their preferences.
8. Cornbread
For older generations who grew up eating homemade cornbread, they'd balk at the sight of the packaged version! Their taste buds are pretty sensitive after all, so they'd much rather adjust the sweetness themselves and get that nicely browned crust.
Making the batter from scratch also gives them more control over the overall texture.
9. Salad Dressing
The younger generation probably doesn't even know what ingredients are in their store-bought dressing! For those who need absolute transparency, fixing up their own vinaigrette is the better bet. All the herbs and seasonings might already be in the pantry, anyway.
10. Potato Salad
If the older folks aren't going to settle for instant mashed potatoes, you can bet they wouldn't pick premade potato salad over their specific recipe. Whether they prefer mustard, chopped pickles, or hard-boiled eggs, there's usually an added quirk that makes their version irreplaceable.
11. Pancakes
Sure, boxed pancake mixes mean you can get breakfast ready in a jiffy, but anyone who's grown up with homemade plates won't be satisfied with that shortcut. Some want the batter thicker! Some want it thinner! Once you've prepared them a certain way for years, paying for a premade mix is wholly unnecessary.
12. Macaroni and Cheese
Boxed macaroni and cheese is the go-to for the teens and amateur homecooks. Older folks, though, have different expectations, and most won't settle for anything less than a baked casserole version with that beautiful golden top and ooey-gooey center. How else would they pick exactly which cheeses go in if they don't do it themselves?
13. Bread
Your granny and gramps might reach for the store-bought loaves if they truly couldn't be bothered to make it at home, but bread-making was once a regular household task, and much of the older generation has continued the tradition. Homemade bread also allows important perks: avoiding unnecessary additives and customizing ingredients.
14. Applesauce
Are you really going to get a jar of applesauce from the store? Listen to your grandparents: make it at home. Applesauce is easy to make! And since the fruit is plentiful during autumn, you can simply boil it down and let its natural sweetness shine instead of relying on heaps of extra sugar.
15. Gravy
When Thanksgiving rolls around, you definitely won't see older folks buying packs of powdered gravy. They prefer the old-fashioned way: making it from pan drippings. Using the juices left behind from a pot roast also lends a flavor that the store alternatives can never truly replicate!
David Todd McCarty on Unsplash
16. Pickles
Many older folks grew up in households where preserving vegetables was a practical way to make seasonal produce last longer—just ask your parents or grandparents. Heck, they probably can't even fathom why anyone would purchase jars of pickles when they could simply prepare them at home! Pickling this way also allows them to control how sour or sweet the finished product is.
17. Stuffing
Speaking of Thanksgiving, another thing you won't see on the table? Boxed stuffing. It's the traditional stuffing that remains a favorite among older cooks! And, depending on family traditions, secret ingredients may also make an appearance, making it perfect for holiday meals.
18. Cookies
Those store-bought versions or premade doughs are a no-no for older generations, especially since they can make better batches with their own tried-and-true recipes. They didn't spend years adjusting ingredient ratios and cooking times for nothing!
Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash
19. Jam
It's not just cookies—jam is another thing that many older generations continue to prepare from scratch, especially when their fruit of choice is in season. Those familiar with preserving techniques may even prepare enough jars to enjoy throughout the year! For them, it's the homemade versions that taste exactly how they like.
20. Lasagna
Frozen lasagna might be an easy dinner solution, but many older home cooks wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. They'd rather assemble their own! Like mac and cheese, they've perfected their family recipe, and they wouldn't give their version up for just any generic frozen kind.
KEEP ON READING
Happy Hour: The 20 Best Foods For Social Snacking
