We all like to treat ourselves sometimes and eat out at a local restaurant or cook a fancy meal at home. But restaurant prices can be exorbitantly high for some meals. Even cooking a gourmet meal at home can be pricey, especially if the recipe includes overrated or trendy ingredients.
Sometimes, the food is worth the extra cost, but more often than not, gourmet or trendy foods are expensive and not worth the money. It’s always possible to find great food that costs much less than in restaurants or with highly advertised brands we think we can’t live without.
To help, we’ve created a list of 15 overpriced foods that don’t live up to the hype. Do yourself a favor – avoid them and put the money back in your pocket. I promise you won’t miss them and you’ll appreciate having the extra cash.
Caviar
Unfertilized sturgeon roe that’s been heavily salted. Caviar is considered a luxury food, and the price reflects that. Although there are many types of sturgeon, there’s also a wide variety of roe, and the cost varies a bit.
Truffle Oil
Truffle oil is supposed to be a luxurious ingredient that adds a rich, earthy taste to foods. But most commercial truffle oil doesn’t even contain real truffles. They are flavored with artificial, synthetic options instead.
Champagne
Real champagne is only produced in the Champagne region of France and can be very expensive. Fortunately, plenty of other, less costly options are available if you’re a fan of the bubbles.
Wagyu Beef
Wagyu beef is said to have a rich flavor and intense marbling and is delicious. But it’s crazy expensive and can sell for up to $150 a pound. You can find other quality cuts of beef for a much lower price.
Chilean Sea Bass
This fish used to be called the Patagonian toothfish, but that’s not an appetizing name. So, in the 90s, it was renamed to Chilean sea bass. Originally, it was a fairly unknown fish. But now, it’s considered a delicacy and is served in many high-end restaurants.
Fancy Bottled Water
Bottled water from exotic, remote locations usually includes claims about purity and unique mineral profiles. Those claims often make us think they are a healthier option. But most of the time, there’s barely any difference in taste between the less expensive options.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Chocolat-covered strawberries are one of my favorite indulgent treats, but I rarely buy them because of the price. When we think of chocolate-covered strawberries, we often think of luxury and love. They are delicious, but most of the time, they are high-priced. It’s cheaper to buy the ingredients and make them yourself. They may not look as pretty, but it’s fun to do with a partner.
Gold Leaf
Yes, fancy restaurants put gold leaf in some of their gourmet food and drinks for an extra touch of luxury. Visually, it looks fantastic, but it’s purely decorative and doesn’t improve the taste. So, it’s not worth the extra expense.
Crab Legs
I love crab, but I’m not a fan of crab legs. It may not be the highest-priced food on this list. But we added it because of the work involved in getting a small piece of crab meat out of each leg.
Saffron
Did you know Saffron is considered the most expensive spice in the world? The harvesting process is extremely labor intensive, so it costs so much. The flavor isn’t really noticeable either, especially if you only use a small amount. You can substitute it with cheaper spices like safflower, annatto, or turmeric and save a few bucks.
Filet Mignon
Filet mignon is tender, juicy, and can taste delicious. It’s an expensive cut of beef, especially when you consider how small it is. While decadent, filet mignon doesn’t have much of a beefy taste. Choose a cheaper cut of beef, like a ribeye with some good marbling, the next time you fancy a steak.
Fancy Salt
Fancy salt, like Fleur de Sel and Himalayan pink salt, is much higher priced than regular table salt. There are some texture and flavor differences, but they are usually lost in cooking. Regular salt will work for almost all dishes without the high price tag.
Foie Gras
Fancy liver spread made from geese and ducks foie gras is considered a luxury food. However, it’s labor intensive to make as the ducks and geese have to be raised and taken care of, and they have to be fed higher than average feed, which drives the cost up.
Artisan Cheese
I must admit that I love cheese and have occasionally paid more than I would have liked for a piece of artisan cheese. The flavors and textures are interesting, but the prices are high. Unless you’re a super cheese fan like me, save money and get a cheaper option like a nice Cheddar or Swiss.
Macaroons
Macaroons are bright meringue cookie sandwiches filled with a layer of icing. They are small enough to hold easily in your hand and come in various vivid colors. These little cookies are hard to bake and delicious when cooked correctly. But they can be expensive, up to $2.50 for one.
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Source: 15 Overpriced Foods That Are Totally Not Worth the Hype
