Okay to ask if someone cooked food herself?

[Anonymous]

Many people here say they would never eat food cooked in someone’s home because they assume nobody washes their hands and has cats walking around the countertops. Plenty of people prefer store bought. Don’t over think it, just say “nope, picked it up from Aldi!”

[Anonymous]

It's rude to put people on the spot with this question. I have a social friend who always asks me this...she is a SAHM who cooks well. She knows I don't have time to cook. She does it on purpose to embarrass me.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s socially inept to ask, especially in front of others. That’s her problem, though. If you are serving something good that everyone likes, you don’t need to be embarrassed. I used to serve a lot of prepared foods when I was younger and many older women friends told me there was nothing wrong it and in fact I should think of it as a skill knowing what to buy and how to put together a good menu this way.

[Anonymous]

Say yes, then walk away laughing.

[Anonymous]

If you bought them from Trader Joe’s or Costco then I seriously doubt she’ll find them delicious. She just wants to hear you say you obviously didn’t make it yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's rude to put people on the spot with this question. I have a social friend who always asks me this...she is a SAHM who cooks well. She knows I don't have time to cook. She does it on purpose to embarrass me.

Doesn't sound like a nice person to have as a friend if she tries to embarrass you.

[Anonymous]

“No, It’s from Trader Joe’s! I think it’s tasty!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sh#t you buy prepared in some store is NOT "fresh and tasty" and could have even more pathogens than your cooking. I would ask if I were deciding whether to eat ir, preload with Pepto Bismol, etc

it would be more polite of you to decline the dinner invitation and not even bother asking.

[Anonymous]

I had the opposite experience when I brought Trader Joe’s berry or pear pie in the aluminum pie form to my friend’s dinner, who’d announce that I brought some home baked pies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had the opposite experience when I brought Trader Joe’s berry or pear pie in the aluminum pie form to my friend’s dinner, who’d announce that I brought some home baked pies.

Did you take them out of the box?

[Anonymous]

I think I brought them decorated with piped whipped cream and threw the boxes in their recycling bin in the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s only rude if she’s the kind of person who is trying to show you up.
But I would not feel bad and just say you were super busy or thought this would be tastier or whatever. I like to cook and bake but I do think this is weird that it’s the one thing where people feel shame for outsourcing to a professional. No one feels bad they didn’t draft their own will or do their own electrical work. Cooking is also a job and it’s fine to leave it to the professionals!

she just said she is the kind of person trying to show you up

Op - doesnt have to be rude but most normal people would not actually ask that percise question bc that is not what they would be curious about; and would only ask *how* you made it if they were genuinely curious, and wouldnt care of the answer.

just think of a snappy response ahead of
time

[Anonymous]

ALSO id try not inviting her next time. hate that energy

[Anonymous]

Just be honest, OP! I usually cook from scratch, but I don’t expect everybody to do the same. Some of my friends’ store-bought meals ARE really tasty and I love to hear about it. One friend uses a doctored-up cake mix for her cakes, and they’re really good. If you bought something from somewhere, and I think it’s tasty, then I might buy it the next time I don’t feel like cooking.