Agree with some of the other posters - I think people usually just ask this it out of interest/to ask for a recipe/to compliment the meal, not because they are judging you for cooking or not. Use any of the breezy replies above and don't give it another thought! (friends like me are excited to hear I can buy food as good as I'm having at your house, because I do not love to cook)

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!

You only think it's rude because you're insecure. Just be honest - no, I picked it up from Zorn's a couple of hours ago - enjoy!

I'm your friend. I truly never meant my question to come off as judgy or rude. I just liked it and either wanted the recipe or to know where I could get it.

I'm not sure it's rude. But, I also wouldn't feel shy saying absolutely not. I'm not a good cook, don't like to cook, and IDC.

I'm an avid cook, who typically doesn't dare serve prepared food. But sometimes, when I have to take dishes to multiple potlucks in a single week, combined with a crazy work schedule and the usual kid rigmarole, I will bring something prepared or ready made/doctored. People always ask "did you make this?", knowing that I WOULD usually, but I respond honestly with "crazy week, had to pick something up this time". It's not a big deal. Don't read more into it than you need to.

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

I do think it's kind of rude, depending on tone and how often she asks.

It’s fine if her to ask and fine for you to have a breezy response.

Anonymous wrote:When I was a kid one of my mom’s friends served fried chicken and said she made it. My dad took the trash out after my little brother got cut and saw the kfc buckets in the trash. Classy bunch we were!

Ha! I won’t lie. I’d just prefer not to highlight my kitchen shortcomings.

I don't think it's rude. Why not just tell everyone "I picked all this up from XYZ store! So easy, enjoy!" or something.

If you're pretending that you made it and sneakily putting it into a fancy container to pull out of the oven? Well lying to your friends is never a good look, so good luck with that.

When I was a kid one of my mom’s friends served fried chicken and said she made it. My dad took the trash out after my little brother got cut and saw the kfc buckets in the trash. Classy bunch we were!

That's annoying but I would just preempt her by saying where it's from when serving.

It's not rude. Just day sometging breezy like no i wish i could make this myself and move on

We're having friends over, and one of them is an avid cook. She wouldn't dream of serving prepared foods. I, however, may do just that. The dishes will be dietarily friendly, fresh, and tasty, but I probably won't make them myself. I just know my chef friend will tell me something is delicious and ask, in front of everyone, "Did you make this?" And then I'll have to cop to relying on Costco or Trader Joe's or something. Is it rude to ask this? WWYD?