Food delivery is one of the modern culinary world’s greatest conveniences—a perfect blend of restaurant-quality meals and home comfort. However, when ordering takeout, it’s crucial to avoid these common pitfalls.
Yet, any seasoned foodie knows that ordering in adds a layer of complexity to meal selection. Numerous factors come into play when transporting food across distances, big or small. Your cravings might not be delivery-friendly, and the fastest option isn’t always the most cost-effective or quality-assured.
Think twice before your next delivery order. To savor flavors intact, ensure healthiness, and enjoy a seamless at-home dining experience, steer clear of these mistakes.
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Ordering on an Empty Stomach
Don’t expect doorstep delivery to match dine-in speed. After all, your meal isn’t just cooked and boxed—it’s picked up by a driver navigating countless orders across the city. Depending on traffic, this final leg alone can take an hour or more. Some restaurants even suggest placing orders earlier in the day.
Overlooking Travel-Friendly Dishes
Not all meals travel as gracefully as pizza. The thought of a soggy, limp dish can deter even the most easygoing diner. Fortunately, plenty of options remain delivery-worthy.
According to Insider, grilled dishes are ideal for takeout—designed to retain flavor even after cooling outdoors. Similarly, barbecue meats, with their robust flavors and durability, withstand city-wide transit. Even if not piping hot upon arrival, their taste remains unmatched. Crispness isn’t mandatory; they stay delicious when slightly cooled and require no elaborate plating.
Choosing Perishable Items
When ordering in, remember some foods have short shelf lives. If you’re a fan of late-night fridge raids or next-day lunches, note that certain dishes last only 24 hours.
Sushi, for instance, should be devoured promptly to avoid a slimy texture. Dressed salads also spoil within a day, so consume them immediately. Greens wilt within hours in the fridge, though undressed salads in takeout containers stay crisp for up to four days.
Opting for Hot Soups on Cold Days
While soup seems like a cozy delivery choice, especially in chilly weather, it’s best saved for dine-in or homemade meals. Most restaurants use single-use plastic or paper containers, which aren’t designed for hot liquids and may leach harmful chemicals into the food.
Registered dietitian Jackie Arnett Elnahar told Eat This, Not That, “High temperatures and soup’s density can cause chemicals to leach from food packaging.”
Many assume soup arrives perfectly warmed, but safety-wise, it’s best avoided. The upside? Heating canned soup is as simple as boiling water—a task even novice home cooks can manage.
Expecting Flawless Delivery Every Time
Mistakes happen between the kitchen and your doorstep, just as they do in dine-in settings. Delivering from point A to B seems straightforward, but restaurants juggle cooking and coordinating delivery timelines. Drivers, often independent contractors, handle multiple orders simultaneously.
Errors are inevitable among chefs, drivers, and customers. Sometimes, takeout orders pile up in the kitchen even when the dining area is empty, causing delays for both dine-in and takeout customers.
Ordering Takeout Every Day: Is it Harming Your Health?
Online food delivery services have become an integral part of our daily lives. However, this convenient habit can pose significant health risks if not managed properly.
