Tasty recipes are recipes created by Tasty, one of the largest food networks in the world owned by BuzzFeed. With over 100 million followers across its social media accounts, Tasty has become an internet phenomenon known for its fun and short recipe videos.
But is Tasty legit when it comes to recipes? Can you really rely on them to produce delicious homemade meals? Let’s take a look at some key factors to determine if their recipes are trustworthy.
Quality of Recipes
First and foremost, the recipes from Tasty must produce food that tastes great in order for them to be considered legitimate. When looking through the vast array of recipes on the Tasty website and social media accounts, they certainly look appetizing and well-presented. But do they actually turn out well when making them at home?
An analysis of user reviews and comments shows that the majority of home cooks are very satisfied with the end result of Tasty recipes. On a recipe for chicken parmesan, one user said “This recipe was fabulous! My chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy inside.” On their popular 2-ingredient dough recipe, another user raved “This dough was so easy to make and turned out perfect pizza crust!”
These positive first-hand experiences are a strong indicator that Tasty recipes deliver on their promise of great taste and reliable results. Some users do occasionally report issues such as over/under-cooking or flavor balance, but this is to be expected with any recipe website. Overall, Tasty appears to publish recipes that home cooks consider delicious.
Reliability of Instructions
In order for a recipe to be successful, the instructions must be clear, accurate, and result in the desired outcome. After reviewing many top recipes on Tasty, the directions are very detailed, simple to follow, and lead to recipes that look and taste like the finished product shown.
Their recipes lay out ingredients and steps in an organized, easy-to-understand manner. Directions typically include the specific cooking times, temperatures, visual cues for doneness, and techniques needed. There is little room left for guessing or interpreting major steps. Photos are also included for visual guidance.
The consistency and reliability of Tasty’s recipe instructions gives them credibility in the legitimacy department. Their directions allow both novice and experienced cooks to be successful.
Quality of Ingredients
The ingredients called for in Tasty recipes run the gamut from common household staples to specialty items. Their recipes include a mixture of affordable everyday ingredients along with some pricier or harder-to-find components.
Many online reviews praise Tasty recipes for introducing clever ingredient substitutions or hacks. For example, their popular 2-ingredient dough calls for just Greek yogurt and self-rising flour instead of yeast. Reviews confirm this makes a tasty pizza crust. Their recipes also tend to avoid exotic or obscure ingredients, instead opting for versatile components the average home cook would have on hand.
When specialized ingredients are included, Tasty often provides suitable substitutes. While ingredient quality and accessibility may vary across their extensive recipe library, Tasty does aim to promote recipes with realistic and cost-effective ingredients.
Nutritional Value
With a brand focused on tempting food visuals, Tasty does not claim to be a source for healthy, diet-friendly recipes. However, looking at their recipe library shows they offer a diverse mix of indulgent and nutritious options.
Recipes tagged with “Healthy” include options like:
- Quinoa salad with chickpeas and avocado
- 10-minute salmon with green beans
- Vegetable stir fry
These provide balanced nutrition including lean protein, fiber, and vegetables. Even many desserts have a lighter spin, using yogurt, fruit purees, or whole grains.
While indulgent recipes are Tasty’s claim to fame, they understand the importance of offering nutritious picks as well. Their recipes run the full spectrum from veggie-packed to decadent.
Originality of Recipes
With new recipes published daily, Tasty develops fresh content at an impressive rate. But in the competitive online recipe market, how many of their recipes are truly original creations?
Analyzing their recipes shows Tasty does develop new and unique content but also utilizes classic recipes. Most of their trending viral recipes put a clever spin on an existing dish. For example, they popularized mug cakes made in the microwave and no-bake cookies requiring only 3 ingredients.
While Tasty may not be creating brand new master chef-level recipes daily, they have a talent for reinventing classic comfort foods in fun, shareable ways. Their approach of adding twists on traditional dishes results in recipes people genuinely want to make at home.
Reliability of Cooking Times
Novice cooks rely heavily on indicated cooking times, so inaccuracies can ruin a recipe. Do Tasty’s recipes deliver with precise timing?
User reviews overwhelmingly say yes – Tasty recipes provide accurate cooking times for each step. Their recipes account for variations in equipment by providing time ranges. Oven temperatures are precisely set based on how a dish should bake or roast.
Reviews confirm dishes baked for the recommended time come out perfectly cooked, not underdone or burnt. Stovetop cooking times also match what users need for their stove at home. For recipes with multiple components, Tasty times each element well so all food finishes together.
Accurate cooking times give credibility to the reliability of Tasty recipes. Their guidance allows you to time dishes properly for the best results.
Simplicity of Recipes
Tasty aims to inspire home cooks, not intimidate them. As such, most of their recipes would be classified as simple for an average cook to prepare.
Even recipes that sound fancy are broken down into approachable steps. Their recipes rely on everyday cooking techniques like baking, sautéing, simmering, and roasting without requiring specialty equipment. Limited ingredients also streamline the cooking process.
Reviews consistently cite the simplicity and ease of whipping up Tasty dishes. Stepping outside one’s comfort zone may be needed for unique dishes like mug cakes, but Tasty recipes are designed to be unintimidating. This simplicity makes home cooks more likely to succeed.
Visual Appeal of Recipes
Scrolling through any Tasty recipe will make your mouth water with enticing photos of the finished dish. A top priority for their recipes is creating food that looks as irresistible as it tastes.
Their recipes use ingredients with vibrant colors and beautiful visual impact. Directions specifically instruct how to plate or arrange food in an attractive manner. Photos from user reviews confirm recipes plated as shown in Tasty photos have that same drool-worthy appearance.
Tasty sets proper expectations by pairing recipes with gorgeous food visuals. Home cooks can reasonably achieve similar visual appeal, validating the legitimacy of recipes.
Conclusions
Based on analysis of Tasty’s recipe content across multiple criteria, their recipes earn high marks for legitimacy and reliability. When reviewing factors including taste, ease of use, visual appeal, originality, and accessibility, Tasty provides recipes home cooks genuinely love and want to make over and over.
No recipe source will be 100% perfect and foolproof. However, Tasty has built trust and credibility by continually publishing recipes that deliver delicious results at home with clear and thorough guidance. As they continue innovating and optimizing their massive recipe library, Tasty cements itself as a legitimate and beloved go-to resource for home cooking inspiration.
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Quality of Recipes | Excellent |
| Reliability of Instructions | Excellent |
| Quality of Ingredients | Good |
| Nutritional Value | Good |
| Originality of Recipes | Good |
| Reliability of Cooking Times | Excellent |
| Simplicity of Recipes | Excellent |
| Visual Appeal of Recipes | Excellent |
In summary,
Tasty provides high quality, reliable recipes that produce delicious results and beautiful food visuals. Their instructions set home cooks up for success. While some more complex or niche recipes may include pricier ingredients, the majority rely on simple, widely-available components. Tasty recipes earn legitimacy by achieving the perfect balance of accessibility, simplicity, creativity and indulgence.