The 50 Most-Hated Foods in America—By State

Confession time: every state has a dish people swear by—and quietly trash. We named names and ranked them from #50 to #1.

Brace yourself: family recipes, holiday casseroles, and a few sacred cows are about to get roasted. Find your state, defend your honor, and let the food fights begin.

#50 Black pudding (blood sausage) – Wyoming

• Common complaint: “Too metallic, too… iron-y.”
• Win-over tip: Crisp hard in a skillet; serve with apples.
• Try instead: Bison burger or trout by a mountain stream.

#49 Limburger cheese – Wisconsin

• Common complaint: Pungent, barnyardy aroma.
• Win-over tip: Rye bread + onions = classic tavern sandwich.
• Try instead: Fresh cheese curds (squeak test approved).

#48 Haggis – West Virginia

• Common complaint: Offal texture, mystery vibes.
• Win-over tip: Serve crumbly with mashed potatoes (“neeps & tatties” style).
• Try instead: Pepperoni rolls on a road trip.

#47 Durian – Washington

• Common complaint: Smell hits before the taste.
• Win-over tip: Try durian ice cream—mellowed and sweet.
• Try instead: Copper-river salmon or crisp apples.

#46 Black-eyed peas – Virginia

• Common complaint: Earthy, mushy when overcooked.
• Win-over tip: Quick sauté with bacon, garlic, and lemon.
• Try instead: Virginia ham biscuits with honey butter.

#45 Cauliflower rice – Vermont

• Common complaint: Watery “fake rice” energy.
• Win-over tip: Roast first for char; finish in a hot pan.
• Try instead: Anything maple—glazed carrots, donuts, soft-serve.

#44 Ambrosia salad – Utah

• Common complaint: Sweet mayo/cream + canned fruit clash.
• Win-over tip: Swap whipped yogurt, fresh citrus, toasted coconut.
• Try instead: Funeral potatoes or fry sauce with fries.

#43 Anchovies – Texas

• Common complaint: Salty fish bombs on pizza.
• Win-over tip: Melt into sauces for umami without the fillet.
• Try instead: Brisket with bark and pickles.

#42 Horseradish – Tennessee

• Common complaint: Nasal blast, too spicy.
• Win-over tip: Fold into sour cream; drizzle sparingly.
• Try instead: Nashville hot chicken (heat, but balanced).

#41 Brussels sprouts – South Dakota

• Common complaint: Bitter, sulfurous when boiled.
• Win-over tip: Roast with honey + chili; finish with lemon.
• Try instead: Bison chili or cast-iron steak.

#40 Tuna salad – South Carolina

• Common complaint: Fishy, mayo-heavy.
• Win-over tip: Use olive-oil tuna, celery, dill, lemon zest.
• Try instead: Shrimp and grits at a Lowcountry spot.

#39 Celery – Rhode Island

• Common complaint: Stringy, watery, “why bother?”
• Win-over tip: Shave thin; toss with parmesan and lemon.
• Try instead: Clam cakes or a stuffie (stuffed quahog).

#38 Green bean casserole – Pennsylvania

• Common complaint: Canned-soup gloopy texture.
• Win-over tip: Make a real mushroom cream; extra crispy onions.
• Try instead: Cheesesteak or warm soft pretzels.

#37 Olives – Oregon

• Common complaint: Briny bitterness.
• Win-over tip: Start with mild Castelvetrano; pair with citrus.
• Try instead: Wild salmon or summer berries.

#36 Pickled eggs – Oklahoma

• Common complaint: Rubbery, vinegary shock.
• Win-over tip: Soft-boil first; pickle briefly with beets.
• Try instead: Chicken-fried steak with gravy.

#35 Pineapple on pizza – Ohio

• Common complaint: Sweet + savory “doesn’t belong.”
• Win-over tip: Balance with jalapeño and thin-cut ham.
• Try instead: Cincinnati chili or a crisp-edge tavern pie.

#34 Natto – North Dakota

• Common complaint: Sticky strings and funky aroma.
• Win-over tip: Mix with hot rice, soy, and scallions.
• Try instead: Hearty hotdish or knoephla soup.

#33 Potato salad (mayo-heavy) – North Carolina

• Common complaint: Gloppy and warm at picnics (yikes).
• Win-over tip: Go mustard-based, lots of pickles and crunch.
• Try instead: Eastern-style pulled pork with slaw.

#32 Sardines – New York

• Common complaint: Fishy and bony.
• Win-over tip: Smash on toast with lemon and chili flakes.
• Try instead: A classic slice or an Italian beef… kidding—grab a bagel & lox.

#31 Kimchi – New Mexico

• Common complaint: Sour heat, fermented funk.
• Win-over tip: Dice into fried rice or grilled-cheese.
• Try instead: Green-chile enchiladas (red if you must).

#30 Capers – New Jersey

• Common complaint: “Salty little landmines.”
• Win-over tip: Rinse well; use with lemony chicken piccata.
• Try instead: Pork roll, egg & cheese (Taylor ham debate optional).

#29 Fruitcake – New Hampshire

• Common complaint: Dense, boozy brick.
• Win-over tip: Toast slices; serve with sharp cheddar.
• Try instead: Maple or apple-cider donuts.

#28 Sea urchin (uni) – Nevada

• Common complaint: Custardy texture, ocean-sweet.
• Win-over tip: Try a small nigiri from a quality sushi bar.
• Try instead: Dim sum—or yes, a Vegas buffet run.

#27 Cottage cheese – Nebraska

• Common complaint: Lumpy, school-lunch vibes.
• Win-over tip: Blend smooth; dollop on toast with honey.
• Try instead: A Runza or grilled corn at a tailgate.

#26 Tripe – Montana

• Common complaint: Chewy, “barnyard” note.
• Win-over tip: Slow-braise for hours; finish spicy.
• Try instead: Bison ribeye or huckleberry pie.

#25 Deviled eggs – Missouri

• Common complaint: Sulfurous, mayo-forward.
• Win-over tip: Add smoked paprika, Dijon, crisp bacon.
• Try instead: Toasted ravioli or Kansas City-style ribs.

#24 Okra – Mississippi

• Common complaint: Slimy texture.
• Win-over tip: Slice, salt, and roast fast for char.
• Try instead: Fried catfish with hushpuppies.

#23 Pickled herring – Minnesota

• Common complaint: Slick, vinegary fish.
• Win-over tip: Serve cold on rye with sour cream and dill.
• Try instead: Tater-tot hotdish or wild-rice soup.

#22 Coleslaw – Michigan

• Common complaint: Soggy, too sweet.
• Win-over tip: Shred fresh; dress right before serving.
• Try instead: Detroit-style pizza or a UP pasty.

#21 Caviar – Massachusetts

• Common complaint: Salty, “popping pearls.”
• Win-over tip: Tiny blini, crème fraîche, ice-cold bubbles.
• Try instead: Creamy clam chowder on a chilly day.

#20 Pickles – Maryland

• Common complaint: Overpowering dill and vinegar.
• Win-over tip: Sweet-heat pickles on fried chicken = yes.
• Try instead: Maryland crab cakes with Old Bay.

#19 Sushi – Maine

• Common complaint: Raw fish fear.
• Win-over tip: Start with tempura rolls or salmon nigiri.
• Try instead: Lobster roll (butter or mayo—choose your fighter).

#18 Oysters – Louisiana

• Common complaint: Slippery texture, briny burst.
• Win-over tip: Char-grill with garlic butter and herbs.
• Try instead: Gumbo or jambalaya with andouille.

#17 Liver – Kentucky

• Common complaint: Metallic taste.
• Win-over tip: Soak in milk; sear with onions and sherry.
• Try instead: Hot Brown or bourbon-glazed wings.

#16 Carrots – Kansas

• Common complaint: “Too sweet,” odd cooked texture.
• Win-over tip: Roast with cumin; finish with yogurt and dill.
• Try instead: Burnt-ends BBQ or cheesy corn.

#15 Eggplant – Iowa

• Common complaint: Spongy, oily when fried wrong.
• Win-over tip: Salt to purge; roast hot, sauce boldly.
• Try instead: Pork-tenderloin sandwich the size of a plate.

#14 Mushrooms – Indiana

• Common complaint: “Rubbery” and earthy.
• Win-over tip: Sear until golden; add garlic and butter.
• Try instead: Breaded pork tenderloin or sugar-cream pie.

#13 Black licorice – Illinois

• Common complaint: Medicinal anise.
• Win-over tip: Try fennel candy or sambuca in tiny doses.
• Try instead: Italian beef dunked, or deep-dish night.

#12 Raisins in cookies – Idaho

• Common complaint: “Betrayal chips” instead of chocolate.
• Win-over tip: Plump in warm rum; use in oatmeal-pecan.
• Try instead: Loaded baked potato or fries with fry sauce.

#11 Spam – Hawaii

• Common complaint: Canned, too salty.
• Win-over tip: Sear until crusty; Spam musubi wins converts.
• Try instead: Poke bowl or garlic shrimp truck.

#10 Blue cheese – Georgia

• Common complaint: Funky, “moldy” tang.
• Win-over tip: Crumble lightly on burgers with peach chutney.
• Try instead: Fried chicken or peach cobbler.

#9 Candy corn – Florida

• Common complaint: Waxy sugar cones.
• Win-over tip: Mix into salty snack mix for contrast.
• Try instead: Cuban sandwich or key lime pie.

#8 Mayonnaise – Delaware

• Common complaint: Slippery texture, eggy taste.
• Win-over tip: Lemon-spiked aioli, thinly spread.
• Try instead: Boardwalk fries with malt vinegar.

#7 Well-done steak – Connecticut

• Common complaint: Dry, leathery.
• Win-over tip: Medium-rare with a hard sear; rest properly.
• Try instead: New Haven apizza or a CT-style lobster roll.

#6 Quinoa – Colorado

• Common complaint: “Birdseed,” bitter saponins.
• Win-over tip: Rinse well; toast before simmering in stock.
• Try instead: Green-chile-smothered burrito or bison chili.

#5 Tofu – California

• Common complaint: Bland, squishy.
• Win-over tip: Press, marinate, and pan-sear till crispy.
• Try instead: Baja fish tacos or avocado-everything.

#4 Bologna – Arkansas

• Common complaint: Processed, bouncy.
• Win-over tip: Fry it; stack with mustard and pickles.
• Try instead: Smoked pork ribs or cheese dip and chips.

#3 Cilantro – Arizona

• Common complaint: Soapy (thanks, genetics).
• Win-over tip: Start tiny; mix with lime and scallions.
• Try instead: Sonoran hot dog or carne asada tacos.

#2 Turkey bacon – Alaska

• Common complaint: Chewy, not “real” bacon.
• Win-over tip: Bake on a rack for maximum crisp.
• Try instead: Grilled salmon or reindeer sausage.

#1 Beets – Alabama

• Common complaint: “Dirt” flavor from geosmin.
• Win-over tip: Roast with orange and goat cheese; sweet magic.
• Try instead: White-sauce BBQ chicken or hot catfish.