We love our food here in the U.S., but those from other parts of the world aren’t often quite as keen on the types of food we eat here. Sure, most people around the world love a burger, but these 18 American meals are pretty much universally disliked elsewhere.
Thanksgiving Turkey
Numbers by The Poultry Site show us that the U.S. consumes the most turkey per person in the world, as we love it for Thanksgiving dinners in particular. But the rest of the world believes that it’s a dry and flavorless meat, so they prefer to eat different things.
Meatloaf with Ketchup Glaze
Ketchup gets put on most things in the U.S. That in itself isn’t enough to be weird for people from other countries, but using it as a glaze for meatloaf is a step too far for even the most open-minded of international eaters. That does make sense, in fairness.
Liver and Onions
It’s really only our friends in the U.K. who share our love for liver and onions. The strong and distinctive flavor and tough texture are attractive to many American and British people, but it’s not such a hit for those in other parts of the world.
Tuna Casserole
The casserole is pretty popular all over the world, but the idea of putting tuna in one isn’t so popular outside of the U.S. The mushy texture and fishy taste don’t exactly go hand in hand in Europe and Asia, that’s for sure.
Sloppy Joes
The sloppy joe isn’t as popular in the U.S. as it used to be, according to Mashed, but it’s still enjoyed semi-regularly by many. That’s not the case in the rest of the world, though. You’ll be hard-pressed to find it on a European or Asian restaurant menu!
Canned Cranberry Sauce
Many countries around the world love cranberry sauce, but they’re quite turned off by the idea of eating it out of a can. The freshness and complexity of jarred cranberry sauce are lost in the can, plus the canned version is extra sweet, so it doesn’t go down well abroad.
Green Bean Casserole
Here’s another casserole that’s hardly taken off in other parts of the world. Using canned soup in a casserole was never going to be popular with those in Europe, South America, or anywhere else in the world, let alone processed onions and mushy green beans.
Ambrosia Salad
A fruit salad is popular across the world, but putting things like marshmallows into it is specific to the U.S. So too is using canned fruits, as those abroad are pretty strict on the idea of only using fresh ones. It’s no wonder this meal is largely uneaten at gatherings.
Hamburger Helper
Those in the U.S. like a quick meal that requires the minimum of effort but unfortunately, many of those dishes are lacking quite severely in nutrition. A prime example of that is the hamburger helper, and the unhealthiness of this dish has made it unappealing for those worldwide.
Instant Mac and Cheese
The Smithsonian report on instant mac and cheese shows that the food is embedded in our history as a nation. But other countries haven’t gone through that, and in fact, sales of instant mac and cheese have never really landed abroad. Believe it or not, international people don’t really like it!
Clam Chowder (Canned)
New England clam chowder is enjoyed in fancy restaurants all around the world. In fact, it’s one of the most popular American meal exports until it’s put into a can. At that point, the chowder becomes pretty thick and salty, and it loses its appeal on the world stage.
Fried Liver
The liver is a part of the animal that causes some conflict as to whether or not it should be eaten at the best of times. But to fry it, like in the U.S., is a whole other story, and it’s one that citizens of all other countries just don’t want to hear.
Spam Musubi
So far, we haven’t mentioned any popular meals from Hawaii, and that’s because many of them have gone on to be universally accepted, but here’s one that has never managed to do so. Spam musubi is a step too far for even the most inquisitive of international epicures.
Pigs in a Blanket
The idea of wrapping a sausage in bacon is very specific to a classic English roast dinner, and those in the U.S. love to share that joy with those over the pond. However, those in any other country in the world would be likely to turn their nose up at the idea.
Canned Beef Stew
The canned theme is becoming quite profound at this point, but that makes sense, as Americans have a tendency to put food into cans. One that they haven’t been able to ship out internationally is canned beef stew. This one speaks for itself!
Jell-O Salad
Back in the ’70s, adding Jell-O to salad was all the rage. Nowadays, it’s not quite as popular in the U.S., but at no point in history was it a popular thing to eat throughout the rest of the world. It’s safe to say that this is one meal that’s stayed local.
Corned Beef and Cabbage
We’re back to corned beef again, as it’s one of America’s favorite meals. This time, the reason Americans haven’t been able to sell it is because it comes with cabbage, and that combination isn’t great for people. It’s associated with St. Patrick’s Day but not necessarily enjoyed.
Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy
The most popular places to get chicken fried steak in the U.S. are in the South, as reported by Culture Trip. Even in other states, this food is not so well-liked, let alone throughout the rest of the world, where you literally will never see it being served.
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