TikTok and food go hand-in-hand.
The platform is home to a diverse range of food-related content, from creators sharing recipes and reviewing food to those indulging in mukbangs and everything in between. Naturally, this has led to the emergence of various food trends.
Interestingly, 2024 has seen a shift away from stunt food, a type of content that often featured bizarre, not-necessarily-tasty concoctions typically made in an air fryer. Instead, TikTok users are gravitating toward genuine cooking and exciting recipes. While these don't always become viral trends, the platform is brimming with quality food content. You can learn from a butcher how to save money on meat or discover how to build a beautiful salad from pantry staples. The focus has moved away from gimmicks like air-frying Oreos to more practical and inspiring culinary tips.
However, food trends, both good and bad, still make waves in 2024. As we reach the halfway point of the year, here are some of the most notable trends so far.
Who could've guessed that 2024 would be the year of cottage cheese? Yet, here we are. TikTok is brimming with recipes for cottage cheese toast, cottage cheese bowls, cottage cheese protein cookie dough—practically anything you can think of. Cottage cheese has captured TikTok's imagination as a high-protein, relatively low-calorie, and tasty food. It's refreshing to see it used as a healthy, filling ingredient, a far cry from its '90s diet culture stigma.
I once thought I didn't like cottage cheese, but 2024 proved me wrong — the '90s just had terrible, diet-focused food.
Raw carrot salad recipes have racked up millions of views on TikTok. Typically, these recipes involve thin-sliced carrot ribbons, some acid, soy sauce, and great seasoning, resulting in lightly pickled carrots that are absolutely delicious.
Many videos tout the salad's benefits for gut and hormonal health. I can’t vouch for those claims, but I do love a raw carrot salad, and it’s great to see it become a trend in 2024.
TikTok has become obsessed with the (seemingly) shrinking portions at Chipotle, causing such a stir that the CEO had to awkwardly address it in an interview.
Do I know if the portions have shrunk? No. Would it surprise me? Not at all. Large companies often look to maximize profits at customers' expense.
However, TikTok users have taken to filming Chipotle workers to try and get bigger portions or catch them skimping. It’s really rude to shove a camera in someone's face while they’re working, so please don’t do that.
Nonetheless, Chipotle portions have been a noticeable trend on TikTok this year.
Neon-red pickles? Sure, why not?
If you’ve missed it, chamoy pickles have become super popular on TikTok. Chamoy, a bright Mexican condiment often paired with fruit, is now being added to pickles. Some people take it a step further by stuffing the pickles with snacks like Flamin' Hot Cheetos and wrapping them in Fruit Roll-Ups. It sounds gross, but it makes for compelling TikTok content. While the chamoy pickle itself isn’t stunt food, stuffing it with snacks certainly is.
So yes, stunt food still lives on TikTok. But the platform remains a great place for discovering new food trends, and the next six months will surely bring even more exciting developments.
Want more of the best of 2024 (so far)? Join Mashable as we look back at all the internet slang, TikTok songs, movies, memes, dating trends, hyped up hardware, scientific discoveries, social media apps, and more that have delighted and amazed us so far this year.
