13 American “Delicacies” Most of the World Finds Disgusting

Americans think of themselves as a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. The country has given the world hamburgers, hot dogs, and apple pie, but not all of its food exports are universally loved. Some of the dishes Americans love provoke mild confusion, or outright horror when they cross borders.

Food preferences are subjective, so what’s comforting to one person may be totally weird to another. Here are some American delicacies that the rest of the world just doesn’t get — and why the rest of the world might give you the side eye for enjoying them.

Root Beer

To many foreigners, root beer tastes like toothpaste, but it’s a beloved soft drink in the U.S. It’s the sarsaparilla and wintergreen flavors in particular that cloud the minds of palates that associate those tastes with mouthwash. For Americans it’s sweet, herbal, and something to enjoy — for others, it’s a bit too close to their medicine cabinets.

Jell-O Salads

Foreigners have been baffled by Jell-O salads, especially those with vegetables or meat ‘suspended’ in their wobbly depths. These gelatin-based dishes, popularized in the mid-20th century are a nostalgia-rich mixture of family potlucks and church gatherings. But they’re just unsettling for outsiders. Who wants their salad to jiggle? Good question.

Grits

Ground corn, a southern classic called grits, is celebrated in the U.S. as a breakfast or side dish. But its bland texture and mild taste are a turnoff for many international diners. Americans love them with butter, cheese, or shrimp. However, it’s a puzzle to others why anyone would bother.

Casseroles with Marshmallows

Thanksgiving in many American households means sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows, but this dish often gets a raised eyebrow overseas. To someone unfamiliar, it looks like an identity crisis on a plate — a root vegetable topped with sugar!

Ranch Dressing on Everything

In the U.S., ranch dressing has even become something of a cult, and fans can’t get enough of it, smothering it on salads, pizza, fries, and more. However, in a lot of places, it is considered overwhelming and thoroughly unnecessary. Why drown your food in a flavor that covers everything else? But Americans are unrepentant, with Hidden Valley even selling dressing in keg-size containers.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

While the PB&J sandwich is an American childhood staple, the pairing of sweet and savory is a mind-boggling concept to most outside the U.S. Many Americans have eaten a PB&J, but in countries like Italy or Japan, it’s a strange concoction, not a comfort food.

Deep-Fried Butter

A staple of state fairs, deep-fried butter, is exactly what it sounds like: butter battered and fried until golden brown. It’s a guilty pleasure for most Americans, but most of the world finds the idea revolting.

Mountain Dew

Loved for its neon green color and citrus kick, Mountain Dew can be a little syrupy sweet for those who weren’t raised on it. Sodas are less sugary in many countries but this one is a sugar bomb. The average 20-ounce bottle of Mountain Dew, for example, contains 77 grams of sugar, more than double the daily recommended limit for adults.

Biscuits and Gravy

Biscuits and gravy is the ultimate comfort food for Americans. For much of the world, it’s mystifying. Creamy, sausage-crammed gravy overflowing on fluffy Souther biscuits? Sure, it’s delicious, but many non-Americans think it’s a dessert gone wrong.

Corn Dogs

Americans can’t imagine a carnival or ballgame without corn dogs, but the idea of a hot dog coated in cornmeal batter and deep-fried is a bit much for many outsiders. While they’re confusing, they’re also fun to eat.

Spray Cheese

Need we say more than cheese in a can? Cheese purists everywhere are horrified by the uniquely American invention of spray cheese. Canned cheese is sacrilege in France, where cheese is a religion. In the U.S., however, it’s honored for its convenience and nostalgia. Turns out one man’s processed nightmare can be another’s easy snack.

Twinkies

The cream-filled sponge cakes, Twinkies, are a favorite in the U.S., but leave foreign visitors scratching their heads. They seem to have an almost eternal shelf life and are often labeled as too processed or too sweet.

Chicken-Fried Steak

The name alone confused me, chicken fried steak is a hearty Southern classic. It’s beef, battered and fried, like chicken, and often served with gravy. Visitors are baffled by its indulgent, crispy goodness while Americans love it.

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