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If you've seen our article on photographer Gregg Segal's series Daily Bread: What Kids Eat Around the World, you know that our menu can vary a lot depending on the place we live in. Who knows, maybe you've even been on a culinary holiday. Point is, our tastebuds can get pretty intrigued about trying out different stuff. But sometimes, satisfying their cravings is pretty difficult. So when you get the opportunity, you have to use it.
Earlier this month, Reddit user u/pogmoshron made a post on r/Cooking, saying: "What are some kitchen 'must haves' that I can pick up when I'm in the States that can't be purchased in Europe?" Immediately, cooks began making suggestions, and the comment section ultimately became a pretty vivid illustration of American eating habits. Continue scrolling to check out their replies.
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#1
When I lived in the US, I would bring back Lipton's Onion Soup Mix and make onion dip. My Indian friends loved it so much, they would fight over who got to lick the bowl.
RELATED:
#2
Old Bay Seasoning. I haven't been able to find it in Europe. I'm from Maryland, and I miss it so much that I make my own from a copycat recipe and always have it on hand in my kitchen.
#3
All peanut butter products. I'm an American living in Scotland, and good peanut butter exists here but only in tiny expensive jars. I miss things like peanut butter cookies, Reese's Puffs, and peanut-butter-filled pretzels.
RoseTheMad 2 years ago
I'm in the UK.. you can get Peanut Butter cookies, fudge, puffs (though they're animport) cups, pretzels, etc etc...
#4
My friend just moved to Dublin from the states. They brought a ridiculous amount of ranch dressing and ranch dressing powder. When we go to visit them we are instructed to bring more. I guess Europe does not have a ranch market.
Guy MacGregor 2 years ago
No. And the first time I heard about it was here on Bored Panda. It was out of context and I did not understand why OP was speaking about "farmer clothing" (ranch... dressing...).
#5
Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning. Salty, but so very good in all kinds of foods.
Michael Sanders 2 years ago
Staple. They have all kinds of other products too. Mixes, Bloody Mary mix, etc. Living in NOLA I make most of their mixes from scratch, but in a pinch their gumbo and jambalaya mixes are quite good. Zing Zang is much better bloody mix though.
#6
There's a brand of Cajun seasoning called 'Slap ya Mama'. I've never actually tried it myself, but as a brit living in the UK, I have seen it as an ingredient in SO MANY recipes that I can only assume it's popular.
Michael Sanders 2 years ago
I put on nearly everything I want spice. That and Tony Chachere which is listed in….
#7
Celery Seed
Personally I haven't been able to find it here in Finland and I don't know how common it is in other countries. Celery seed really gives coleslaw and a few other dishes that true American flavor.
#8
Cottage cheese. In Japan, it's virtually impossible to find, and really I miss cottage cheese!
Mad Dragon 2 years ago
Cottage cheese is easy to make yourself from whole milk, salt, and some sort of acid (I use vinegar or lemon juice). Heat the milk slowly, add the acid, stir gently and let rest for a few minutes, strain through cheesecloth, add salt. I add a bit of cream to make it smoother, but that is optional.
#9
Maple syrup is so hard to find outside of North America! I'm in Brazil right now and I've been here several times before and I remember once a few years back when a couple friends had to tell me that there was roughly zero chance I was going to find maple syrup here (I was planning a Super American Breakfast For Dinner kind of fun meal).
RoseTheMad 2 years ago (edited)
I literally just bought maple syrup the other day. From Sainsbury's. xP It's available in Europe, but Brazil isn't Europe. (this article needs a new title jfc)
#11
My [expat] sister always says how hard it is to find canned pumpkin overseas so i always bring some when I visit. I'd load up there!
#12
Corn bread. It’s rare to find in the UK. The only place I’ve seen it was at Whole Foods, and even there it was cold, subpar, and not as comforting as the US version.
#13
American measuring cups. Makes making recipes online much easier as you don’t have to try and convert anything.
#14
When I was in the USA I bought a cast iron pan for 20-30 dollars I think. It’s at least 3 times cheaper than the same kind of pan where I live.
#15
Stone-ground corn grits. At least in England, they're nearly impossible to find. You can get your hands on Quaker Oats corn grits, but that's about it.
#16
Chipotle powder. I get it at a Mexican market. Chipotles are smoked jalapeños. I use it as a rub on chicken or pork before grilling.
#17
Franks red is key. I used to bring back Buffalo sauce when I would go to the States, but then I realized how easy and tasty it is to make from scratch, so now I just bring back some Franks
#18
I'm an American expat living in Germany, and when I make trips back to the US I return with:
BTB
TJs EBTB seasoning
Annie's Mac and Cheese (I make m&c from scratch, but my kids love the s**t in the blue box)
Rainbow sprinkles
Frontera Mexican sauce packets
Pink Starbursts
Reese's Pieces
Bourbon
Cream of Tartar
#19
Bourbon! Whenever I go to the US, I bring home as much bourbon as I'm allowed. Abroad, there are very few types of Bourbon sold, and they are incredibly expensive.
Marcellus II 2 years ago
Meh. Why drink Bourbon if there's something better locally available? Say, whisky.
#20
Internet teached me what pop tarts are. Never seen them in Europe. Also we don't have good brown sugar. Maybe that's a continental thing.
#21
Anything Mexican related and some less common hot sauces.
Karin Jansen 2 years ago
I do believe that "Mexican related" food can be find all over Europe.
#22
If you have the space in your luggage, kosher salt is a lot cheaper in the US than the European equivalents
If you like Mexican food, it’s worth stocking up on dried chilis in the US since they’re again way more abundant and much cheaper
I personally prefer the sponges you get in the US, so I always bring back some of the yellow and green Scotch Brite kind.
#23
Dr. Pepper. Whenever we travel abroad, my husband almost loses his mind going a week or two without it.
#24
Hidden Valley fiesta ranch mix is god tier. Mix with sour cream and its perfect with all flavors of potato chips
#25
Tajin seasoning. It elevates just about every kind of fruit, and it's so hard to find outside of the States.
#27
Peanut butter, graham crackers & marshmallows keep well and I know a lot of countries don't have them.
#28
Dried chiles. If you like cooking Mexican food, it's worth stocking up on them in the US. You can find them abroad, but they're way more expensive and less common.
#29
Canned diced green chilis. Decent salsa (but sure if it might break), Goya beans and salsas, boxed Mac n cheese. My German friend from college demands that last one in all her care packages lol.
#30
The umami seasoning is phenomenal. I use it in almost everything to add depth of flavor.
What do you think ?
Lord Mysticlaw 2 years ago
I swear if there's one thing I'll never understand in my life, it's Americans and boxed mac and cheese.
Hanni 2 years ago
It's valid for a lot food in every country, no matter how bad it is. If you had it as a staple food in your childhood you are going to love it and miss it. It's not just a taste but memories and comfort too. For Hungary it's lard spread on bread. :)
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Jo Choto 2 years ago
So having lived in the US for decades, and being a citizen, I have to say that half of these things are not even common in the USA. They are tiny local niche market items. The rest, it's ridiculous. Aluminium foil? Cream of tartar? Chillis? Salt? I think people living abroad need to get out a bit more.
Ashi Mari 2 years ago
I've never been in the US in my entire life, tried to make a recipe from internet and couldn't find the famous cream of tartar anywhere
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Tonya Wallace 2 years ago
So it's true....Europeans pillaged the world for spices and don't even use them.
ZAPanda 2 years ago
well you don't need to use them directly yourself if you dragged half of india back home with you to make your curry for you.
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Lord Mysticlaw 2 years ago
I swear if there's one thing I'll never understand in my life, it's Americans and boxed mac and cheese.
Hanni 2 years ago
It's valid for a lot food in every country, no matter how bad it is. If you had it as a staple food in your childhood you are going to love it and miss it. It's not just a taste but memories and comfort too. For Hungary it's lard spread on bread. :)
Load More Replies... Jo Choto 2 years ago
So having lived in the US for decades, and being a citizen, I have to say that half of these things are not even common in the USA. They are tiny local niche market items. The rest, it's ridiculous. Aluminium foil? Cream of tartar? Chillis? Salt? I think people living abroad need to get out a bit more.
Ashi Mari 2 years ago
I've never been in the US in my entire life, tried to make a recipe from internet and couldn't find the famous cream of tartar anywhere
Load More Replies... Tonya Wallace 2 years ago
So it's true....Europeans pillaged the world for spices and don't even use them.
ZAPanda 2 years ago
well you don't need to use them directly yourself if you dragged half of india back home with you to make your curry for you.
Load More Replies...
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