Is It Rude to Criticize Someone's Cooking When They Ask for Your Honest Opinion?

@eLdav1s (1052)
Nigeria
October 4, 2026 12:14am CST
When someone asks, “Be honest, how does my cooking taste?” they may genuinely want feedback, but that doesn't always make giving an honest answer easy. Food can be very personal, especially when someone has spent time and effort preparing it for you. If someone asks for your honest opinion about their cooking and you don't like it, how honest should you be?
6 people like this
8 responses
B
@pitsipeahie (5811)
•
4 Oct
If someone asked me an honest opinion, then I give them what they asked for, an honest answer and an honest answer is not always a 'like' it can be it's not to my taste or simply I don't like it. So if you ask for an honest opinion, you should be prepared to receive not just a compliment but a not to my liking answer too and not be offended by it.
4 people like this
Orogun Oghenekome
@eLdav1s (1052)
• Nigeria
5 Oct
Lol that's fair though, if you are asking for an honest opinion, then you should also be prepared to hear something you might not like.
1 person likes this
Orogun Oghenekome
@eLdav1s (1052)
• Nigeria
5 Oct
@Ineeddentures Hahaha i totally didn't expect this answer
1 person likes this
Jim
@Ineeddentures (30576)
•
4 Oct
Quite right. But all too often they actually want to be offended That's why it tastes like shite lol
3 people like this
Michael
@Wrexxo (9009)
•
4 Oct
I think you can be honest without being harsh. Like say what you did like first, then gently mention what was missing, maybe too salty or needs more flavor. People put real effort into cooking so how you say it matters just as much as what you say.
4 people like this
B
@pitsipeahie (5811)
•
4 Oct
Spot on, bro.
3 people like this
Orogun Oghenekome
@eLdav1s (1052)
• Nigeria
5 Oct
That's true though. You can be honest but at the same time you can still be polite about it.
2 people like this
Amber
@AmbiePam (129890)
• United States
4 Oct
I’d find the positive in it. Now, if it’s going to make me puke, odds are my face can’t hide it. But I’m going to find something good to say about it. Most people, even if they ask for honesty, are going to be hurt if they spent a long time on something or did it out of love, and then we are blunt about not liking it.
3 people like this
Amber
@AmbiePam (129890)
• United States
5 Oct
@eLdav1s I’d probably say it was a good try, but it’s not my cup of tea. That’s not rude, that’s very noncommittal, and I think that might work. If it doesn’t work, then I don’t know what else you could do.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (178970)
• United States
5 Oct
@eLdav1s I think that would be a very rare circumstance. You can always compliment the place settings or the nice tableware, if you can't find anything about the food itself to compliment.
2 people like this
Orogun Oghenekome
@eLdav1s (1052)
• Nigeria
5 Oct
Hahah i understand, but what about in a situation where you are not able to find any positive thing to talk about it?
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (178970)
• United States
4 Oct
If the food is really not to my taste, then I might tell them that it's not what I'd make myself but, then find something about it to compliment. I don't like to hurt someone's feelings but... I don't like eating bad tasting food, either.
3 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (178970)
• United States
5 Oct
@eLdav1s For some people, I will still eat peas even though I can't stand the mouth-feel of them. I love Mom (@TraceyJayne)'s mother so much I'd eat almost anything she cooked. (I'm not sure I could eat okra for her but I'd be willing to try )
1 person likes this
Orogun Oghenekome
@eLdav1s (1052)
• Nigeria
5 Oct
That's fair, you can't accept what you don't like simply because you want to please someone else.
1 person likes this
Traceyjayne
@Traceyjayne (14389)
• United Kingdom
5 Oct
@DaddyEvil that is so lovely. I’ve taken a screenshot and will show her when I see her ….she will be thrilled .x You are safe ….she doesn’t cook okra….
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (141267)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Oct
I would tell them
3 people like this
Jim
@Ineeddentures (30576)
•
4 Oct
If someone asks for your honest opinion about their cooking and you don't like it, how honest should you be? As honest as honest can be. Brutally honest Don't pull punches Tell the truth I didn't like it. That's all you have to say. People shouldn't ask questions if the don't want an honest answer
3 people like this
Orogun Oghenekome
@eLdav1s (1052)
• Nigeria
5 Oct
Lol true, but what if you know it's someone who can't actually take that kind of brutal truth, how would you handle it?
1 person likes this
Jim
@Ineeddentures (30576)
•
5 Oct
@eLdav1s Oh well that's different I wouldn't eat a single bite of it
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (389245)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Oct
I would try to find something good to praise and play down anything else.
2 people like this
Orogun Oghenekome
@eLdav1s (1052)
• Nigeria
5 Oct
That's fair though, this way you won't completely hurt their feelings.
2 people like this
Traceyjayne
@Traceyjayne (14389)
• United Kingdom
5 Oct
If it was too salty or sweet or bitter , something that would mean I couldn’t eat it I would have to be honest. However, if it’s just something I didn’t like that they had cooked, then that’s not their fault that I don’t like it , so,I would think of some positives about the food.
1 person likes this