Foods whose 'smooth' versions are better than the more original form?

[styles]

Sparked by a conversation on smooth vs 'with bits' orange juice...

Are there foods which you think are better 'smooth' than their presumably less processed alternative?

For all those I can think of which come in smooth and non-smooth, the smooth is an inferior product imo:

• Orange juice with juicy bits, or even *extra* juicy bits
• Crunchy peanut butter unless baking and a recipe specifically requires smooth
• I once accidentally bought smooth Branston pickle and it's absolutely vile

Or am I just out of step with public opinion and should follow in the smooth trend?

 

[JamesT]

Sparked by a conversation on smooth vs 'with bits' orange juice...

Are there foods which you think are better 'smooth' than their presumably less processed alternative?

For all those I can think of which come in smooth and non-smooth, the smooth is an inferior product imo:

• Orange juice with juicy bits, or even *extra* juicy bits
• Crunchy peanut butter unless baking and a recipe specifically requires smooth
• I once accidentally bought smooth Branston pickle and it's absolutely vile

Or am I just out of step with public opinion and should follow in the smooth trend?

I think these things are all just a matter of personal preference rather than something where there has to be a majority.
I much prefer smooth orange juice, if I wanted to spend the rest of the day picking bits of pulp out of my teeth I would just eat an orange.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

So-called "Smooth" beer is definitely worse than the real thing

 

[Spamcan81]

So-called "Smooth" beer is definitely worse than the real thing

Quite right. It’s awful IMO.

 

[High Dyke]

Any beer dispensed from a fizzy keg barrel is vile, smooth or not. IMHO. Cask beer is best.

 

[trainmania100]

Butter might be a valid one. Smooth butter is often laced with rapeseed oil or other to give it a "spreadable" texture. It's up to you whether you prefer spreadable smooth butter or a block of genuine butter.

There's talk of seed oils causing inflammation of the bowel, although not proven, it's never really quite clear if it's safe or not...but I certainly avoid hydrogenated oil spreads like ASDA smart price buttery and what not. Closest I'll go to that is plant based flora, but certainly not the cheap crap

 

[sprinterguy]

So-called "Smooth" beer is definitely worse than the real thing

Quite right, I fully concur.

I do much prefer smooth orange juice, though, for the reason stated above by JamesT.

And I do prefer Branston's "small chunk" pickle - not certain if that's the same as "smooth", but the small chunk is certainly easier to spread on my cheese and crackers.

 

[Harpo]

Any beer dispensed from a fizzy keg barrel is vile, smooth or not. IMHO. Cask beer is best.

Manufacturers and retailers love the term ‘craft beer’ instead of ‘keg’ to give the illusion of a premium product.

Carbonated refridgerated ale from tins.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Melted cheese on hot toast. It's better than cold slices of cheese on toast. Every time.

 

[Howardh]

I'm thoroughly into "long life" milk rather than the real thing, and over the past few years have cut down my sugar intake so much so that if anything has "added sugar" (whatever that means) it tastes revolting to me! So not so much "smooth" but "sugar-free" catches my eyes now.

 

[ChrisC]

Butter might be a valid one. Smooth butter is often laced with rapeseed oil or other to give it a "spreadable" texture. It's up to you whether you prefer spreadable smooth butter or a block of genuine butter.

There's talk of seed oils causing inflammation of the bowel, although not proven, it's never really quite clear if it's safe or not...but I certainly avoid hydrogenated oil spreads like ASDA smart price buttery and what not. Closest I'll go to that is plant based flora, but certainly not the cheap crap

I really do not like spreadable butters and always buy blocks of genuine butter. I‘ve also never liked the various low fat spreads and margarines and again prefer to use butter. Going back around 30 years ago, I had a friend who worked in the laboratories at Nottingham University, and they did some testing of the soft low fat spreads. She only ate genuine block butter as her opinion was that some of the processes used to remove the fat were at that time more harmful than eating full fat butter. I often wonder if the processes to remove caffeine from coffee and tea can cause more harm to your health than drinking standard coffee and tea.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Butter might be a valid one. Smooth butter is often laced with rapeseed oil or other to give it a "spreadable" texture. It's up to you whether you prefer spreadable smooth butter or a block of genuine butter.

There's talk of seed oils causing inflammation of the bowel, although not proven, it's never really quite clear if it's safe or not...but I certainly avoid hydrogenated oil spreads like ASDA smart price buttery and what not. Closest I'll go to that is plant based flora, but certainly not the cheap crap

If you want a spreadable butter but don't want oil then President soften theirs with cream and not oil. It isn't as spreadable from the fridge as the oil softened ones.

 

[Ghostbus]

Bananas.

Melted cheese on hot toast. It's better than cold slices of cheese on toast. Every time.

Place room temperature factory sliced cheddar cheese on a piece of toast straight out the toaster. Surprisingly close to the flavour of cheese on toast, without the mess/hassle.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Bananas.


Place room temperature factory sliced cheddar cheese on a piece of toast straight out the toaster. Surprisingly close to the flavour of cheese on toast, without the mess/hassle.

I'm more a melted Emmenthal and Blacksticks Blue person.

 

[zero]

Melted cheese on hot toast. It's better than cold slices of cheese on toast. Every time.

I like pizza, but when I'm having regular bread with other types of cheese (e.g. cheddar), I prefer it untoasted and unmelted.

I often wonder if the processes to remove caffeine from coffee and tea can cause more harm to your health than drinking standard coffee and tea.

The earliest method was using benzene which was harmful. Now less harmful organic solvents can be used.

Other modern methods using water only, or water and carbon dioxide are not harmful.