If there’s anything we’ve gotten really good at over the past year, it’s ordering takeout. But as we’ve probably come to realize, all delivery orders are not created equal. That pizza or curry may taste fantastic after it’s delivered, but a steak and fries? Probably not. We consulted chefs for a quick primer on foods most likely to satisfy, as well as the dishes that might disappoint.
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Good news for comfort-food fans: Hot, steamy bowls of soup and stew will be tasty even after a long ride to your house. “They hold heat really well, so you don't need to worry about any quality loss,” says Jack Slobodian, a professional chef and food blogger. “Saucy proteins and vegetables like Thai curries and chili are also a great option,” agrees Jim Mumford, a chemical engineer and cookbook author. “Liquid stays hot, generally does not change consistency, and can reheat very easily. So soups, pho, and the like are the best thing to have delivered.”
Pasta can be good leftover, but it doesn’t make for great takeout. “A properly made pasta in a restaurant is served at the perfect moment where there’s plenty of sauce and the noodles are al dente,” says Devan Cameron, chef and owner of Braised & Deglazed. “When you package pasta for delivery, the noodles soak up the sauce and continue to cook. The result is an over-cooked pasta with very little sauce left.” And who wants to eat gooey, undersauced noodles? We’ll pass.
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If you just have to have some comforting, carby goodness, it’s not a total loss. Cameron recommends choosing crowd-pleasing lasagna over other Italian favorites. It’s sturdier than other pasta dishes, but most importantly, it will reheat better than other options, too.
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We love French fries as much as the next person, but they’re best reserved for wolfing down after you pull away from the drive-thru. “When fried foods are covered for delivery, they steam. The steam destroys the crispiness of foods and can quickly turn your fries into a soggy mess,” Cameron says. “Things like tempura, fries, nachos, and pretty much all bar foods lose their crispness when delivered.” Moral of the story: Pass on these guilty pleasures until you can enjoy them in all of their crisp, greasy glory.
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Craving Chinese? Thai? Sushi? There are more winners than losers here, experts say. “From my experience, Asian dishes generally hold up quite well for takeout,” says Angie Chung, co-founder of BakingHow. “They usually come in very sturdy containers with multiple compartments so your food doesn’t mix unintendedly.” This can be a safer way to get your noodle fix, experts say, since Asian noodle dishes including chow mein typically aren’t as sauce-heavy and won’t get overly soggy. Sushi and poke are also good options, Cameron says. “They will need to be eaten the same day, as the next day the rice will dry out and you also don't want to eat old raw fish.”
Be careful, brunch lovers: We’re coming for your favorites. “If you’ve ever tried to order eggs benedict to go, you’ve probably noticed how it’s just not the same as in the restaurant,” Cameron cautions. “Poached eggs and hollandaise need to be at the perfect warm temperature and served right away. The problem is they can’t be reheated well without splitting the sauce or overcooking the eggs.” If eggs are a must, an omelette is a better bet for delivery, he says.
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What if you just gotta have some sauce, though? Barbecue may be your answer. “You can never go wrong ordering this food,” says chef Carolyn Timbers of Kitchen Gadgets Maven. “Barbecues can lock in their flavorful sauce and smoky taste throughout a delivery. Even if served a bit cold, barbecues still taste amazing.” And as any barbecue lover knows, the leftovers can be legendary.
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Take note, carnivores. While barbecue is delivery friendly, the same isn’t true for other meats. “It is literally impossible to have delivered meat arrive at the proper doneness,” Mumford says. “Carryover cooking is a thing, and in that car ride, the meat will rest in its own styrofoam oven.” If you simply must have a slab of meat delivered, he advises going down a notch from your preferred doneness (for instance, from medium to medium rare) to account for the cooking that happens en route.
Related: Where to Order Pork, Steaks, and Other Meats Online
If it’s always Taco Tuesday in your house, good news: Most Mexican food will be just as tasty when it’s delivered as it would be at the restaurant. “Mexican dishes all hold up fairly well to delivery,” Mumford says. “Tacos, burritos, and the like were meant to be street and travel foods, so they will be just fine.” Cameron says flour tortillas might be a better bet than hard shells, which could lose their crispness in transit. Also, toppings like guacamole or salsa are best packaged on the side to keep things from getting soggy.
Related: Where to Order Good Cheap Burritos in Every State
The good news about salad: If packaged well, with ingredients and condiments separated, a salad can hold up fairly well for delivery. The bad news about salad: That rarely happens (and honestly, who wants to toss their own salad?). “I have not had a great experience with salad delivery simply because fresh ingredients like lettuce can easily and quickly get soggy, even if it’s packaged without dressing,” Chung says.
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If your lust for lettuce is too strong, adding some carbs to those veggies may be the answer. “I’ve had good experiences getting sub sandwiches and different wraps delivered,” Chung says. “They are usually tightly wrapped with foil, and then with a layer of greaseproof wax paper. In some cases, they are placed inside of a fitted insulated delivery bag to keep warm.”
Related: Where to Find a Good, Cheap Sandwich in Every State
Seafood is a big category, but use caution. “Fully cooked fish like in takeout fish and chips will be fine, but I'd stay clear of shellfish or any medium-rare salmon fillets,” Cameron says. “Fish that's not fully cooked needs to be eaten right away; otherwise, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. I'd also avoid most shellfish, as it doesn't reheat very well.” As always, fried seafood will fare the worst when it comes to taste, he says. “Don't even try to order calamari for takeout because it will be soggy and horrible.”
Duh, right? There’s a reason that pizza delivery figures so prominently into the busy weeknights of households across the nation. “Like soup, pizza is hearty and can hold up to long drives, even held at any temperature.” Mumford says. “Plus, pizza is super easy to warm up — or, let’s face it, eat cold!”
Frozen treats are a delivery risk for fairly obvious reasons. Cameron emphasizes that some restaurants will be a better bet than others — namely, quick-service places. “I wouldn't order ice cream from a regular restaurant because they're probably not prepared for it like other fast-food chains who've had tons of experience with takeout food.” You can also minimize your risk by ordering a whole pint, if available, instead of scooped ice cream, Slobodian says. “Tubbed ice cream is more compact and the packaging is very cold. Scooped ice cream is less compact and placed in a room temperature takeaway box, and was most likely scooped out of a tub with a hot ice cream scoop.” Another better bet for something cold, he says: Smoothies.
On the other hand, most other desserts, including pies, cookies, and pastries, will be just fine. “All of these desserts are great for takeout because they are generally served at room temperature and won't need to be kept warm,” Cameron says. “You can save them the next day by wrapping them in plastic or storing them in a sealed glass jar.” Mumford agrees, though he says you might want to steer clear of complicated desserts with a lot of components. He also cautions that you’ll be paying dearly to satisfy your sweet tooth with a takeout dessert. “The markup for a delivered slice of cheesecake, for example, is hefty,” he says. “You may be better off getting one from the bakery directly.”