12 Foods from the ’70s That Looked Like Science Experiments
These 12 foods from the 1970s looked unusual and were often presented in ways that made them seem more like experiments than meals.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
The 1970s were known for bold and experimental food trends that sometimes prioritized appearance over taste. Home cooks and food companies created dishes with odd textures, bright colors, and unusual combinations. Many of these meals looked more like lab projects than everyday food.
1. Aspic Salads
Raimond Spekking on Wikimedia Commons
Aspic is a dish made by suspending meats, vegetables, or eggs in gelatin. In the 1970s, it was popular to make molded salads out of savory ingredients using clear gelatin. These dishes often looked shiny, jiggly, and confusing to the eye. Many people today find them unappetizing because of the strange texture and appearance.
2. Liver Sausage Pineapple
Peng on Wikimedia Commons
This dish used liverwurst shaped like a pineapple and covered in a creamy spread with olives as decoration. Toothpicks were added to make it look like the outer skin of a real pineapple. It was served as a party centerpiece, though it contained no fruit at all. The combination of ingredients and design made it stand out for the wrong reasons.
3. Ham and Banana Hollandaise
Mark Miller on Wikimedia Commons
This recipe involved wrapping bananas in slices of ham, baking them, and then pouring hollandaise sauce on top. It was published in several cookbooks during the 1970s. The combination of sweet, salty, and creamy flavors was unexpected and often confusing. Photos of the dish made it look more like an experiment than something appetizing.
4. Gelatin Molds with Meat or Tuna
Staff videographer on Wikimedia Commons
Tuna, chicken, and other meats were sometimes mixed with flavored gelatin and molded into decorative shapes. These gelatin salads were often served cold at parties or luncheons. The texture and taste didn’t always go well together, and the appearance was hard to ignore. They were meant to be impressive but often left guests confused.
5. Green Bean Gelatin Ring
Jpatokal on Wikimedia Commons
This recipe involved combining green beans, onions, vinegar, and lemon gelatin into a ring mold. It was served as a savory side dish, often with a creamy dip in the center. The green color and shiny surface made it look unusual and unappealing to some. While popular at the time, it rarely appears on modern tables.
6. Hot Dr. Pepper with Lemon
David McClenaghan on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1970s, Dr. Pepper promoted serving their soda hot with a slice of lemon. It was heated in a saucepan and served in mugs like a winter beverage. The idea was to make the soda feel more seasonal, but it confused many people who preferred cold soft drinks. Ads showed smiling families drinking it, though the trend didn’t last long.
7. Spam and Applesauce Cake
Internet Archive Book Images on Wikimedia Commons
Some 1970s recipes included Spam in baked goods, like cakes made with applesauce and spices. The meat was finely chopped and mixed into the batter. These cakes were meant to be sweet and savory, but the idea of meat in dessert was not widely accepted. Most people today would find the combination unusual.
8. Mackerel Pudding
Ioan Sameli on Wikimedia Commons
This dish combined canned mackerel with eggs, milk, and seasonings, baked in a dish like a casserole. It was sometimes called “savory fish custard.” The texture was soft, and the fishy smell made it hard for some to enjoy. It was considered a budget-friendly meal but did not have lasting popularity.
9. Tomato Soup Cake
Alpha on Wikimedia Commons
Tomato soup cake used canned tomato soup mixed with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and raisins. Despite its sweet flavor, the idea of using soup in cake surprised many people. The cake had a reddish color and a moist texture. It was often served with cream cheese frosting to cover the unusual base.
10. Party Loaf (Layered Sandwich Loaf)
TravisNygard on Wikimedia Commons
A party loaf was made by stacking layers of sandwich bread with different spreads in between. It was then “frosted” with a layer of cream cheese or whipped topping to look like a cake. The loaf was sliced like a dessert but filled with tuna, egg salad, or ham spread. Its look was confusing, and guests didn’t always know what to expect.
11. Perfection Salad
Srujanabotcha on Wikimedia Commons
Perfection Salad was made with cabbage, carrots, and celery set in lemon or lime-flavored gelatin. It was created decades earlier but remained popular in the 1970s. The bright colors and firm texture made it look more decorative than edible. The flavor was tart and crunchy but not everyone enjoyed the gelatin base.
12. Cheese and Pickle Pie
StevenBjerke97 on Wikimedia Commons
This dish combined processed cheese, chopped pickles, and sometimes gelatin to hold everything together. It was served cold in a pie crust or mold. The sharp flavors clashed for some people, and the texture was odd. It was not widely liked outside of potluck events or themed parties.