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When you look at food photos in magazines or online, it all looks perfect. But behind those stunning shots are secrets that chefs and stylists use to fool your eyes.
These tricks keep food looking fresh and tasty, even when it might be anything but. Once you know them, you will never see food photos the same way again.
Using Motor Oil for Syrup
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Instead of real syrup, stylists sometimes use motor oil on pancakes. Real syrup soaks in too fast and makes pancakes soggy. Motor oil sits on top and shines under lights, making each layer look fluffy and fresh. You would never guess from photos that it is not even food.
Adding Soap to Drinks for Foam
When stylists want drinks to look bubbly and fresh, they add a few drops of soap. It makes perfect foam on top of beer, soda, or coffee drinks. Real bubbles vanish quickly under lights. Soap keeps drinks looking lively for longer shots, but of course, nobody would actually drink it.
Sticking Food with Toothpicks
Tall burgers or sandwiches never stand up on their own. Stylists use toothpicks to keep each layer in place. Lettuce, cheese, and buns stay stacked perfectly for photos. Without toothpicks, many towering foods would topple over before the camera clicks. It is a small trick that makes a big difference.
Using Mashed Potatoes as Ice Cream
Ice cream melts fast under hot lights. Instead, stylists scoop mashed potatoes and color them like ice cream. The texture looks the same and holds its shape for hours. People would never guess that creamy looking dessert is really potatoes. It is one of the oldest secrets in food photography.
Painting Grill Marks on Meat
Stylists often paint grill marks on meat using sauce, soy, or food coloring. Real grilling sometimes leaves uneven marks that look messy in photos. Painted lines make meat look perfectly cooked and juicy. It is a fast trick that makes any steak or chicken look more tempting on camera.
Spraying Fruit with Hair Spray
Fruit in photos always looks shiny and fresh. Stylists use hair spray to keep berries or apples from wilting or losing color. It makes the surface glossy and catches light beautifully. People might think fruit was just picked, but it could be coated in chemicals you would never want to eat.
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Using Cardboard Between Layers
Cakes in photos look tall and neat because stylists place cardboard circles between layers. This keeps frosting from sinking or sliding. Without cardboard, soft cakes often collapse under their own weight. The trick helps cakes stand proud for photos, even if they would never survive real slicing.
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Gluing Sesame Seeds on Buns
Stylists use glue to attach sesame seeds perfectly on burger buns. Real seeds fall off during baking and leave gaps. Glue holds each seed in place so the bun looks even and full. It might sound odd, but it is how burgers look so perfect in ads.
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Brushing Chicken with Brown Dye
Roast chicken often looks pale after cooking. Stylists brush it with a mix of food dye and sauces to make it golden brown. The dye gives a warm, roasted glow. In real life, the bird might still be pale underneath, but in photos, it looks perfectly juicy and cooked.
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Filling Bowls with Marbles
Stylists put marbles at the bottom of bowls before pouring in soups or salads. It lifts the top ingredients higher so everything looks full and colorful. Otherwise, food can sink under liquid and look dull. Marbles keep bright vegetables or noodles right at the surface for the perfect shot.
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Using Shaving Cream as Whipped Cream
Real whipped cream melts fast and loses its shape under lights. Stylists often swap it for shaving cream. It holds perfect swirls for hours and stays bright white. People looking at desserts in magazines might be admiring a slice of pie topped with something nobody would ever want to taste.
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Spritzing Meat with Glycerin and Water
Roast meat looks dry under camera lights. Stylists mix water and glycerin in a spray bottle to give meat a fresh, juicy shine. It creates tiny droplets that look like natural moisture. People think the meat is steaming hot and tender, even if it has been sitting cold for hours.
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Coloring Ice Cubes for Drinks
In photos, real ice cubes melt fast and make drinks look watered down. Stylists use plastic ice cubes painted lightly with food dye. They stay solid and bright in any color. Drinks keep looking cool and inviting, even during long photo sessions. Nobody knows the ice is fake.
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Coating Noodles with Oil to Stop Clumping
Hot noodles often stick together as they cool. Stylists toss noodles in oil to keep them separate and glossy. It helps pasta look fresh and silky in photos. Without this trick, big pasta dishes would turn into one big clump that nobody would want to see or eat.
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Food photos hide secrets you would never imagine. Behind every glossy burger or perfect ice cream scoop are tricks that change how food looks. These styling secrets keep dishes looking beautiful, even when they are not fit to eat. Once you know the truth, food photos will never look quite the same.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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