Lobster Shells and Artichokes? They’ll Always Be Worth It

It seems like the best-tasting foods are the ones that make you work hardest. Chicken wings? Pomegranates? Those massive burgers you need to take a knife to? All these and more await in our list of difficult foods that are still worth the hassle!

1. Sushi

As much as we love sushi rolls, we can agree that it takes a little elbow grease to get the job done. Your standard tempura and salmon rolls might be okay, but anything with fish on top makes those rolls a large obstacle to shove in our mouths…and don’t even get us started on hand-rolled sushi.

2. Lobster

When food comes with its own set of tools, you know you’re in for some trouble. Lobster sure is delicious but we wish it was easier to crack through that bulletproof shell to the meat inside. That said, heaven knows it’s worth the effort.

3. Oysters

From the shucking knife to the best slurping technique, oysters are a lot more intimidating than they look. The good news is that with a bit of practice, you can crack those babies open like the pros. It's worth it too; even though they look weird, they taste incredible!

4. Chicken Wings

Hey, we all love chicken wing but let’s be real—all that sauce makes it a heck of a lot harder to eat. Between trying to get all the meat off the bone and sticky, saucy fingers, chicken fingers are lucky they taste so darn good otherwise we’d never bother.

5. Noodle Soups

Nothing beats a comforting bowl of noodle soup, so long as you’re willing to burn the roof of your mouth. If that wasn’t bad enough, don’t forget about the losing battle with your utensils. Spoons or forks, it doesn’t matter—that tasty dish of chicken, noodles, and fresh herbs is tougher than it seems.

6. Oranges

Of all the items on this list, oranges aren’t the worst food to snack on. However, we all know the pain of trying to peel it, especially when all that white stuff is left behind. Try as you might to remove it, you’re just forced to chow down and hope for the best.

7. Mangoes

It seems like we’re delving into easier territory here, but don’t write mangoes off so quickly. You really gotta want this succulent fruit—otherwise, you’re just dripping with sticky juice and made a mess of your shirt for nothing. Luckily, we do want mangoes. We always want mangoes.

8. Artichokes

If that spiky appearance wasn’t enough to put you off, trying to eat the sucker sure will. Not only do most people struggle to even identify the edible parts, there’s not much pay-off for all that work. Luckily, they’re so delicious that they still get a pass.

9. Pomegranates

Bless the grocery store for selling pomegranate seeds on their own. Without them, we don’t know how willing we’d be to take a spoon to it ourselves. So much work, so many tears, all for that delicious flesh. The only thing worse is knowing your face will be stained too.

10. Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds may be a ballpark staple, but they’re also notoriously difficult to crack open. To make matters worse, some seeds are noticeably smaller than they used to be, making it even harder to break them open and reap any spoils—but darn it all if we won’t try!

11. Massive Burgers

You don’t want to be the person who brings a fork and knife to their burger but sometimes there’s no other way! While huge burgers look picture-perfect, they’re also so massive that we can hardly get a bite in. It looks embarrassing but we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get that bacon, onion, and pickle.

12. Spare Ribs

Spare ribs just aren’t worth it for some people. Sure, they taste amazing, but they’re also drenched in sauce and don’t come with much meat. Depending on where you go, some may have more fat than anything else. But a great rib joint makes that sticky mess worth it—even if we do look like cavemen.

13. Crab Legs

Oh, you thought lobster was bad to eat? Crab leg shells are just as tough and yield even smaller results in some cases. That being said, you bet your bottom dollar we’ll risk poking ourselves to eat that delectable meat.

14. Mussels

Ah, mussels—the little mollusk that demands hard work. They may pop open when they’re cooked but that doesn’t make it any easier trying to pry them loose from the shells. Luckily, mussels with a bit of pesto make it all worthwhile.

15. Corn on the Cob

Not even corn holders can save our chins from this sloppy food! That’s okay though because there’s no way we’d let the summer go by without fresh corn on the cob. Whether we drizzle a pinch of butter or a dash of cayenne pepper, this food’s more than worth it.

16. Foot-Long Hot Dogs

Foot-long hot dogs suffer the same fate as their hamburger brethren—they’re just too big to properly eat! Topped with delicious add-ons like onion and relish, you’re looking at a jam-packed feast bound to wind up all over your lap. Don’t worry, hot dogs, we’ll still eat you.

17. Chestnuts

Have you ever tried to crack nuts on your own? We hope not because it takes serious arm power. The good news is that there are easy ways to peel these guys from their shells, but it’s tough before you get the hang of it.

18. Pistachios

Pistachios look like they’re easy to crack. After all, the nut pokes through the shell, taunting us, mocking us. Yet, it’s harder than it looks to get them out of there! A simple kitchen towel and cast iron pan get the job done, but these guys are lucky they taste so good otherwise we’d never buy them.

19. Seafood Pasta

Seafood pasta is an incredible dish loaded with flavor—when those mussels are out of the shell. Some plates require you to wiggle those mollusks out on your own, which defeats the purpose of a great stack of noodles.

20. Shrimp

Peeled shrimp is amazing—it’s low in calories, it’s good for you, and it’s a tasty protein-rich option. Shrimp in the shell, however? Now we’re getting into hairy territory. As if getting the meat out of the tail wasn’t hard enough!