Food Trends for 2023: This Year’s Hot Food Trends

Technology impacts every aspect of our lives, including what we eat, as technology is involved in almost every step of the food production process, including harvesting, slaughtering, preserving, processing, cooking, and serving. Everything from the machines used to create the food to the robots now serving food in various restaurants globally is impacting the dining experience. In 2023, expect to see an increased use of artificial intelligence in creating, styling, and serving food.

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More people than ever view dining out as a culinary experience and want something unique. One way to achieve this is to enjoy a private dining experience, which adds exclusivity to a meal. People want to enjoy their meals in privacy rather than sharing their dining space with other diners.

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Although people eating plant-based diets will continue, and more people than ever are either turning vegan or simply reducing their meat intake, the plant-based trend is changing. Previously, the trend was to include faux-meat products made from plant products. However, the signs are there is a downturn in sales of these products, and people are losing interest in eating faux meats. People now prefer to make dishes using vegetables in creative ways than to head to the supermarket to buy processed fake meats.

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Combining sweet and spicy flavours is nothing new, as there are many cuisines where these flavours are used simultaneously in many dishes. However, it is a food trend that is on the rise, as people are making both savoury and sweet dishes that combine both spicy and sweet elements, and you will see such dishes on menus when dining out in restaurants that serve modern food. The flavour combination has been given the nickname ‘swicy.’

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COVID-19 was fantastic for the food delivery industry, as people had food delivered when ordering takeaways or instead of dining out due to the restrictions in place. However, that phase is now over. A bigger issue at the forefront of people’s minds now is inflation and the general cost of living. Many people want to reduce costs due to limited budgets and rising bills. Delivery costs are rising, so most people prefer to pick up their food instead of relying on delivery services. Image credit: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

An increasing food trend in the United States is mood food, which is a term currently used to describe food infused with cannabis. Marijuana has been legalized in 19 states, so many social media influencers are jumping on the bandwagon and showing their followers how they can include the drug in their food. However, it is not necessarily one of the food trends for 2023 that people across the globe will see, as cannabis is still illegal in some states in the United States and many other countries internationally.

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Back in 2020, we listed alcohol-free drinks as an ongoing food and drink trend. It is a trend that is continuing to rise. One reason is that more people are taking steps to improve their health, including reducing alcohol consumption. Another reason is people travel further afield to enjoy new culinary experiences in restaurants they have not previously visited. They often drive to the restaurant, meaning they cannot drink. Alcohol-free cocktails, beers, wines, and spirits mean people can accompany their meals with delicious drinks. Image credit: Kaizen Nguyễn kaizennguyen, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Using mushrooms in cooking is not a new trend. In fact, they are a common ingredient in multiple global cuisines. However, chefs are becoming more adventurous in their use of this ingredient, which has also led to increased sales of the lesser-used varieties as people want to use them in their home cooking. According to The Wicked Noodle, oyster mushroom sales have increased by more than 100%, while trumpet mushroom sales are up 75%. Image credit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

According to Bidfood, there are various international food trends set to hit in 2023. Diners are becoming more adventurous in their choices when dining out and in their home cooking. They want to experiment with the flavours and culinary traditions of new international cuisines. Some examples of cuisines that are likely to become more popular in 2023 include pan-African, Cuban, and Sri Lankan. Image credit: Shehal at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Similarly, people are more willing to experiment with flavour combinations, often combining the ingredients and flavours of more than one cuisine. People enjoy taking traditional dishes and adding a global twist, and the fusions are becoming more unusual and daring.

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Gone is the phase of luxury and diners showing off their money. Across the world, the current financial status means that people now want to save money and get value for money when eating out. They wear their efforts to look for good value with pride, and it is reflected in dining choices in both the UK and the United States, and many other countries. Image credit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Social media sites are one of the ways food trends begin, and TikTok is just one example of a platform influencing people. One of the most recent food trends for 2023 to come from TikTok is butter boards. People cover a board with butter, and then various toppings are added.

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Sustainability has been a buzzword in food trends for many years, and it will remain a focus in 2023. Professional chefs are leading the way in sustainability, making sustainable ingredient choices and reducing waste in the kitchens. Restaurants are concentrating on making the most of every part of the ingredients they buy and searching for creative ways to use the ingredients in the dishes on their menus.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, travel was limited. Now, people want to get away, see the world, and gain new experiences. For foodies, the perfect break is visiting somewhere to try new cuisines. It has led to a new trend of people travelling purely to experience food at the destination of their choice. Hot destinations include Tokyo, Costa Rica, Brazil, Indonesia, and London.

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One of the hot ingredients for 2023 is seaweed. While it may seem one of the unlikely food trends for 2023, seaweed has a lot of health benefits that appeal to diners. It is also a tasty, budget-friendly, and sustainable ingredient, which ticks many boxes for other upcoming food trends.

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