Eating food cold is a common practice across many cultures. While hot meals are popular, there are many foods that are served and eaten chilled or at room temperature. Cold foods can be refreshing on a hot day, and chilling certain foods like salads brings out their crisp textures. From fruits to salads to desserts, cold foods span breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack times. Here are some of the most popular and common foods that are typically eaten cold.
Fruits and Vegetables
Many fruits and vegetables are served cold and eaten at cool temperatures. The cool crispness of fresh produce is part of the appeal. Fruits are often chilled before serving. Some examples of fruits commonly eaten cold are:
- Apples
- Berries – strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
- Melons – honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon
- Citrus Fruits – oranges, grapefruit, clementines
- Grapes
- Pineapple
- Kiwi
- Cherries
- Pomegranate seeds
Many vegetables and vegetable salads are served chilled as well. Some examples of vegetables and veggie salads eaten cold are:
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
- Broccoli florets
- Cauliflower
- Garden salads – lettuce or mixed greens with assorted vegetables
- Greek salads – tomato, cucumber, olives, feta cheese
- Pasta salads – pasta with chopped vegetables and dressing
- Potato salads – potato chunks with mustard, mayo or vinegar-based dressing
- Coleslaw – shredded cabbage and carrots
The naturally cool crispness of fresh fruits and vegetables makes them ideal choices to be served and eaten chilled.
Sandwiches
While hot sandwiches like grilled cheese or paninis are popular, many sandwich fillings are fine to eat cold. Sandwiches served cold allow you to taste all the flavors of the individual ingredients. Some examples of cold sandwiches are:
- Ham sandwiches
- Roast beef sandwiches
- Turkey sandwiches
- Chicken salad sandwiches
- Tuna sandwiches
- Egg salad sandwiches
- cheese sandwiches like mozzarella, swiss, cheddar or provolone
- Greek pita sandwiches like gyros, falafel or lamb
- Italian subs with meats, cheeses and veggies
The meats, cheeses, spreads and vegetable toppings used on sandwiches do not necessarily need heating to taste good. The flavors often stand out when served chilled.
Salads
In addition to vegetable-based salads, grain salads and pasta salads that contain other ingredients are often served cold as well. The chilled temperature allows you to taste the flavors and textures of the different components individually.
Some examples of grain, legume and pasta salads eaten cold are:
- Quinoa salad
- Couscous salad
- Barley salad
- Rice salad
- Pasta salad – rotini, bowties, spirals
- Chickpea salad
- Lentil salad
- Black bean salad
The dressings and mix-ins with these salads may include veggies, fruits, cheeses, nuts, seeds, dressings or vinaigrettes. Chilling allows the flavors to shine.
Sushi
Sushi is a Japanese dish that is served cold. Sushi is made with vinegared rice, nori seaweed wraps, and fillings like raw fish, shrimp, vegetables, or egg. Some examples of sushi rolls and pieces that are always served chilled are:
- Tuna rolls
- Salmon rolls
- California rolls – avocado, crab
- Cucumber rolls
- Vegetable rolls – carrot, spinach, celery
- Nigiri – slice of fish or seafood over pressed rice
Part of the appeal of sushi is the cold, fresh flavors and textures. The chilled rice, seaweed, and fillings are a refreshing combination.
Noodles and Pasta Salads
Noodle-based and pasta-based salads are also commonly served cold. The dressings and sauces coat the noodles or pasta pieces and allow for full flavor when chilled. Some examples of cold noodle and pasta salads are:
- Pasta salad with chopped veggies
- Antipasto pasta salad
- Thai noodle salad
- Soba noodle salad
- Chinese chicken salad with lo mein noodles
Letting these types of salads chill allows the flavors to marinate and meld together before serving.
Pizza
Leftover pizza from dinner often ends up as a tasty cold breakfast or snack the next day. While hot pizza straight out of the oven is hard to beat, cold pizza has appeal of its own. The cheeses like mozzarella and parmesan congeal and the pizza toppings stand out when chilled. The pizza crust also changes texture, sometimes becoming crisper. Cold pizza slices are an easy grab-and-go option.
Desserts
Many desserts and sweets are best served chilled. The cold temperature enhances the flavors and textures. Some examples of desserts eaten cold are:
- Ice cream
- Gelato
- Milkshakes and smoothies
- Popsicles
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Mousse
- Semifreddo
- Frozen yogurt
- Sorbet
- Granita
- Frozen custard
The cool, creamy sweetness of these chilled and frozen desserts makes them perfect to enjoy on hot days or to celebrate special occasions.
Cheeses
Many varieties and types of cheese are served cold. Cheese platters are often served at room temperature to allow the subtleties of the flavors to come through. Hard cheeses often keep better when chilled. Soft cheeses like brie or mozzarella are sometimes served chilled as well to firm up the texture slightly. Some examples of cheeses served cold are:
- Cheddar
- Swiss
- Provolone
- Pepper jack
- Gouda
- Blue cheese
- Goat cheese
- Manchego
- Brie
- Mozzarella
- Feta
The wide variety of flavors and textures in cheeses shine through when served cold.
Dips and Spreads
Many dips and spreads are served chilled to allow the flavors to emerge. Dips seem to blend together better when allowed to chill so the flavors can meld. Vegetable crudités, chips, crackers and breads are perfect vehicles for scooping up chilled dips. Some examples of dips and spreads served cold are:
- Hummus
- Baba ganoush
- Tzatziki
- Spinach dip
- Guacamole
- Crab dip
- Feta dip
- Ranch dip
- Bean dip
- Salsa
Letting these dips chill allows the flavors to distribution evenly throughout.
Soups
While many soups are piping hot when served, some chilled soups provide refreshing options for warmer weather or warmer climates. The flavors and textures change when the soups are served cold. Some examples of soups often eaten cold are:
- Gazpacho – chilled vegetable soup
- Cucumber soup
- Chilled avocado soup
- Chilled melon soup
- Chilled coconut soup
- Chilled tomato soup
- Chilled berry soup
- Chilled beet borscht
- Chilled watermelon soup
The fresh flavors of fruits and vegetables blend together nicely when chilled into soups.
Leftovers
Many leftovers from dinner or restaurant meals hold up just fine when chilled in the refrigerator and eaten cold later. Leftover proteins like chicken, meatloaf, fish, pork and beef roast can be tasty chilled the next day for lunch or snacks. Side dishes like salads, rice, potatoes, vegetables and rolls also keep well chilled. Most of the flavors remain and the textures change slightly when chilled.
Breakfast Foods
Certain breakfast foods are served chilled and hold up well when eaten cold. Yogurts and cottage cheese are chilled options high in protein. Cold cereals are served with cold milk and can be portable breakfasts on busy mornings. Some examples of breakfast foods often eaten cold are:
- Yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Cereal and milk
- Toast with butter or jam
- Sliced fruit
- Overnight oats
- Chia pudding
The flavors and textures of breakfast foods work whether hot or chilled.
Appetizers
Many appetizers and small bites are served chilled. Keeping these foods cold brings out their flavors and textures. Some examples of chilled appetizers are:
- Ceviche – citrus marinated seafood
- Cold shrimp cocktail
- Oysters on the half shell
- Smoked salmon
- Caprese skewers – tomato, mozzarella, basil
- Prosciutto wrapped melon
- Deviled eggs
Serving appetizers cold enhances flavors and textures and creates more refreshing options.
Beverages
Many beverages taste best served chilled with ice. The cold temperature is refreshing and enhances the flavors. Some examples of cold beverages are:
- Water
- Juice
- Iced tea
- Lemonade
- Soda
- Sports drinks
- Sweet tea
- Milk
- Iced coffee
- Milkshakes
Beverages like lemonade, tea, and soda really shine when poured over a glass full of ice on a hot day.
Side Dishes
Some grain and vegetable-based side dishes hold up well when chilled. These can be prepared in advance and served chilled later at dinnertime as a complement to a hot entrée. Some examples of chilled side dishes are:
- Potato salad
- Pasta salad
- Quinoa salad
- Couscous salad
- Coleslaw
- Macaroni salad
- Broccoli salad
Serving these chilled sides adds variety to the plate and contrast to hot main dishes.
Meats and Seafood
Many cooked meats and seafood hold up well when chilled. The flavors remain and the textures change slightly as the natural fats congeal when chilled. Meats and seafood prepared in advance can be perfect choices for lunches or portable snacks. Some examples of meats and seafood eaten chilled are:
- Chicken salad
- Tuna salad
- Ham
- Turkey
- Roast beef
- Meatloaf
- Hard boiled eggs
- Shrimp
- Crab meat
- Lobster meat
Chilling these proteins helps preserve them safely for carrying in lunches or eating later.
Cured and Smoked Meats
Many cured and smoked meat products are designed to be served cold. The curing and smoking process helps preserve them. Some examples of cured meats served chilled are:
- Prosciutto
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Capicola
- Pancetta
- Pastrami
- Mortadella
Serving these sliced meats cold allows the smoky spicy flavors to stand out.
Pickled Foods
Foods preserved through pickling like sauerkraut, pickles, and kimchi rely on chilling to stop the fermentation process. These foods are crisper and the flavors are cleaner when ice cold. Some examples of pickled foods served chilled are:
- Pickles
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Pickled vegetables
- Pickled eggs
- Olives
The tangy, sour flavors of pickled foods are brought out when they are thoroughly chilled.
Conclusion
Eating cold foods is popular worldwide. Chilling helps enhance and preserve flavors, textures, and freshness. Cold dishes like fruit, salads, sandwiches, cheese plates and desserts are go-to choices for meals and snacking. Other more savory foods like pastas, grains, vegetables, meats and seafood also hold up well when chilled. Serving foods like sushi, soups, appetizers and beverages cold can be refreshing. So don’t be afraid to give that piping hot dinner a rest in the refrigerator and enjoy the flavors cold next day. A world of tasty cold foods awaits!
