Food Theory Season 2024

First we got the Five Nights at Freddy’s game. Then we got the books. Last year we got the movie. But, now…. OH now we have the FNAF Cookbook! And let us tell you, loyal Theorists, we analyzed this thing from cover to cover and realized one thing… this cookbook needs fixed!

McDonald’s has been around since the 1940s, and, sure, they’ve always been innovating. From the Big Mac to the Filet-O-Fish to the Shamrock Shake to the recent viral Grimace Shake, the company knows exactly how to market its products. But, now in 2024 McDonalds Corp has decided to start an entirely BRAND NEW fast food chain called CosMc’s. But why, loyal Theorist? Why start a new chain? Well, it’s all in an effort for Ronald McDonald to wage a coffee war against Starbucks and WIN over young consumers.

Were you the “gum guy” in school? You know, the person everyone in the class goes to for a quick piece of chewing gum. Well, we hope you have enough gum on hand today because we’re chewing EVERY piece of gum we could possibly find… Five, Strident, Orbit, Dubble Bubble, Juicy Fruit, and more! But, why are we doing this? We’re on a serious mission to find the BEST piece of bubble gum in the world! Trust us, this gets sticky…

Forget EVERYTHING you learned in history class. All you need to know about is the wild history of… BREAD! White bread, wheat bread, sourdough, focaccia, baguettes, whichever is your favorite bread doesn’t matter. What does matter is how bread has changed the entire history of the world I guess. Carbs are king! And controlling the bread across world history has meant controlling money and power.

Are robots actually taking over the world? Today, loyal Theorists, we aim to find out by putting Ai vs humans to the test. We traveled to a California restaurant to see who makes the BEST burger in the most efficient way. Can robots handle customizability? Will humans make too many mistakes? Could we see this same Ai technology we see at CalExpress and many Tokyo restaurants expand throughout the U.S. into McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and more fast food chains? Let’s find out…

What happens if you quit sugar for one day? That would be pretty difficult, right? No M&Ms, no Diet Coke, no Feastables. How about a week? Even tough. Well, how about a full month? That's right, 30 FULL DAYS without sugar. Beatrice Caruso did it. Matt D'Avella did it. So can we? Our bodies are in for a rude awakening...

What is the scientifically BEST soda pop mix? Is it Coca-Cola and Pepsi? Mtn Dew and Sprite? Blue Powerade and Mello Yellow? Grape Gatorade and Root Beer? Today, we find out… and see if we can invent a brand new, DELICIOUS soda in the process.

What WEIRD recipes do you have in your family, loyal Theorist? Some sort of strange pasta dish? A questionable Jell-O? Or what about a mysterious meatloaf? Today we’re looking at some of the most unique recipes from team Theorist all culminating in MatPat’s 100 year old (secret) family recipes.

Ah, Chipotle, the mecca of organic Mexican food, the kings of guac, and the purveyor of protein bowls. It truly is the holy grail of fast casual dining… or is it? You see, loyal Theorist, we doubted whether Chipotle was ever giving us the correct proportions in our braised beef barbacoa burrito bowls, so we decided to put them to the test. And through our learnings we found a few Chipotle hacks to actually INCREASE the food on your plate. Get ready for one MEATY episode!

Welcome to MatPat’s final Food Theory. In this VERY special episode, Santi is baking Matt a cake to celebrate all of our times together on the channel. But this isn’t just any cake, NO! It’s a cake that embodies ALL of our favorite Food Theory episodes. Find out if your top moments made the cut.

What’s up, loyal Theorist?! In Santi’s FIRST episode of Food Theory, we’re looking at a _classic_ Theorist question: how can you BEST optimize your food? In this case, we’re looking specifically at spicy chicken sandwiches. Which chicken shop stands up to the others? And which is the SPICIEST? Is it really Chick-fil-A and Popeyes? Perhaps the Colonel at KFC stands a strong chance as a popular chicken joint. Or could an underdog like Wendy’s, McDonald’s, or Burger Kings take the crown? Today we find out who has the top spicy chicken sandwich. Let’s get clucking!

Oh boy, loyal Theorists, Panera Bread is in hot water again. Last year we warned you about the INSANE caffeine content in their Charged Lemonades. But now the fast-casual bread joint is making the news rounds because they allegedly found a way to skirt paying California minimum wage. This story involves bread, bakeries, and even a conspiracy involving a government official. And by the end of this video you’ll find out exactly how Panera is redefining fast food!

Have you seen the news, loyal Theorist? MrBeast just updated his famous Feastables chocolate bar recipe. So, of course, we had to try it. And let us tell you, it’s delicious. But, just HOW delicious is it? Does it really beat out Hershey’s in a head-to-head taste test? Or has Jimmy been lying to us about that this entire time?

Whopper Whopper Whopper Whopper! We’re going to make a new Whopper! A BIG, beautiful, delicious Whopper. Why? We’re trying to win the Burger King $1 Million Whopper Contest! We know… it’s not _that_ hard to create a fast food burger better than the Whopper. Heck, McDonald’s has been doing it for 50+ years. But, we put everything we had into this: pickles, tomatoes, mayo, and all. Come with us as we embark on a journey to make the King proud!

Picture this, loyal Theorist: you’re sitting down on the couch ready to enjoy a showing of your favorite movie. You’re missing only one thing: a bag of popcorn. You go to the kitchen, grab a bag, and throw it in the microwave. But what next? Do you tap the “popcorn” button? Do you tap +30 seconds five times? Either way, you know you’re going to end up with a bunch of kernels to accidentally chomp into halfway through the movie. It’s a shame that NOBODY knows how a microwave really works. So today, we’re going to show you EXACTLY how to use that beautiful machine in your kitchen.

You say tomato, I say tomato... guess that only works if you say it out loud. But, here's a question: is a tomato REALLY a fruit? Or is it a vegetable? And what about the other classic "vegetables" like carrots, potatoes, and beans... have they been masquerading as veggies your entire life? We're here to tell you that, yes, vegetables are a LIE!

Blue milk... you know it from Star Wars: A New Hope. But did you know you can get it in real life? And not just at Disneyworld's Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. TrueMoo is actually selling a blue brew to celebrate May the Fourth! But should you really drink blue milk? Could it possibly be more dangerous than Darth Vader? The answer, young padawan, may surprise you...

Theorist, who do you think is the WORST food mascot? We know that the Burger King likes to break the law, Finn the Goldfish is kind of shady, and Count Chocula has a shameful past.... but are there cereal, fast food, and other mascots who are worse? Today we analyze their crimes and see who should be locked up for their crimes!

Have you ever wanted a 7-11 in your own bedroom? Just think, you could eat hot dogs and drink Slurpees galore! Creators like Ben Azelart, Brent Rivera, Jordan Matter, and the Stokes Twins have all created their own versions of a secret 7-11 in their rooms. But is this actually possible? And could it really be... ILLEGAL?!

Clear food has been taking TikTok, YouTube, and other social sites by storm this year. Creators are making clear sandwiches, clear bacon, clear hot dogs, and even clear ketchup. It's.... well, questionable to say the least. So today we are venturing into a new theory land and creating an "invisible burger." Get ready for one TASTY meal!

We like to party. And there ain't no party like a... CEREAL party?! Okay, loyal Theorist, have you ever wondered if you're really getting the best bang for your buck by buying party size Lucky Charms...? Doritos..? how about Oreos? Today we're here to find out if all of these snack food companies have been running a Party Size SCAM on us for years.

Is the Prime Hydration you're drinking illegal? Could it kill you? A class action lawsuit alleges that the purple, grape-flavored, Prime contains forever chemicals that could seep into your body and harm you. But is this true or is Logan Paul in the right?

You've been cutting your sandwiches WRONG for years. Forget the diagonal vs horizontal cut. No, try The Duff Cut, a sandwich slice that is supposed to give you the PERFECT bite every time. We know... it's rather controversial, and people on X, Instagram, and the rest of the Internet have been up in arms about it. Move aside Subway and Jimmy John's, you've got nothing on this sandwich. Trust us, this is BIG.

What on earth is fruit punch? Everyone has had at least one fruit punch Gatorade, Kool-Aid, or Hawaiian Punch and has said it tastes... red?! It appears like we have another blue raspberry situation on our hands, loyal Theorist. So let's get to the bottom of exactly WHAT the heck is fruit punch's flavor!

Dr Pepper has just become the number two best selling soda in the country! After years of climbing the ladder, they're now at the top with behemoths Coca-Cola and Pepsi. No, they didn't pass up Coke and probably won't for awhile (if ever), but they did pass up Pepsi. So, what's the deal? Is Pepsi actually DEAD? Is this the end? Let's find out...

Welcome to One Bite. EVERYONE knows the rules. Maybe you're familiar with Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports, or maybe you're not. But, we can guarantee you're familiar with pizza. Well, on Dave Portnoy's YouTube channel, he reviews pizzas from around the country in one bite. Sometimes they're good. Sometimes they're bad. And his review, as well as the answers of other food reviewers, could depend on the FUTURE of the business...

Loyal Theorist, have you ever wondered why the suave Bond, James Bond prefers his martinis shaken, not stirred? It's his _classic_ cocktail drink order. Yet, no one has ever questioned why he drinks it this way. Is it about the flavor? The color? The scent? Today we're uncovering the SECRETS to the 007 cocktail. Get ready to shake it up!

Loyal Theorists, did you know that there was a McDonald's Big Mac priced at $18! Yes, $18! And we thought the $5 meal deal was a high price... But why has the franchise, who has always been seen as inexpensive, suddenly raised prices? Is it inflation? Or is there something deeper happening with their McNuggets, fries, and burgers?

Crumbl Cookies... the cookie juggernaut has been taking OVER the nation with its delicious rotating flavors like chocolate chunk, sugar shark, confetti, red velvet, snickerdoodle, and many, many more. But how has Crumbl grown so fast? Is there something more hidden DEEP within their massive cookies? Today, loyal Theorists, we take a bite out of Crumbl Cookies' dark secrets...

Have you ever wondered whether your food ACTUALLY expires? Okay, every food has _some_ expiration date. But, how legit are they? Sometimes food can still look and smell great, but the expiration date is clearly EXPIRED. So, what's the deal with this? Should we be crying over spoiled milk? Today we discover the real meanings behind expiration dates.

Have you ever shoved an entire bag of Warheads in your mouth at the same time and made the most SOUR face of of your life? Imagine that x10. Today Santi and Mythical Chef Josh are competing in the ultimate SOUR CHALLENGE! Can they conquer the gauntlet of sour challenges or will this be their last meal?

What's the deal with plates nowadays, Theorists? They're big, they're small... they change the way you see you food. In fact, there's an optical illusion that restaurants have been using for YEARS to trick your brain and make BILLIONS of dollars. What is it? Watch to find out.

Theorists, you've probably heard the expression "it's so hot you can cook an egg on the sidewalk!" But today we're here in sunny California to find out... can we actually do it? And not just eggs, but what about a whole breakfast with bacon and toast? Let's hit the sidewalk and find out!

Was your mom WRONG about chicken noodle soup? If you're anything like Santi, your mom served you a piping hot bowl of chicken noodle soup with a soda on the side ANY time you were sick. We all _thought_ it helped cure our common colds and sicknesses. But... did it really? Today we put the food myth to rest once and for all!

What if the Wisconsin Cheesehead was made of REAL cheese? You know, the big yellow hat that Green Bay Packers fans wear to tailgates. The most recognizable hat in all of the NFL? Yeah, that would be A LOT of cheese. But, how much would it weight? How many calories would it be? And what would eating it do to you body? Let's find out...

This burger from Dyer's Burgers in Memphis, TN is older than your grandfather. Well... unless your grandfather is over 100 years old. And part of what makes it SO old is the grease that it's cooked in. The grease hasn't been changed in 100 years. Gross, right?

Last week popular YouTube mukbang personality Nikocado Avocado revealed his grand plot of always being two steps ahead... He took off a big panda mask to show his incredible weight loss over the past two years. Over 250 lbs! But, how did he do it? Was it pure grit and hard work? Did he get liposuction or use Ozempic? Today we unshroud this mystery!

Remember the days of the five dollar footlong, Loyal Theorists? Oh, those were the good 'ol days. Now we're paying $5 for a dang 6" sub. Why on earth did Subway get SO expensive?

Welcome to the first video of the Food Theory on the Road series. Santi is traveling across the country from California to Florida on a trip to a new home. Along the route, he'll be learning new skills, meeting new folks, and eating tons of new food. Buckle your seatbelts, loyal Theorists, and get ready for a fun ride!

Welcome to Food Theory on the Road. This week Santi is trying the McDonald's in Texas that is run by robots. Does the fast food restaurant chain really have a robot that can produce Big Macs and nuggies faster than employees? Or is it all a big scam? Let's hit the road and find out!

What is the BEST gas station in the USA, loyal Theorist? Will the Texas-favorite Buc-ee's be crowned the winner? Will one of the the Pennsylvania rivals Sheetz or Wawa pop out on top. Never discount the tried-and-true Love's or 7-11 either. Today we're pitting them all against each other to find the #1 gas station in the country!

We're nearing the end of the road trip, loyal Theorists. But we couldn't go through the exit without hitting the best BBQ spots in America. Which is the best: Texas, Memphis, Kansas City, or Carolina? Today we find out and take a trip through the history of America according to BBQ.

If you're caught in a natural disaster or prepping for a big storm, figuring out what to buy and what to cook can be a challenge. Especially after everyone and their mother bought every carton of milk and eggs and loaf of bread. But are those even the best foods to buy? Turns out, there's one superior food that can actually save your life during the next storm.

Theorists, Lunchables has been trending UP recently, and there's a likely reason for that with a new product on the market. So today we wanted to look at whether Lunchables are ACTUALLY a healthy kids lunch. And is there a hidden danger to them you may not know about?

The grass is green. The sky is blue. And McDonald's ice cream machines are ALWAYS broken. It's a tale as old as time. But now McDonald's has a right to repair its broken McFlurry machines. Is this real life?!

Over 90% of the population doesn't do this one simple thing in the kitchen. And if that's you, you're missing out. All you have to do is break out your pots and pans, meet Santi in the kitchen, and get prepped to have your food world rocked!

Black, with sugar, without sugar, french press, AeroPress... what is the BEST way to brew a cup of coffee? Do you roast the beans? Grind the beans? Just go to Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks? There are SO many variables that go into a perfect brew. Whether you want it as part of your morning routine or after a nice dinner, we're testing every scientific way you can brew the best cup of joe right at home.

What on earth is happening with Nutter Butter? For the last few years, the Nabisco brand has been dropping WEIRD lore on its TikTok account. But, what is really happening to Nutter Butter? Who is Aidan? What's the deal with peanut butter water? What does the Nutter Butter man want? And how does this all end? Theorists, this is MUCH darker than you think...

Theorists, we've covered McDonald's. We've covered Subway. But what about Five Guys? Why are their burgers SO expensive? Does it all boil down to inflation or corporate greed? Or is there another BIG reason this is happening? Put the fries in the bag and let's investigate.

When is the last time you went to Chili's or Applebee's? Is it recent? Do you have a friend or family member who loves getting the Baby Back Ribs or Triple Dipper? Honestly, there's a big reason why EVERYONE is going back to restaurants like Chili's and Applebee's. And it's not what you'd expect.