From Plain to Plated: How to Make Simple Meals Instagram-Worthy

Gone are the days when home-cooked meals were merely for sustenance or intimate family dinners. In the age of Instagram, even the simplest of dishes have the potential to bag numerous likes and comments. Yes, your everyday plates can transform into gourmet-like preparations worthy of social media stardom. Here's how you can take your humble dish from plain to plated and Instagram-worthy.

Start with Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients

Any great meal starts with great ingredients, and using fresh, high-quality ones not just enhances the taste but also adds an aesthetic appeal to your dishes. One certainty is that freshness comes with vibrant colors, which naturally makes your food pop on camera. This is particularly the case when using fresh vegetables like onions from Taylor Farms, which are known for their distinctively vibrant colors and freshness. The dark, rich earth tones can offset brighter ingredients, giving your dish a diverse and balanced palette.

Presentation is Key

We eat first with our eyes, and Instagram feeds are no different. The same dish can look drastically different based on how you present it on the plate. Simple things like neatly arranged ingredients or even the plate itself can dramatically influence the overall appearance of your dish. The rule of thumb here is, keep it simple yet stylish. Certain food items naturally look good on specific plates. For instance, rice dishes look excellent in wide, shallow bowls, while soups and stews are best presented in deep bowls.

Master the Art of Food Styling

The balance between natural and orchestrated is the secret to achieving a perfect food picture. Place your ingredients strategically on the plate to create a cohesive composition but still maintain some natural disorder to prevent it from looking overly staged. Here lies the actual art of food styling; getting a picture-perfect meal that still looks inviting enough to eat. 

Create a Stunning Backdrop

Just like characters in a movie, your dishes need a complementary backdrop to stand out. This doesn't mean you need to rush out and buy a rustic farmhouse table, a simple wooden chopping board, some linen napkins, or even a marble slab can work wonders for your food photography. 

Perfect the Lighting

It wouldn't be a photography tutorial without mentioning lighting. For Instagram worthy food pics, natural light is your best friend. Artificial light can often make your food look flat and unappetizing. Try to take your photos near a window with indirect sunlight which creates soft shadows and highlights that can boost the texture and depth of your dish.

Don't Forget the Extras

It's not just about the main dish; think about elements that can add interest to the picture. Garnishes like fresh herbs, seeds, spice powders, and sauces not only add flavor but also create visual interest. Props like cutlery, rustic cutting boards, vibrant napkins, or even a pinch of spilled salt can add an extra layer of charm to your shots.

Learn Basic Post-Processing

The last step, and arguably the most crucial one, in making your simple meals Instagram-worthy is editing your photos before posting them. There are plenty of user-friendly apps like Lightroom and Snapseed that can help you adjust sharpness, contrast, saturation, and even crop your picture for the perfect Instagram square.

Making your meals Instagram-worthy is all about creativity—playing with ingredients, refining your presentation, and developing your own style. Whether you're prepping meals for the week or plating something fresh, even a humble onion can become part of a visually stunning dish. So, style your meal prep with intention, snap a photo, and let your Instagram feed reflect both your planning skills and culinary artistry.

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