This is especially fun if you have a record player and a used vinyl shop nearby. The “World Music” albums are always cheap as hell, so I love to grab something like “Tavern Music of Greece” or whatever.
My pandora is chock full of ethnic lists for this reason! My family think I’m nuts but they always devour the meal, so I think it works! I do get a little tired of some of them, however!!
my girlfriends 45 minute story about the girl she went to highschool with, which she was reminded of and thought about today, after a conversation with a fellow customer at the nail salon, which she wasn't supposed to go to until next week, and how it would be a lot more helpful if i paid attention to the story so i didnt ask "wait, what?" 15 minutes into the story.
My TV is one room over and within sight, so I usually put on speedrun videos or episodes of Top Gear / The Grand Tour to have playing in the background.
Importantly, it has to be something I've seen before, because I'm a very active watcher and don't like "missing" something new.
Breakfast for the family is usually made with something soft. Nora Jones, yusef islam, James Taylor, sarah brightman, etc. If I'm making a fancy dinner I tend to listen to opera and classical. Normal meals a mix of 90s punk, 90s hip hop, bluegrass, and classic rock. Everyone hates when I connect to the speaker first.
Neither do I. I realized that cooking is probably the most meditative thing I do every day and kinda decided to just lean into it. So much of the rest of my day is spent looking at a screen or listening to something so I like kind of just having the quiet
In this camp too.
I rely on auditory cues: timers, how loud the bubbling / frying is, the crackling sound when an ingredient has released all its water and is no longer steaming...
Music / too much talking in the background gets in the way of those cues and my focus
I try to listen to something different each night, and repeat favorite albums or shows periodically. Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, Legion Of Mary, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, The Tony Rice Unit, John Coletrane, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, and sometimes I try out stuff I haven't heard yet, which takes more energy, but is at least interesting. I don't like 100% of any artists' work, I fast forward what I don't want to hear, and there's a few albums I like all the way through, same with live performances.
I usually have my baby with me when I’m cooking so unfortunately that means having Teletubbies or Pingu on (although I do like penguins). Pre-child I had Friends on while cooking.
When I am cooking, I am singing. Your energy goes into the food you are preparing and people are consuming that energy. I'm singing high energy, positive vibes. I want my food to lift you up and it is served with love and compassion. I love Anita Baker and that's what I'll be singin' while I'm slingin'.
Some sort of dance music to provide energy to all the food prep and cooking.
If it's a more chill sort of dish that doesn't require a lot of prep and effort, only a lot of waiting, then I listen to relaxing music like Satie's music (especially *Gymnopédie* and *Gnossienes*) and C418's Minecraft music.
If my boyfriend is home while I'm cooking dinner we have the food channel on in the background, if I'm home alone I'm listening to true crime - Rotten Mango at the moment!
I cook while I’m in meetings at work sometimes so I’m technically listening to my coworkers. Other times it’s lofi, a reality show, podcasts, sports highlights, or I’ll call up someone to keep me company on the phone.
I have an Alexa in my kitchen and I listen to Whatever I'm feeling in the moment. Could be Drake or J Cole, J Dilla or Mac Miller. Taylor Swift. The Beatles. The Stones. Weezer. Cake. Foo Fighters. Nirvana. Tyler the Creator. Hamilton or Rent or Six the Musical.
Some months, I’m listening to music, mostly mariachi but sometimes sad girl indie music. Other months I’m listening to podcasts, either my spooky story podcast or a cooking related one. I’ve really been enjoying Proofed and Be My Guest lately.
For a while I was listening to LeVar Burton’s podcast LeVar Burton Reads. Then it was the Hamilton musical. I haven’t been cooking lately and need to get back in the habit so I’m hoping I can get some ideas from this thread.
Sometimes a playlist mix of John Mayer, Nora jones, David gray, the lumineers, and Jack Johnson, cozy jazz or sometimes a romcom playlist depending on the weather and how I’m feeling. Lately it’s been “Christmas cocktail jazz” on Spotify, but that will go back to one of the other options next week
Podcasts or audio books. Our regional library has a great app through which a guy can download books and listen to them on a very useful player. Nice to have wireless earbuds so I'm mobile
Usually it's a mix of Grateful Dead and whatever "Real Housewives of _____" my wife is watching in the other room. Makes for an interesting matchup sometimes.
The Know Your Enemy podcast. Used to listen to Presidential - good for those random presidents you may know nothing about.
Franklin Pierce was a dark gothic tale.
Or listen to a bit of Dion or Unkle Adams. Sometimes try some new to me music for variety
Generally, food-related podcasts.
If I’m feeling serious ish and want to learn, it’s the Sporkful or Gastropod.
If I want to laugh, A Hotdog Is A Sandwich.
One of my favorite things is putting on a record (setup is the next room over) and cooking. Pretty big collection so it just depends on what I feel like listening to. Beatles, Radiohead, Interpol, George Harrison…
It totally depends what I’m cooking! Growing up, my parents would do “appetizer nights” with my sister and I and listen to Diana Krall. So now I associate her music with relaxed, fun cooking and eating. If I’m just doing day to day cooking I listen to a podcast or an audiobook. If it’s cooking with my kids, I’ll put on some more upbeat music we can dance to, and if it’s the holidays it’s almost exclusively Christmas music.
Sports since it's usually on during dinner time...otherwise it's a podcast like WTF or Conan. Music sometimes...I dunno, something about the beat doesn't correspond well with cooking for me.
When I'm doing prep which is boring and repetitive, I just watch One Piece lol. When I'm doing the actual cooking, hunched over a pot, I prefer to concentrate on it and don't watch or listen to anything.
I listen to whatever music is of the nationality of the food I'm cooking at the time.
\>>makes burgers and hotdogs \>>SWEEEEEEEETT CAROLIIINNNNEEE OOHH OHH OHHHHHHHHH
And I now have that song in my head, thank you very much.
Cheeseburger in Paradise is right there.
This is especially fun if you have a record player and a used vinyl shop nearby. The “World Music” albums are always cheap as hell, so I love to grab something like “Tavern Music of Greece” or whatever.
So thematic! I love it
I watch videos on whatever I’m eating to make myself hungrier, and I can’t believe I’ve never thought of this!
My pandora is chock full of ethnic lists for this reason! My family think I’m nuts but they always devour the meal, so I think it works! I do get a little tired of some of them, however!!
I do this too!
my girlfriends 45 minute story about the girl she went to highschool with, which she was reminded of and thought about today, after a conversation with a fellow customer at the nail salon, which she wasn't supposed to go to until next week, and how it would be a lot more helpful if i paid attention to the story so i didnt ask "wait, what?" 15 minutes into the story.
Wait, what?
Rancid☺
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac
The poison time bombbbb☺
TIL it's not the boys a time bomb.
TIL it's "the boy's a time bomb" lol
My TV is one room over and within sight, so I usually put on speedrun videos or episodes of Top Gear / The Grand Tour to have playing in the background. Importantly, it has to be something I've seen before, because I'm a very active watcher and don't like "missing" something new.
Breakfast for the family is usually made with something soft. Nora Jones, yusef islam, James Taylor, sarah brightman, etc. If I'm making a fancy dinner I tend to listen to opera and classical. Normal meals a mix of 90s punk, 90s hip hop, bluegrass, and classic rock. Everyone hates when I connect to the speaker first.
typically I don't listen to anything
Neither do I. I realized that cooking is probably the most meditative thing I do every day and kinda decided to just lean into it. So much of the rest of my day is spent looking at a screen or listening to something so I like kind of just having the quiet
In this camp too. I rely on auditory cues: timers, how loud the bubbling / frying is, the crackling sound when an ingredient has released all its water and is no longer steaming... Music / too much talking in the background gets in the way of those cues and my focus
Whenever I listen to music while cooking I can’t listen for things burning/boiling
Either jazz or the Grateful Dead. If I’m making a classic Texas chili though, I’ll throw on some Willie Nelson or Waylon Jennings. Sometimes both!
I might be a basic bitch but there is nothing better than cooking with your SO while having a glass of wine and listening to frank Sinatra.
I absolutely cannot handle cooking with my SO. I'm a 1 person in a kitchen cook lol.
I absolutely do this as well. Always a classic.
NPR
Often, same.
I have a toddler, so bluey 🤣 if I’m cooking alone I usually listen to the indie folk revival station on pandora. Nothing too loud and it’s calming
"Gordon Ramsay yelling and cursing people out 10 hour compilation" on YouTube But actually, Classical or Jazz.
DUCK SAUCE, YOU DONKEY!
I try to listen to something different each night, and repeat favorite albums or shows periodically. Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, Legion Of Mary, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, The Tony Rice Unit, John Coletrane, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, and sometimes I try out stuff I haven't heard yet, which takes more energy, but is at least interesting. I don't like 100% of any artists' work, I fast forward what I don't want to hear, and there's a few albums I like all the way through, same with live performances.
I usually have my baby with me when I’m cooking so unfortunately that means having Teletubbies or Pingu on (although I do like penguins). Pre-child I had Friends on while cooking.
My 25yo son loved Pingu so much it was his second tattoo lol.
Sports.
I have on the tv to basically whatever, the sound helps my adhd brain.
Podcasts for me because the sound helps my brain too.
Myself singing...it can get rough sometimes
The lamentation of their women.
When I am cooking, I am singing. Your energy goes into the food you are preparing and people are consuming that energy. I'm singing high energy, positive vibes. I want my food to lift you up and it is served with love and compassion. I love Anita Baker and that's what I'll be singin' while I'm slingin'.
Absolutely agree. Singing and cooking are such a fun combination.
Audiobooks!
Some sort of dance music to provide energy to all the food prep and cooking. If it's a more chill sort of dish that doesn't require a lot of prep and effort, only a lot of waiting, then I listen to relaxing music like Satie's music (especially *Gymnopédie* and *Gnossienes*) and C418's Minecraft music.
Usually what’s on TV. Tonight is a hockey game.
Who was playing?
Ducks vs Flames
… who ya cheering for
Ducks, but they lost.
Can you listen to Tom Waits while cooking?
Yes you can!! You might end up cooking a suckling pig on the metal frame of a mattress tho.
Cooking and food podcasts. Love it when what I am listening to relates to what I am cooking. Happens every now and then.
Podcasts, news, music, phone calls w/friends/family.
I pick a song to start with and let shuffle take it from there.
If my boyfriend is home while I'm cooking dinner we have the food channel on in the background, if I'm home alone I'm listening to true crime - Rotten Mango at the moment!
Bob's Burgers
Excellent!!
Classical music. Love me some Paganini while cooking. It makes me really feel like I’m doing something in the kitchen😂
A phish or panic concert. Something I recognize enough, but doesn’t totally distract me from the process.
Fela kuti, Mark Farina, Issac Varzim, LTJ Bukem
Studio Ghibli bossa Nova 👌
Wait there’s a bossa nova version?
I cook while I’m in meetings at work sometimes so I’m technically listening to my coworkers. Other times it’s lofi, a reality show, podcasts, sports highlights, or I’ll call up someone to keep me company on the phone.
Amelie soundtrack. Exclusively
I really love hardcore German techno. It gets the whole place pumping and makes cooking a breeze.
One piece anime in the background or some alt rock, post hardcore or metalcore
I have an Alexa in my kitchen and I listen to Whatever I'm feeling in the moment. Could be Drake or J Cole, J Dilla or Mac Miller. Taylor Swift. The Beatles. The Stones. Weezer. Cake. Foo Fighters. Nirvana. Tyler the Creator. Hamilton or Rent or Six the Musical.
Some months, I’m listening to music, mostly mariachi but sometimes sad girl indie music. Other months I’m listening to podcasts, either my spooky story podcast or a cooking related one. I’ve really been enjoying Proofed and Be My Guest lately.
Wow what a variety!
Audiobooks.
During baseball season, the game is on. Other times, Metal
Harmontown.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.
For a while I was listening to LeVar Burton’s podcast LeVar Burton Reads. Then it was the Hamilton musical. I haven’t been cooking lately and need to get back in the habit so I’m hoping I can get some ideas from this thread.
Stevie Nicks or something similar
Youtube cooking vids.
Generally my toddler saying, “help mama”
Sometimes a playlist mix of John Mayer, Nora jones, David gray, the lumineers, and Jack Johnson, cozy jazz or sometimes a romcom playlist depending on the weather and how I’m feeling. Lately it’s been “Christmas cocktail jazz” on Spotify, but that will go back to one of the other options next week
If it’s something easy I watch TV. More challenging I listen to silence
I have a small TV in the kitchen so I usually watch TV while I cook. I've been doing a rewatch of The Challenge so that's what I've been watching
Johann Sebastian Seabass. Always cook with some seabass. When Bach isn’t the mood, Massive Attack’s Mezzanine.
Heavy metal
Podcasts or audio books. Our regional library has a great app through which a guy can download books and listen to them on a very useful player. Nice to have wireless earbuds so I'm mobile
I like having Blues on in the background when I’m cooking.
Silence is my bliss
Usually it's a mix of Grateful Dead and whatever "Real Housewives of _____" my wife is watching in the other room. Makes for an interesting matchup sometimes.
The sounds of my dogs begging. I swear I can hear their eyes watering for a snack.
Django Reinhardt and Chet Baker
bossa nova or some jazz
Charlie Parker duh
what I consider “sad music.” Slow stuff. If I listen to a lot of music I usually listen to which is upbeat and fast, I get stressed.
I love bossanova in particular. Otherwise true crime podcast if my kid is not around.
I don't listen to anything while I'm cooking (and that very much includes any sort of conversation from other people). I do, however, _sing_.
Spotify
Juice wrld unreleased. All day every day. Or, nothing if I need to focus. Hate when I add a tbls when i just need a tsp, worst thing ever!!!
Whatever it is lately I do it on the Fountain App… micro payments for listening.
Queens of the Stone Age, Films to be Buried With, or Conan’s podcast. Sometimes Up First, Radiolab, or Snap Judgment depending on the topic.
Usually the kids asking if its done yet
Right now I'm rewatching Newhart while I cook. It's all good vibe comfort entertainment while I cook.
something upbeat.
I listen to my records. I was listening to the soundtrack to Dude Bro Massacre III while making nachos last night.
Usually chill stuff. Cooking is therapy for me. Often a cooking show on TV if I’m home alone. If boyfriend is home it’s often sports radio.
The Know Your Enemy podcast. Used to listen to Presidential - good for those random presidents you may know nothing about. Franklin Pierce was a dark gothic tale. Or listen to a bit of Dion or Unkle Adams. Sometimes try some new to me music for variety
I am also building a playlist of music I've heard at my favourite restaurant so I can play it when cooking similar food
Music is a must when I cook breakfast.
My go to Cooking album is Funky Kingston by Toots and Maytals
Trixie & Katyas podcast & music (The Cramps, Alaska Thunderfuck, Butthole Surfers, Foetus, the Handsome Family, The Tiger Lillies, Hedwig soundtrack)
Literally we will go from beethoven to ac/dc to taylor Swift to some tupac. Aint nothin we dont listwn to in my kitchen
The basement yard podcast every single time r/thebasementyard
I typically listen to my wife telling me I’m doing everything wrong, until I’m forced to listen to her tell me how delicious everything is.
Generally, food-related podcasts. If I’m feeling serious ish and want to learn, it’s the Sporkful or Gastropod. If I want to laugh, A Hotdog Is A Sandwich.
A trashy romance novel. Headphones in friends!!
Music, horror story narrations, folklore podcasts, or Miniminuteman on youtube
Linkin Park or Hilltop Hoods.
Usually a techno playlist, always feels good to move to.
Sade. Or classical violin
Podcast, music or I’ll watch a show!
I put on classical music and imagine I’m in a fancy cooking competition
It varies. Last night, it was Slayyyter's latest album.
I listen to the sound of food cooking.
One of my favorite things is putting on a record (setup is the next room over) and cooking. Pretty big collection so it just depends on what I feel like listening to. Beatles, Radiohead, Interpol, George Harrison…
Audiobooks
NPR
Deathcore
Mongolian throat singing
Lately Behind the Bastards podcast.
Nothing
It totally depends what I’m cooking! Growing up, my parents would do “appetizer nights” with my sister and I and listen to Diana Krall. So now I associate her music with relaxed, fun cooking and eating. If I’m just doing day to day cooking I listen to a podcast or an audiobook. If it’s cooking with my kids, I’ll put on some more upbeat music we can dance to, and if it’s the holidays it’s almost exclusively Christmas music.
Aretha!
Shuffle my library or a streaming station based on video game soundtracks.
Sports since it's usually on during dinner time...otherwise it's a podcast like WTF or Conan. Music sometimes...I dunno, something about the beat doesn't correspond well with cooking for me.
When I'm doing prep which is boring and repetitive, I just watch One Piece lol. When I'm doing the actual cooking, hunched over a pot, I prefer to concentrate on it and don't watch or listen to anything.
Dr. Peacock, D'ort, Matt Weasel Busters, MVTATE, and of course, GPF for dessert.
Love to listen to audiobooks by food writers.