Mountain Dew

Mountain Dew, although primarily consumed as a beverage, can also be used as a unique ingredient in cooking and baking due to its sweet, citrusy flavor and vibrant color. The most common questions around cooking with Mountain Dew tend to revolve around what type of dishes it can be incorporated into and what flavor profile it will yield. Oftentimes, people misunderstand Mountain Dew as a supplementary ingredient alongside other stronger flavors, which can result in overpowering its distinctive taste. To fully capitalize on Mountain Dew's potential in cooking and baking, it's important to pair it with ingredients that complement, rather than overshadow, its flavor. For example, it works really well when used in dessert recipes, particularly in cakes or homemade ice-cream due to its sweet taste. However, remember that Mountain Dew is carbonated; therefore, it can affect the texture of your dishes, often making them lighter and slightly fluffier. One underutilized hack is using Mountain Dew as a marinade for poultry. Not only does it provide a sweet, citrusy flavor, but the acidity of the soda can help to soften the meat, making it more tender.