Ingredipedia

Ingredipedia

Want to feast on funny food facts and fables? Or slurp up strange and spicy stories from supermarkets and society? Bite into Australia’s funnest food podcast, Ingredipedia. Each episode, competitive hosts Emily Naismith (Broadsheet, frankie magazine) and Ben Birchall (3RRR FM’s Breakfasters, Smith Journal) try to serve the most interesting stories about a specific ingredient (say, Tim Tams or chillies) in a bid for your affection. You get to vote for who was the most interesting on Instagram! It’s fun! It’s lighthearted! It’s largely unhinged! It’s the McDonald’s Happy Meal of the podcast world (but back when you actually got a Cheeseburger and a toy inside). Join us on social media for more weird and snacky food pursuits Instagram: @ingredipedia TikTok: @ingredipedia Credits Music: Jarrad Brown of Eagle and the Worm Artwork design: Jess Ramsey Photography: Phoebe Powell

Episodes

February 15, 2026 12 mins

Who knew these pale pink sticks were so polarising?! Not us, until we researched them in detail for a whole week. Let's head to the milk bar and deep dive into rosewater's trashy sister.

Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Sure, it's the most mocked leafy green but does it have a secret treat lurking within it? And why are we suddenly gnawing a head of lettuce like an apple? And yes, we do a while experiment on hydration, pondering whether iceberg lettuce can replace our drink bottles. 

If you'd like to see the original 'trash man' salad mentioned in the episode here's the link

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Step into the future with us and find out what the hell lab-grown meat actually is. Is it meat? Can vegetarians eat it? How the hell is it made? We unpack it all and what it means for ethics, animals and menus… plus, we actually eat it! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ah, supermarket Mud Cake. $6 of sugar and regret. But what happens if you should present one to Emily for an office birthday? (Hint: BEWARE). Meanwhile, what does supermarket Mud Cake have to with Easter? And are the big chains even trying any more?

(0:58) The saddest birthday cake

(7:20) Hot Cross Buns


Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.

See omn...

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Happy new year, pals! We're back!

Where did all the apricot snacks go? They were a staple food group of the 1990s and now we go years without thinking about the humble apricot… WHY!? In our first episode back for 2026, Ben proposes a restaurant dedicated to apricot chicken, Em pines over long lost snacks and we eat a fresh apricot… correctly.

Whose apricot facts did you like best? Vote for Em or Ben on our Inst...

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Could a humble green fruit really help you sleep better? And more controversially… does it belong on a margherita?

This week, we investigate the kiwi fruit: its surprising sleep science and its unexpected cameo on pizza. We also explore the fruit’s fuzzy history: where it came from and why it’s called “kiwi” (spoiler: it’s not originally from New Zealand). Also, hot sauce (obviously).

[1.59] Oh ...

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This is a reheated episode from earlier in the year while we take a short break! Back with a freshly baked episode on January 19.

Can matcha give you a jitter-free caffeine boost (unlike coffee)? And we explore whether “ceremonial grade” is a con. And yes, we look into what’s next in the iced strawberry matcha latte world and also think about whether matcha can make ANYTHING better!

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This is a reheated episode from earlier in the year while we take a short break! Back with a freshly baked episode on January 19.

From a fast-food sticky date pudding you’ve probably never heard of, to a “healthy” Snickers dupe, and even a butter-filled date that tastes like cookie dough – we’re uncovering the sweetest (and strangest) sides of this exotically-coded fruit. Plus, Ben’s deep dive in...

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Ho, ho.. oh shit the custard aisle is stacked it must be brandy custard season! Christmas and custard go hand in hand (as in… try and pry the custard carton out of our hands… we dare you)! We’re going all in on limited edition flavours, all the kinds of custard tarts and molten salted egg yolk buns. This episode is best listened to with a litre of the good stuff in hand. 

Extra note:

Thank you fo...

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Seasonal snacks are such a gamble. We take the hit for you and tell you whether they're worth snapping up at the supermarket this Christmas. We've got sweet and savoury covered.

Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It’s last-minute gift season, and we’re entering the most fraught aisle of them all: supermarket chocolate boxes. From Ferrero Rocher to Favourites, Lindt balls to Seashells, we analyse what each box says about you. Which ones pass the test and which ones will be regifted for eternity? Don't even think about buying half-price chocolate boxes before listening to this. 

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This is part one of our three part Christmas Sugar Rush miniseries! Are you team pudding or pav? (It’s ok to be both.) We’re pulling apart two of the most divisive Christmas desserts: pavlova and Christmas pudding. There are childhood scars, strong opinions, and some seriously shocking revelations. 

Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuit...

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Is white chocolate back from the brink of extinction? And what makes the new Cheezels-flavoured CCs different to the standard CCs? And what do these two very different snacks taste like together? These very important snack questions will be answered in this salty-sweet roadtest episode of Australia's most unhinged food podcast, Ingredipedia. 

Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of o...

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Is Violet Crumble the most prolific brand in the supermarket? It just may be. This week we investigate how a once-niche Australian chocolate bar quietly took over every supermarket aisle – from ice-cream toppings to muesli bars to protein powder (wtf). We taste-test the elusive peanut-butter Violet Crumble, question its cultural status, and ask the big question: why is it suddenly everywher...

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Ever wondered why asparagus makes your wee smell weird? Or what women were serving at fancy bridge parties in the 1920s? This episode covers both. We revisit the golden age of tinned asparagus (in two forms) and uncover why this diva of the vegetable world demands your respect.

[00:52] Vintage dinner party recipe
[6:05] The mysteries of asparagus wee
[10:13] Why asparagus is a diva
[13:56] Cream of asparagus soup

Fo...

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Ever wanted to make a Thai style Bunnings sausage? Or pimp your tinned sardines Thai-style? Since winning Masterchef, Nat Thaipun has worked with Jamie Oliver and some of the world’s best restaurants and now she has a (seriously beautiful) cook book Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere. 

In this interview, Emily and Ben find out the stories behind the dishes in her new cookbook (like the “trifle situation”) and lear...

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If you hate frozen veg, you might just need to know the heavy hitters and also how to make the greatest green sauce slash dip slash do-it-all condiment with a bag of frozen <redacted>. We don’t want to give away the secrets without you hearing our elaborate back stories! Where’s the fun in that?!

[1.15] Depressing or delicious?
[7.55] Best thing to make with frozen veg

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Are the new Red Rock Deli x Andy Cooks Chef Series chips worth investing in? How about the new pistachio gelato tub from Connoisseur? We will taste them and let you know. And then, of course… we dip the chips in the ice-cream because we have free will!!! Sweet and salty and unhinged!

[0:40] Connoisseur Pistachio gelato
[2.56] New Red Rock Deli flavour
[7.01] CHIPS DIPPED IN PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

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This episode contains 112% of your recommended daily protein intake. If you’re into obscene retro recipes, there’s a “salad” in here that’ll haunt you for years — but, if you can believe it, there are also some genuinely delicious ones. We get to the bottom of why cottage cheese is suddenly impossible to find (and why it went viral), and discuss the U.S. president who paired it with our favourite...

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Another SNACK ROAD TEST where we put our mouths on the line by taste testing new snacks and then share our deep thoughts and feelings. 

Today we're starting in the popcorn aisle, then getting freaky with gummies. Strap in. Got any snacks you want us to try? Drop us a challenge on Instagram or even email ingredipedia@gmail.com

Thanks pals! 

[0:46] Pickle popcorn

[4:30] Mango gummies

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