Reading Cooking Instructions From the Trash
Submission 542
Part of a series on TikTok. [View Related Entries]
Reading Cooking Instructions From the Trash
Part of a series on TikTok. [View Related Entries]
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| About • Origin • Spread • Various Examples • Search Interest • External References • Recent Images • Recent Videos |
About
Reading Cooking Instructions From the Trash refers to memes about having to look in the trash can to read the cooking instructions on a piece of food packaging that you recently threw out, instead of removing the instructions from the trash can. The trend was started by TikToker @epitomeofclassy in September 2023 and was turned into a thirst trap trend by TikToker @heyitsemiliagomez in February 2025, in which the camera is angled to show up the person's shirt or to highlight their posterior as they close the trash drawer. The trend went viral that year, spreading to sites like Instagram Reels and X / Twitter.
Origin
On September 13th, 2023, TikToker[1] @epitomeofclassy posted a comedy video captioned, "POV: Reading cooking directions from the trash after tossing the packaging," in which, filmed from the perspective of a trash can, she keeps on going back and forth from cooking to the trash can to read the next direction. The video gained over 11 million views in two years.
@epitomeofclassy We’ve all been there! 😂 Reading cooking directions from the trash because ain’t no way I’m touching that 😮💨 #relatable #cooking #comedy #adulting #funny #miriamj ♬ original sound – Miriam J
Spread
On February 3rd, 2025, TikToker[2] @heyitsemiliagomez posted a video following the same format as @epitomeofclassy's 2023 video with a similar caption. This time, however, she closes the trash can drawer with her posterior, which is displayed prominently on the screen. The video gained over 1.8 million views in 10 months.
@heyitsemiliagomez brainrott ahh brain #relatable #blowthisupforme ♬ original sound – heyitsemiliagomez
The trend continued to spread, largely as a thirst trap trend, over the course of the year. On May 14th, TikToker[3] @mynameiscutii posted a video following the trend that gained over 320,000 views in seven months.
@mynameiscutii no way I’m the only one who does that…
On October 30th, 2025, Instagram[4] user lifewithlorenashlee posted a version of the trend that more closely follower the original, without the thirst trap element, garnering over 110,000 views and 5,000 likes in just over a month.
On November 25th, X[5] user @hashjenni posted a photo of someone leaning over and looking into a trash can, writing, "Reading cooking instructions off the bag I just threw out," garnering over 22,000 likes in about a week.
On December 2nd, 2025, X[6] user @Mcz0309 reposted a version of the trend by TikToker @mynameiscutii in which she shows an angle up her shirt in the video, gaining over 10,000 likes and 940,000 views in a day.
Various Examples
@shi_and_toni UGH especially when you tear the package right through the directions 😭😫
@heyitsemiliagomez brainrot ahhh brain #relatable #blowthisupforme ♬ original sound – heyitsemiliagomez
@nursebexlove Who reads it? #tiktokshoprestock #christmasobby #wintercabin #us804 ♬ original sound – heyitsemiliagomez
@your.cheergirlll My peanut brain cannot remember that…#cooking #healthy #chef #meal #dinner #lunch #single #dating #explore #viral #funny ♬ original sound – heyitsemiliagomez
Search Interest
Unavailable.
External References
[1] TikTok – epitomeofclassy
[2] TikTok – heyitsemiliagomez
[3] TikTok – mynameiscutii
[4] Instagram – lifewithlorenashlee
Related Entries 1337 total
Recent Videos 1 total
Recent Images 1 total
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