Food · Advice & Questions · Oct 17

I gave a cake recipe one star after making several substitutions. Should I change the review?

Food

My sister read my review and asked, "Did you actually make that cake?" I'd made something in the same tin, but I'd replaced the butter, left out the lemon zest and reduced the sugar. The result was a plain, disappointing slice.

At the time I wrote, "Bland and not worth the ingredients." I didn't mention the substitutions. I was frustrated because I'd wanted a birthday cake and ended up buying one on the way to dinner.

Now I can see that the review describes my attempt without giving someone enough information to understand it. I still don't know whether I'd like the original recipe, and I don't want to invent a glowing correction just to compensate for the harsh one. The page allows me to edit or remove my review. Should I explain the changes and keep the rating, take the review down, or make the original recipe before rating it again?

Discussion

1 community replies

@softfocus

Change the text now so it doesn't imply you followed the original. You know which ingredients you changed even though you don't know which change mattered. A simple correction can say your result was disappointing but that it came from a modified version. You don't need to promise a second bake to correct information you already know was missing.

I gave a cake recipe one star after making several substitutions. Should I change the review?

Discussion

Join the discussion

More in Food

I enjoy the café stop more than the coffee. How do I explain that when my partner wants us to make every cup at home?

Friends are sending meals after a bereavement, but the family doesn't want another casserole. Should we stop the rota?

My friend wants to show us the 'proper' version of her favourite cuisine. How do I say I prefer my usual restaurant?

My neighbour's birthday cake was generous and enormous. How do I ask for a smaller food gift next time?