Some Guy Pointed Out How Weird These Cookbook Covers Are And Now People On Twitter Can’t Stop Talking About It

As if mansplaining wasn’t already a common enough occurrence for women, one line of cookbooks is trying to normalize mansplaining in the kitchen. Instant Pot For Two cookbooks feature crockpot recipes written and compiled by a number of different authors. But while the recipes may vary from book to book, one thing always stays the same. The person to point out that similarity was Mike Rugnetta, who posted about it on Twitter.

these poor women pic.twitter.com/MeVjZvpyb1

— Mike, who makes popular podcasts and web shows (@mikerugnetta) January 22, 2018

All of these cookbooks have pretty much the same cover image, in which a man is standing behind a woman, either providing unnecessary support in the form of his looming presence or literally helping her chop vegetables as if she were five years old.

Covers like these are problematic enough as it it, but what was just as disturbing was the fact that there are so many of these books.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY OF THESE pic.twitter.com/gegJICoCvT

— Mike, who makes popular podcasts and web shows (@mikerugnetta) January 22, 2018

First, no one needs this many crockpot recipes. If you're using a crockpot in the first place, chances are you’re too lazy to cook, and if you’re that lazy, we doubt you’re looking to get creative.

That aside, we raise the more important question: what the actual fuck?

People noticed the uncomfortable facial expressions and body language of the women and had a lot to say about it.

What in the ever living hell do you think she didn’t know about this pepper pic.twitter.com/6IpRMkZD26

— Kristin Russo (@kristinnoeline) January 22, 2018

also how in the hell is THIS helpful in ANY way? pic.twitter.com/EasVbqWsZy

— Mike, who makes popular podcasts and web shows (@mikerugnetta) January 22, 2018

At what point will we be using the pot in the preparation of what looks like cucumber sandwiches? pic.twitter.com/w6iV8FUtTy

— ur m8 raddles (@angharadyeo) January 22, 2018

I'm more wondering the odds and possible statistics of a left handed couple. Or maybe he's just left handed and that's why she looks a little worried.

— Katy Jean (@katynotie) January 22, 2018

Wouldn't it be most convenient if you had opposite dominant hands

Then you could hold hands while doing whatever

— Arthur Chu (@arthur_affect) January 23, 2018

I like the third one. I choose to interpret it as the guy having a paralyzing fear of vegetables and his friend is trying to show him it’s ok, they’re just food....and then a third friend took a picture and uploaded it to twitter for the lulz.

— Beartholemew von Bearhusen (@crunchyb34r) January 22, 2018

Despite how ridiculous these covers are, some people noted that instant pot dinners for two are still better than Microwave Dinners for One, which are real cookbooks with real sad covers like these.

At least they have the certainty of companionship, unlike the audience for this cookbook pic.twitter.com/Qs0cdOygRj

— Giordano Bruno Contestabile (@giordanobc) January 22, 2018

Behold, the saddest of cookbooks pic.twitter.com/wIdOYx0Lgg

— Chris Luebcke (@cluebcke) January 23, 2018

But there’s no distracting from the real FML of this story: these poor women in the cover photos.

Mansplaining with food

— Laura Cappiello (@instaperil) January 22, 2018

Mansplaining with food

— Laura Cappiello (@instaperil) January 22, 2018

Oh that’s why some of my recipes don’t come out exactly right, I don’t cook with a man standing over me

— Felicia (@Felicious1908) January 22, 2018

I love how they’ve almost progressed to the idea of men taking part in cooking, but at the same time, really not.

— Ay Em Why (@SushiRo11Phan) January 22, 2018

dyk that if a strong man does not stabilize a woman while she cooks, the recoil of a knife will lift her off the ground #safetyfirst

— Hannah Weinberger for Prom King (@Weinbergrrrrr) January 23, 2018

Are these, like, "how to cook with the dude who took you hostage" books? Because that's what it looks like.

— fdhbstephanie (@fdhbstephanie) January 23, 2018

@fdhbstephanie may be exaggerating, but are we sure these women aren’t being held hostage? Someone should really check up on these women to see how they’re doing, how the cooking’s going, and if they, perchance, happen to have dried blood under their nails from scratching at the walls of the basement they’re locked in. 

From what Twitter had to say, we guess no one would be surprised if that were the case.