Ranking the 12 Scariest Pest Dishes on Good Mythical Morning’s “Will It” Series

In a modern world saturated with online content and clickbait titles that don’t match the actual content of the video, it’s refreshing to watch content that actually delivers on the “wild and entertaining” front. Enter Rhett and Link, two lifelong best friends and the stars of their thirteen-year-old YouTube channel, Good Mythical Morning. For years, they have been posting a video on almost every early weekday morning so that their subscribers have a fun show to watch while they eat breakfast or get ready for the day. While they have covered just about every topic and game under the sun, thanks in large part to their creative and personable Mythical crew members, they still manage to release innovative video ideas that often fulfill an entertainment need that was not previously known.

One such question they pose is “Will it…?” This is arguably the most popular series on their channel, dating back to the first installment “Will It Taco?” back in 2014. The premise is exactly as it sounds; Rhett and Link taste test some incredible creations from their Mythical Kitchen (which has improved with the addition of professional chefs in more recent years) and answer the aforementioned question based on the taste and structure of the dish. For example, “Will It Grilled Cheese?” featured takes on the classic sandwich like funnel cake, Takis, and a meal from Popeye’s. Most of the dishes look incredible and leave viewers wanting the recipe so we can recreate it at home. But the infamous last round of the video is always a take on the dish straight from a nightmare, more for the sake of entertainment than for answering the question. Some of the frequent categories in this round include animal intestines, insects, arachnids, pasteurized blood, and fish parts. But we want to focus on the pest category today, since there are plenty of dishes to talk about. Since it’s easy to just talk about the scary nature and impressive structure of these dishes, we’re going to take it up a notch by ranking the meals from not-so-scary (12) to terrifying (1).

This list is completely subjective and based purely on visuals and behavioral observations, since we are not Rhett and Link and therefore don’t know what these meals actually taste like. Every video is linked in the Citations section at the end. You can always watch these videos and make your own list, but be warned: some of these pest-themed dishes may make a guest appearance in your nightmares! 

12. Grasshopper Burger – “Will It Burger?”

Will It?: No

This dish is saved by the play-on-words that promoted the use of more delicious ingredients than the dreaded grasshopper. Also, the fact that this isn’t even the last round of the video (that honor goes to the gross animal skin burger) says a lot about its ability to be consumed relatively easily. The burger patty consisted of ground beef combined with 50 ground-up grasshoppers and “grasshopper” mint chocolate cookies, and was topped with a chocolate sauce. Both Rhett and Link agreed that the chocolate made it possible to swallow this otherwise inedible fare. Apparently, it tasted like eating the reptile food at a pet store, which does not sound appealing to the average consumer. Link mentioned that it was a prickly patty due to some of the grasshoppers being left whole. But considering the fact that both of them swallowed their bites and chocolate is such a strong flavor, this burger doesn’t come close to being the most disgusting food on this list. 

11. Larvae Asada Taco – “Will It Taco? : Reheated”

Will It?: No

Five years after the “Will It…” video that kicked off a treasured series was posted, Rhett and Link returned to the taco shell to see if any new creations may fare better than the original ones. With the addition of Chef Josh and his seemingly-unlimited amount of culinary creativity, the simple tacos from the original video were replaced with a more transformative dining experience. But the second-to-last round (pasteurized pork blood takes the number one spot) does not seem like the Taco Tuesday experience of our dreams. This taco transformed the tequila worm by boasting a tortilla made with crispy mealworms and filled with fresh hornworms and wax worms marinated in tequila, and topped with a splash of tequila to fit the theme. This taco reportedly smelled more strongly of tequila than of worms, but tasted very “worm-forward” according to Rhett. The hosts relied on the use of sriracha hot sauce straight from the bottle to get these worms down, but ultimately decided it was not an experience they wanted to have again.

10. Ringworm Pop – “Will It Candy?”

Will It?: No

This Halloween-themed video provided plenty of imaginative takes on candy, including meat stick FunDip and squid ink gushers. But the star of the show was definitely the Ringworm Pop, which, thankfully, did not feature an actual ringworm. This was a play on the elementary school favorite, the Ring Pop, but this version was simply boiled earthworms encased in Green Apple Jolly Ranchers on top of a plastic ring. After licking the pop and determining that they just tasted the apple, Rhett and Link bravely took a bite of the earthy treat. This resulted in a strange combination of sweet candy and bitter earthworms, which looked extremely dark on their tongues as they felt led to show the contents of their mouths. They also reported on the rubbery nature of the worms, which makes sense if you’ve ever had the misfortune of touching a worm. While chewing up earthworms sounds like a dare from the meanest kid in the school, the addition of manufactured apple-flavor can be just the edible distraction needed to complete this task. 

9. Cicada Crunch Pop Tart – “Will It Pop Tart?”

Will It?: No

Processed childhood snacks and meals are no stranger to Good Mythical Morning, since some of their most viewed videos relate to the assessment of discontinued foods and ranking of seasonal snacks. Pop tarts got a special feature in this episode, and many of the creations look like they should be sold at convenience stores everywhere (Pepsi Pop Tarts, anyone?). But the last dish, Cicada Crunch Pop Tarts, should probably just be left on this show. Ground cicadas were mixed into the filling and pastry, and the whole nightmare was topped with the exoskeletons of these strange insects. This was definitely not the worst creation Rhett and Link ate on the show, as they agreed that it wasn’t great but not bad either. It reportedly tasted like soap, soil, and excrement, which is not a combination we want at any time. The exoskeletons on top definitely didn’t help matters, looks-wise and taste-wise. This was a timely episode since it premiered during the cicada emergence last year, but both hosts agreed that this Pop Tart should also stay in the ground for 17 years rather than be consumed again anytime soon. 

8. Plague-Themed Bagel – “Will It Bagel?”

Will It?: No

The ranking of this bagel on this list may have more to do with the whole package rather than just the insects, but it is still a horror that should not be recreated in this lifetime. The “Plaguel,” as Rhett humorously called it, consisted of two charcoal bagels with one side topped with a frog mayonnaise salad and the other topped with a pasteurized blood smear and locusts or grasshoppers. The creation was a play on the biblical plagues that featured all kinds of phobia-inducing events, but this modern-day take doesn’t seem much better. It’s difficult to determine which side of the bagel is worse, but of course Rhett and Link ate both for the sake of a proper taste test. They both swallowed their bites, as they’ve had much worse on this show alone, and agreed that the blood was predictably the worst part of the experience. Grasshoppers are actually a delicacy in some parts of the world; but to be fair, they aren’t usually paired with other dreaded foods that make for a stomach-churning meal. 

7. Cockroach Macaroni & Cheese – “Will It Mac and Cheese?”

Will It?: No

Some of the more cherished episodes in this series are due to the popularity of the original dishes, and macaroni and cheese is one such meal. There was not a spot in this pasta dish that didn’t have roach essence in it, which made for a troubling dining experience. The pasta had roach flour in the dough, the sauce was sharp-smoked provolone and roaches, and the whole dish was topped with garlic roach breadcrumbs and two whole cockroaches. The first noticeable trait of the meal was the strange smell, which makes sense considering everything that was listed. It apparently felt grainy in the mouth and was helped along by focusing on the cheese, which gave Rhett and Link the courage to consume it. Rhett even took a second bite after discussing the running joke of the show about how insects will be the only source of protein in the supposedly-upcoming apocalypse. After he bit off the head of the roach with more macaroni and cheese, the reveal of the creamy roach insides is enough to make anyone with a sensitive stomach cringe. 

6. Slug Nuggets – “Will It Nugget”

Will It?: No

Some of the best foods are encased in a crispy fried shell, such as the beloved chicken nugget. But the slug nugget, or slugget, is a far cry from the fast food favorite. This dish is simply made of ground-up slugs molded into the shape of a bigger slug and dipped in eggs and breadcrumbs before frying. The side of salt and moss dipping sauce made for a very down-to-Earth experience, if you know what we mean. It was a mind game, as Link alluded to, to remember that the whole thing wasn’t just one big slug and was actually a lot of ground slugs smushed together, which isn’t much better. Despite the nugget reportedly tasting like dirt and mud, both friends surprisingly said that it was not inedible but not great. Link added that every time he exhaled out of his mouth after eating the slug nugget, it tasted and smelled like potting soil. So, with the dirt taste and slug content of these nuggets, it’s safe to say that we’ll be passing on them for the time being. 

5. Stinkbug Spaghetti and Meatballs – “Will It Spaghetti?”

Will It?: No

The stinkbug is not the first pest that comes to mind when thinking about the backyard, but it certainly makes its presence known every year when the weather starts warming up. The gland on their abdomen is the culprit behind their off-putting smell that still emits odor even if they are squished, which is why this pasta dish smelled awful to both hosts. The facts that they kept truing to push as positives while they attempted to consume this scary spaghetti dish are that stinkbugs apparently have antioxidants, essential amino acids, protein, and cholesterol-lowering substances. The dish contained stinkbugs that were boiled in a “stink stock” and paired with a stinkbug-and-tomato sauce. It’s an impressive feat that both Rhett and Link swallowed their bites considering the fact that they agreed it tasted sour and aromatic in all the wrong ways, and was crunchy in a way that spaghetti never should be. As healthy as stinkbugs seem to be for consumption, the smell alone is reason enough to stay far away from these pungent pests. 

4. Pupae Fruitcake – “Will It Fruitcake?”

Will It?: No

As if fruitcake wasn’t arguably bad enough, the addition of insects is enough to make for the worst holiday food ever. The pupa stage of an insect is in between the larva and adult stages, and it’s when the insect does not move much as they plump up. This is why putting a bunch of them in a fruitcake is just the kind of dreaded entertainment that Rhett and Link provide during the holidays. This fruitcake contained super worms, mealworms, sago worms, and silk worms. It is unclear if there has been a cake since this experience that has seen more worms, but that is probably for the best. The “insect protein for the apocalypse” joke made a strong comeback as they tried to hype themselves up to eat this awful dish. It should be noted that the worms were not all the same texture, as they were a combination of crunchy and mushy. The fact that Rhett had tears coming out of his eyes and they both needed to sing “Silver Bells” in order to get it down is enough to tell us that this is not the fruitcake we want on our holiday table. 

3. Spider Sushi – “Will It Sushi?”

Will It?: No

We have come to the only installment on this list that was not swallowed by both hosts, and it was surprisingly not Link and his strong gag reflex that couldn’t handle the nightmare that is spider sushi. This is less of an integrated creation and more of a normal sushi dish that is topped with a prop from your neighbor’s Haunted House on Halloween. This creation was a sushi roll topped with a salted edible zebra tarantula – whole. Despite the torture of looking at this dish, it apparently didn’t have much of a taste upon first bite. But then they got to the “seeds” of the spider, which are probably just the inner organs and vital juices bursting in a disgusting manner. After stating that he wants to retire immediately, Rhett couldn’t keep the tarantula roll in his mouth and left Link on “sushi island,” as he called it. Sushi is already a polarizing meal, so adding a whole dried tarantula seems like a natural step to push the nay-sayers even further to their own side. 

2. Mealworm Donut – “Will It Donut?”

Will It?: Yes (Rhett convinced Link since they both got it down)

It doesn’t seem like it can get much worse than spider sushi, but it definitely can when the insects involved are still alive. The innocent glazed donut that was the focus of this episode became desecrated when it was topped with live mealworms that were still wiggling on the plate. Surprisingly, this was the first time that Rhett and Link ate live insects on the show, but it definitely wasn’t the last. It was worse to look at than to eat, according to the diners, but eating the wriggling worms is not the first thing on our to-do list any day. Predictably, the mealworm donut was crunchier than a glazed donut should be. But despite this sick joke of a donut experience, both friends ate two whole bites (while understandably screaming the entire time) and actually decided that this donut is a positive answer to the titular question. But any already gross pest that’s still moving is not a desired dining experience, hence its high position on this list. 

1. Spider Milk – “Will It Milk?”

Will It?: No

Despite what you may initially think, this video isn’t about milking creatures that don’t produce milk naturally. It’s actually about soaking the subject matter in water in a milk sac for two to three days and then squeezing the contents into glasses to be consumed by the hosts. This is already a strange premise, but it gets much worse when spiders get involved. The line of thinking for this creation was the fact that some species of roaches actually produces milk, but tarantulas do not. This milk was the product of 30 ground zebra tarantulas, with 5 more in tact, soaking in the water and being squeezed. It smelled earthy, which makes sense considering the fact that tarantulas live on the ground. “Essence of spider” was used to describe the taste, and this term should never be associated with a food or beverage. Both hosts swallowed it, but not without a lot of predictable gagging and spitting. The dirt taste and muddy-water-appearance are enough to tell us that milking spiders should not be common practice. It may seem surprising that we ranked spider milk as scarier than spider sushi, but the idea of drinking spider juice just seems a bit more torturous and horrific than eating spider sushi.

Pest Control Prevents Pests From Invading Your Plates (and Homes)

As funny as the running joke about needing bugs for sustenance during the apocalypse is, pest control services are extremely useful in providing a home or business free of pests in the present. Our team of caring and experienced technicians are prepared to tackle all kinds of pest problems you may have, including ants, wasps, spiders, bed bugs, and more! Contact us to learn more about our eco-friendly services and how we can eradicate the pests that may alternatively be used in a nightmarish version of some otherwise appetizing meals, just like this beloved YouTube show. 

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Citations

Good Mythical Morning. (2014, December 19). Will it donut? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySLnOdQDa-Y (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2016, May 27). Will it burger? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFCdlDlajBo&t=724s (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2016, September 2). Will it sushi? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPUnpPxYf8U (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2016, October 28). Will it candy? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmg-6tdE0jU (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2016, December 23). Will it fruitcake? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd-0jHY_A7U&t=1s (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2018, April 10). Will it nugget? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSG6kz9S7iU&t=570s (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2019, January 7). Will it milk? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYmHKmJzqh8 (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2019, March 11). Will it taco? Taste test (REHEATED). Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G53Pdx2HAt4&t=627s (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2019, August 26). Will it mac and cheese? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KS99ERXM_4&t=683s (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2019, September 25). Will it bagel? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RqD_N5q3e4 (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2021, August 16). Will it Pop Tart? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsx2PfLJ7pE (Accessed on June 14, 2022).

Good Mythical Morning. (2022, May 16). Will it spaghetti? Taste test. Good Mythical Morning. [Video]. YouTube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWUZ771iFA0 (Accessed on June 14, 2022).