The Original Post
I (28F) have been doing almost all the cooking in my household for the past two years. My partner (30M) can cook, but he rarely does. I had been taking cooking classes at my local college and in the past in high school for several years. I’ve enjoyed cooking for him but at this point it’s basically expected. The issue is that no matter what I make, he always has something negative to say. If it’s healthy, it’s “too bland.” If it’s indulgent, it’s “not good for him.” If I try a new recipe, he says it’s “not something he’d ask for.” He’ll also add salt, hot sauce, or something else before even tasting it, then joke about how it needs “fixing Last week, after I spent over an hour cooking, he took one bite and said, “It’s okay, but you should’ve done it differently.” I snapped and told him I’m done cooking for him. I said I’ll cook for myself, but he can handle his own meals from now on. I don’t think it’s fair to keep putting in effort just to be criticized, but now he’s upset and acting like I’m the problem.
What Reddit Said
Reddit users overwhelmingly supported the woman’s decision to stop cooking. The top comment received over 2,000 upvotes declaring her “Not the Asshole.” However, many commenters saw deeper red flags in the partner’s behavior pattern.
Most Redditors identified this as a power play rather than genuine food criticism. They encouraged her to cook only single portions and lock up leftovers. Moreover, several users questioned whether he criticizes other aspects of her life too.
The Verdict
The overwhelming consensus: OP is Not the Asshole (NTA). When a partner criticizes cooking every meal despite receiving free labor for two years, they’ve lost meal privileges. This represents classic relationship drama where unappreciated effort meets entitled behavior. Reddit’s advice was clear: let him figure out his own meals.
Original post from r/AmItheAsshole (2,550 upvotes, 199 comments)