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Poultry - Poultry meat looks incredibly voluptuous because a large syringe is used to inject mashed potatoes underneath the skin before it all gets torched up for that perfectly cooked look. 

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Ice cubes -

Real ice cubes would obviously melt fast under studio lights, so photographers opt to use ice chunks of gelatin that, when mixed with water, look like crushed ice.

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Butter - The effect of melting butter is also a clever special effect. The butter is usually placed on cold food, and the food stylist will then use a portable heater or a heated spatula to achieve the desired effect.

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Salads - Salads are also constantly sprayed with water to keep the greens looking crisp and fresh.

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Burger - A blowtorch is used to brown the edges of the raw patties, while cardboard squares are used as platforms between the different ingredients so they don't touch each other. A few perfectly placed pins also help!

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Turkey - It may look deliciously crispy on the outside, but meats are quite often left raw on the inside. The skin's glossy sheen is achieved by mixing together brown sauce, water, and dish soap.

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Enchiladas - Enchiladas have so many elements to them, they're not easy to shoot. Their bulky look is achieved by using instant mashed potato to fill the wrap. The meat and veggie "filling" meanwhile is stuffed in at each end, where it's visible. A heat gun is then used to melt the cheese topping to perfection.

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Syrup - Motor oil is often used as a replacement for different syrups, but fabric protector is also great at keeping the pancakes from absorbing the syrup/oil.

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Ice-cream - Ice-cream is hard to mold and melts quickly. Instead, food stylists use alternatives like frosting, shaving cream, or an interesting mix of vegetable shortening, corn syrup, and powdered sugar.

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Grilled meat - What about that succulent-looking, juicy grilled meat? Quite often, it's just been plainly cooked and then smothered in brown shoe polish.

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Melted cheese - However, melted cheese isn't always...melted. In fact, on most occasions it's simmered cheese that is dipped in hot water for a few seconds before being placed on, for example, a bun or piece of toast.

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Coffee -

Watered-down brown or soy sauce, gelatin, and cream are all employed to recreate a smooth, delicious-looking latte. The froth is usually just piped soap foam.

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Grapes - The dusty look on grapes is achieved by sprinkling talcum powder across them.

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Sandwiches - Whenever you see sandwiches neatly stacked together remember, cleverly placed toothpicks are almost always responsible for holding them together.

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Tacos - Tacos look super presentable on camera because the tortillas are glued together and cosmetic sponges are used to keep the shells open.

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Cereal milk - As real milk would quickly make cereals look soggy, the "milk" frequently used by food photographers is actually white hair cream or sunscreen, while the most popular alternative to either is glue.

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Seafood - Spraying glycerin on seafood is what gives it that glistening look that tricks the eye into thinking everything is freshly-caught.

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Rice - Do you know why rice grains appear so shiny and perfectly cooked? They're painted with lacquer before being photographed.

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Seeded rolls - Few rolls look 100% perfect! When necessary, seeds are carefully placed across the surface with tweezers and glued down. This way any bare areas are quickly filled in.

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Strawberries - A touch of lipstick will redden the strawberries and hide any blemishes. 

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Stir-fry - Preparing stir-fry is often a messy task, so how does it look so good in photographs? Stylists carefully place ingredients in the pan or wok using tweezers, even smaller pieces like seeds or crumbs.

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Champagne -

The "Champagne" is actually made with water, soy sauce, and effervescent antacid for the bubbly effect.

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Cakes and pastries - When it comes to making cakes as appetizing as possible, hairspray is a food stylist's best friend. 

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Steaming pot -

Steam can be replicated in different ways, by using soaked and microwaved cotton balls for example, or even by placing a lit incense stick out of sight behind the cooking vessel.

See also: The world’s 30 biggest fast-food chains

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