[quote=McFazzer]
I'm trying to remember the rules for food in Log Horizon. I know that ingredient items taste like salty mush, but what about fruits and such that require no preparation? I'm sorry if this has been explained before.
[/quote]
Yep. Fruits and such still have taste, as do raw edible ingredients. Trying to create food without the proper prerequisites is what causes the salty mush effect.

EDIT: We never did specify this in the OP though, as it's something that needs to be figured out over the course of the Roleplay - like a lot of the newer mechanics in Elder Tale.