McFazzer said
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.
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.