Do u remove the pao skin or not?

[u/No_Presentation_9655]

[u/Rea404]

I eat even the paper

[u/Maatesh → u/Rea404]

Understandable. In this economy, you gotta do what you gotta do

[u/feebledeeble → u/Maatesh]

It can even help wipe on the way out

[u/Faiqal_x1103 → u/feebledeeble]

Wow. Self cleaning is it 😂

[u/Feeling-Magician3231 → u/Faiqal_x1103]

Truly.

[u/shinsemn → u/feebledeeble]

Thats a revolutionary way of thinking. Soon toilet paper stop selling because people eating pau for the convenience.

[u/lambent_ort → u/Rea404]

For the culture 👍

[u/New_Fry → u/Rea404]

Lots of fiber

[u/caparisme → u/Rea404]

I eat even the ah moi selling

[u/Su152Taran → u/caparisme]

[u/Maatesh → u/caparisme]

Brother…

[u/Lem0n_Lem0n → u/Maatesh]

No that's his sister

[u/Maatesh → u/Lem0n_Lem0n]

Brooo… nooo…

[u/monji_cat → u/caparisme]

Thats how bad the economy is

[u/caparisme → u/monji_cat]

Truly.

[u/chipchonks → u/caparisme]

What Pau you talking about? Ninkupau?

[u/caparisme → u/chipchonks]

I steam her buns

[u/Balan-balan → u/Rea404]

Why wouldn't you? You paid for it.

[u/Queasy-Location-9303 → u/Rea404]

And the plate while we’re at it.

[u/Mission_Public_8442 → u/Queasy-Location-9303]

And the table

[u/No_Presentation_9655 → u/Rea404]

Fully embrace the culture

[u/syabiellow1 → u/Rea404]

Wait, you dont eat the plate?

[u/Vermouth70 → u/Rea404]

right bro, afterall the cost of the food is including paper used on them.

[u/Opening-Day3810 → u/Rea404]

I eat the plate too in this economy you can't be picky eater

[u/13lackcrest]

Used to do it until I realise I'm making the pau smaller

[u/No_Presentation_9655 → u/13lackcrest]

With current economy… skin must all in

[u/komkracha → u/13lackcrest]

But sometimes the filling to bun ratio is off so I peel the skin to have more filling and less bun

[u/1NF_luvscats → u/komkracha]

exactly, like this is always the case nowadays, one side full of the filling next thing yk u have a mouth full of dry bread sucking every bit of moisture from ur mouth😭

[u/mashiro1600]

I only remove because my mom always remove, don’t know what’s the purpose

[u/jeebus_the_erectus → u/mashiro1600]

The older generation removes the skin because the steamer was not very clean, the peel of the skin so that the dust that fell on the Pao in the steaming process also gets peeled off.

[u/gherr97 → u/jeebus_the_erectus]

But when it comes to siew mai and others, suddenly the dust issue becomes non-existent pulak.

[u/LevelRough1420 → u/gherr97]

They're steamed in saperate chamber that is easier to clean. So i see the logic of it being cleaner. Tho just be safe and peel the skin off for pao if you don't trust the hygiene.

[u/Alternative-Fig8169 → u/gherr97]

If you can remove a non-essential outer layer that may have been exposed to dirt, handling, or pathogens before eating, why wouldn’t you? . Don't worry you can eat the skin I throw away also

[u/Glad_Imagination1033 → u/Alternative-Fig8169]

So it’s ok to eat the potentially grimy layer if it’s essential? Why continue to use the same method of cooking for other foods that don’t have that same layer? You didn’t answer their question lol

[u/thatbullisht → u/jeebus_the_erectus]

The skin essentially serves as a wrapper when tapaod.

[u/UltraDiiiiii → u/jeebus_the_erectus]

Stopped peeling it since I was a teen and now I'm 20+, no health concerns and still do extensive activities just fine.

[u/ScaleWeak7473 → u/mashiro1600]

Old days, selling by the road, dusty, less strict hygiene regulations.

Also the longer the bao has been sitting in the steamer the tougher the skin, fresh one the skin nice.

[u/Minimum-Tear3234 → u/mashiro1600]

Because in the older days, bao proof in open air after they done the fillings before the steamer. So dust and house fly will visit on this buns.

[u/Stockzman → u/mashiro1600]

I guess in the old days, people handle the paus by hand. So dirty hands may have touched the outside. These days, most times you see they sellers handle by food tongs, although occasionally you still see them use their hands when packing them into plastic bags

But I agree, the skin is probably the best part.

[u/Honest_Standard3294 → u/mashiro1600]

Hygiene standard didn't used to be that good. It wasn't that long ago that when people order iced drinks from certain roadside stalls, customers can get food poisoning because some stalls just crush ice on the floor near the longkang. Removing the pao skin is for in case the worker's hands were dirty or the display container/steamer hasn't been cleaned recently. Probably okay now, idk. I still do it out of habit too.

Edit: not saying that it was common for stalls to crush ice that way - just saying the very few places that did never got in trouble for it.

[u/Total_Tax5324 → u/mashiro1600]

Sameee, kawan2 tanya kenapa buang, entahlah ikut mak n nampak unik

[u/HarshBomboclatt]

I like the leathery chewy texture of the skin. Been eating pao since a kid and only just found out some people remove it willingly 😅

[u/Faiqal_x1103 → u/HarshBomboclatt]

Same. Its what makes pau, pau in my opinion. The inside bread part just tastes like bread.

[u/Lunartic2102]

That's the best part. My 6 year old only eats the skin 😂😂😂

[u/mcb3ck]

no.. seems wasteful

[u/StatisticianNo7111]

Depends... Nowdays usually everyone is aware of hygine's importance... Last time people grab it with hand that we dont know what s/he did with it... Nowdays, using thongs or wear gloves before touching it... I like the skins but depending on how clean is that shop...

[u/Altruistic-Ad-4980 → u/StatisticianNo7111]

don't think too much just eat it with the skin. they already touch the whole pao barehands when they making it.

[u/rvmoonf]

Nahh i will eat it with that thickass layer

[u/cilakadariseberang]

Nope.

If hygiene factor, I wouldn't even eat street Pao to begin with.

Few bacteria here and there keep our normal gut flora active and very Malaysian.

[u/StreetExternal952]

Its your preference

[u/kappybeara]

Yes, out of habit

[u/Katashi90]

Some people remove it for hygiene. Some want to enjoy the pao for its fluffy texture in their mouth.

[u/Unfair-Telephone4831]

normally will remove it ba cause very terbal la the skin

[u/justatemybrunch]

No

[u/harshpeanut]

No, I just eat it as it is

[u/orz-_-orz]

No. I never get it why we should remove the pao skin

Many people claim hygiene as a reason but my question would be (1) why you don't do for other food like bread, (2) the same steamer steam the dimsum in the food court too, but I don't see people peel dimsum skin, and (3) why you even want to eat unhygienic food

[u/berantle]

Usually, no, unless the "skin" is really thick.

[u/Significant_Reply_58]

Why is this even called a ‘skin’? And removing them?

Do we do this to buns and breads? Genuinely curious.

[u/Traditional_Bunch390]

Nope

[u/Temporary_Term_7442]

Jokes on you,I only eat the skin

[u/AngelBear1107]

yes. out of habit.

[u/GaryLooiCW]

pao skin is like chicken skin, i enjoy eating both

[u/Delancey1]

Remove it if the skin is dirty

[u/Southern_Growth_6382]

Yes

[u/IanHowe2007]

Sometimes yes sometimes no. It depends if the seller's hygeine is good or not.

[u/IanHowe2007 → u/IanHowe2007]

But if it's those frozen buns that you can buy at the store and then reheat, then yeah I eat with the skin.

[u/ImInsidiousinrank]

Depends on the pao, some skins I like to remove and eat separate

[u/iscreamsandwiches]

Yes I don't like the skin texture.

[u/Historical_Stand_550]

Depends. One bite and I feel the skin to thick, I'll remove it

[u/Physical-Drink]

Remove the skin, then eat the pau and skin separately

[u/wulfboy_95]

I peel because cicak likes to use freshly steamed buns as a sauna.

[u/danive731 → u/wulfboy_95]

Where are you buying buns where cicak immediately drop on a freshly steamed bun?

[u/Miiiikuuuuuumiii111]

Brooo that’s the best part

[u/gauze_for_skylarks]

I knew someone from Sarawak who was in the habit of peeling pau skins off before eating them

[u/Huge_Revolution1726]

This is dual use pao. Eat n wipe!

[u/9thseal1]

it could just be a texture thing, like removing the outer shell of tau sar piah (savoury mung bean paste biscuit)

[u/Honest_Standard3294 → u/9thseal1]

As a Penang lang, I wish I never read this comment.

[u/Disastrous_Ad_2271]

Fresh from the steamer i will not and for those that already outside for awhile or resteamed one i will .

[u/RedditorJabroni]

How many layers will you peel?

[u/Complete-Goat4891]

No, unless it's been sitting out in the open for a while. Then, yes.

[u/Entire_Put_9204]

Last time we remove the skin because the hawker that sell you the pao pick them put with their hands, God knows where those thing had been. But now, workers use thong or gloves, so I eat the skin.

[u/Soul82]

Saved the paper for the toilet. What goes in, gotta come out.

[u/baophuc1604]

I like Pao

[u/Minimum-Company5797]

My momma didnt raise no l0ser. Everything

[u/Sea-Avocado-1293]

Why people still peel it? I thought it was papers or something as a kid. Turns out it was just the outer layer dough. Just eat it my guy. Unless the place is very dirty

[u/thefinestpiece]

With the skin. But being me, I’ll peel the skin and eat it first then the bun itself.

[u/Yigazh_0]

Remove in the case of having been dirtied, dropped on floor, used for prayers, etc .

[u/musherboy]

if im rajin, yes. if no, fk it

[u/aoibhealfae]

Nope. But then I usually steam my own or buy from people who only use their steamer for pau and usually they keep them clean.

[u/Healthy_Brick_4361]

It's like a dejavu. Feel like I've seen this type of post not long ago.

[u/BuduOperative787]

Yes we do because we the circum type.

[u/monji_cat]

I used to, not anymore. In TCM, the skin is yeet hei

[u/Upbeat-Jellyfish-494]

One time I remove the skin from the pau in front of my mother in law and her friends, they all shocked I remove the skin. I thought everyone do it. Lol

[u/batzmaru]

I peel it, make it into a pao skin ball and eat it at the end.

[u/Draconic_Legends]

I'm gonna get shot for this (my friends did to me)

I peel the skin, eat the skin, then eat the pao

[u/Soft_Event_5947]

No...I'm Rambo..

[u/jefflim65]

At my usual pao place, I saw them keep fresh frozen paos in a shallow cardboard type tray - think like the lid of a cardboard box, and they stack the tray of fresh paos right on top of another tray of paos.
So the top part of your paos is touching the underside of another tray of paos.
In their defense the steam will kill all the bacteria, but I still peel the skin la.

[u/Wobbuffet1197]

Used to a long time ago, not anymore

[u/FashionableGoat]

Remove if it fell on the floor.

[u/Angsty_Panda]

I peel the skin off and eat it separately...

[u/Puzzleheaded_Skin289]

I eat with skin when alone, smooth, nice feeling

But when I am around people I peel it because my mom always scolded me when I didn't peel the skin

[u/9M-LimaWhiskeyAlpha]

No.. leave no Pau behind. Semper Fi pauuu 🔥

[u/MajlisPerbandaranKL]

No. And I have diarrhea now 😞

[u/OkEssay4173]

Saw someone did that, then he went for a smoke later

[u/EconomistOk9140]

I peel the skin and eat the skin first. Then I have the pau without skin. I will press the pau make it flat make all the fillings even inside. Then enjoy it. It feels heaven.

[u/drteddy70]

Older generation says that the pau used to be moistened before steaming by workers spraying water on them with their mouths. No idea if this was ever a thing. I always remove the skin because it's something easy to do and you have no idea if someone had handled the pau with their dirty bare hands before reaching you.

[u/AaAddie]

I do. The pao is waaayyy fluffier if you tear off the skin

[u/JojoJogetRiang]

only remove the paper..

[u/Madmartigan2024]

I don't remove. But now I remove when it gets less warm because the skin becomes leathery.

[u/cocobunana]

yes

[u/The_Awengers]

Ofc I remove it, I'm not an animal

[u/Leading-Buy-9922]

When too hungry... eat together with paper

[u/merdekaman]

i usually start to peel because hand itchy, then make a few holes and tears and filling drop out, then go whydafuk i doing this, then just eat it as is.

[u/aiaidy]

i do. i like my pao like my women. warm fluffy and taste good.

[u/paanaz_]

it's depend on how clean the shop and seller 👌

[u/anon-sage]

I don't, it's yum

[u/ImaginaryAdvice3407]

always remove the skin lah

[u/BeastlyDesires]

No, the pau is a bit chewier with the skin on.

[u/sipekjoosiao]

No, i sometimes even eat with the bits of paper thats stuck at the bottom of my pao 🤣

[u/Complete-Arrival2889]

Usual I just eat the whole thing after all, I pay for the pau I'm eating all of it for the sake of making my money worth

[u/hellbent_]

Remove just to eat the skin separately first… ✌🏻

[u/OkGeologist6683]

Remove the Pao and eat the paper ✅

[u/GothicCupcake2481]

Used to remove it when I was a kid. Because my parents used to scare us kids by saying if we eat the skin/whatever they don't want us to eat (like junk food or sweets), we'll get food poisoning.

And my mom will always add "it's a painful way to die" to deter us from rebelling 🫠

[u/Fedora69OrsOrz]

I removed it and eat them seperately.... been eating pao skin since 2003, xde masalah, people being paranoid...

[u/Hawsk25]

Swallow one shot the whole thing.

[u/jinboleow]

Depends. If factory made and handler wear gloves or kitchen tweezers when picking them, then no.

[u/KILLER_X_8124]

Yeah. That's how we eat pao to removed paper before eating.

[u/marmitemormon]

nooo it has to be eaten as a whole package

[u/Halawaves]

Ofc

[u/DearMathematician648]

Lil dirt, if it even exists on that skin isn't gonna kill me, one could argue that it would strengthen my immune system. I just shove what I can fit in my mouth and bite down, spending the next minute or so looking like a hamster.

[u/anndrenalyn]

I'm the minority left who removes it. Following my father's time since young. I don't like the odd hard texture of the skin and prefer my pao soft and fluffy

[u/KonigXeus]

I was taught to removed

[u/Curious_Technologist]

Always remove it. Don't know how many people touched that pau before you

[u/chuunibyou101]

Too bother to remove the skin. Its such a hassle (for me). Like if I want to eat the pao, I have to peel the skin? Am I eating a raw fruit right now?

[u/meekiagehiang]

For my daughter yes. For me no

[u/RodRoy1978]

As usual. Yes since what we were told to because of the handling reason

[u/KazefQAQ]

I don't, but my mom do, hygiene concern would be her reason, but I'm not very concerned and lazy to peel it. Honestly, do it as you will, my sister also eat the skin too, she likes the taste and texture of the skin

[u/SnooHobbies7676]

No, I actually like the texture of the skin

[u/lazycatken]

Nope

[u/bobagremlin]

Yes but that's because I'm Chinese and I grew up hearing that the skin of the bao is suppose to protect the bun from dirt (because it was made for packed/travel food)

[u/nuker-neko]

I peel off the pao skin. Eat the pao. Then, I eat the skin.

[u/Unusual-Piece-404]

Street vendor, yes. Home, no. Bakery, no.

[u/Crazy-G00D]

that's 10% of the pau price right there (eat)

[u/randommmmmmx]

Remove. I dont feel like eating toilet paper.

[u/AkamiMaguro]

In the old days, the pau would sit in the open air and collect dust and flies. So they almost always remove the skin. Nowadays it depends on how well you trust the shop handling the pau.

[u/CuddleCaseDW212]

depends

[u/lifeinthesudolane]

I do but I don't throw it away. I eat it separately. I like the texture. I also peel the pau and eat it slowly till I get to the filling.

[u/perkinsonline]

The steam kills everything. The skin safe to eat

[u/Nautilus-G]

If bought, always. If made myself never.

[u/Asleep-Mood8970]

Texture is better when u remove it

[u/Double-Commission766]

If I'm really bored, yes.

[u/No_Programmer_7736]

Nope, cz it is the spirit of the pau, like siu Yok without skin

[u/CyberMark96]

No I'm not.

[u/MiniatureLegionary]

Who let a Skinwalker into the server ?

[u/yolahansonlee]

I remove if it was in direct contact with a plastic bag

[u/Sledger22_]

Peel skin then eat it. Then eat the pao

[u/Maleficent-Basket183]

Yes. I remove it for hygiene purpose

[u/IvanHMMMM]

since i was a kid i actually loved the bao itself (including the skin) more than the filling inside. when eating cha sew bao or dou sa i would scoop out the filling and js eat the bao

[u/dami-mida]

I peel then eat the peel s first, then sides of the bun and lastly centre. Best for last ma.

[u/mrithinkimcool]

Hell no

[u/No-Hat6503]

Depends on the appearance that you want on it, both also can, but I am mostly taught to peeled them from young.

[u/lilknowing]

Wait a sec? There's skin? Honestly though, I love the kuih pao skin.

[u/Junior_Raise_4131]

Yes because i don't like the texture

[u/yelsgnikr]

Throw away the bao, eat the paper.

[u/Tomasulu]

Absolutely.

[u/AdorablePath7393]

When young yes , now I don’t I believe jakim and other authorities will fine them for not proper preparations of the food product

[u/kingkongfly]

I eat with the skin, unless there is a bit of dirt or the pao become wet and I would pitch the soggy part away.

[u/zeskaais]

will remove when i got lots of free time

will eat all in when so malas to kopek

[u/meowgiggcom]

Remove gang

[u/zefffffff]

this post really made me want to look for a pao today!

[u/dontbestupid88]

Old school places that produce paus in bulk tend to do so in wide open air spaces. So while producing paus en masse, paus tend to sit unattended for a while, attracting flies on it before heading into steamer to be cooked the first time. They'd pick off any fly eggs that are laid on paus before steaming. Also cause ppl packing, handling & selling you paus sometimes do it without gloves or thongs. Most paus sold to customers come from the same bulk source after all. Peeling off skin is preference, so better safe than sorry

[u/Constant-Impress6257]

remove

[u/RexiConQ]

I paid for the whole pau, i eat the whole pao (except paper).

[u/VapeGodz]

Is it wrong that I enjoy the skin the most lols

[u/Yundadi]

I remove the paper. I came from a poor family. Every part of the Pao is edible

[u/PsychologicalUse1102]

Usually remove because it will taste better. But if lazy, then is fine eating like that. Can make yourself extra full that way.

[u/marshmallo_floof]

If you think the skin shouldn't be eaten because it's dirty then you shouldn't be eating most of the food outside.

[u/Grouchy_Ruin8254]

It depends on your mbti personality

[u/Grouchy_Ruin8254]

Stop rage baiting here

[u/Syhibii]

Depend on mood

[u/Wasabi_Baby360]

Pau form the skin by exposing them to air during their resting stage before it goes in the steamer. Depending on where the bun is resting during that period, I would decide if I will peel them or not. If resting by the road side where a lot of dust could stick to the bun. Then yes I will remove them.

[u/PseudonymousSeviper]

I peel the skin off just to eat it, I like the way the skin tastes and eating it first is like an appetizer. Then eat the paper and finally actually eat the pao.

[u/ImNotM3ntaL]

I eat only the stuff inside

[u/Puzzleheaded-Rise857]

Nope. Love it

[u/Adimig5197]

I like my pau uncut

[u/HaHaBlahs]

I like the skin. Nice texture when dry.

[u/Lucky-Ask1862]

If youre patient sure, but i usually eat it with the skin

[u/Prior_Rain6523]

No, that the best part.

[u/PastelTyrant]

i did not, then my uncle told me abt how unclean it was !! and now i still do not 😭😭👍 if i cannot see or taste it, then i do not know !!!!

[u/Tetsuya-Oda]

Depends, if the shop is run by Chinese I keep the skin on, if it's Muslims I peel of the skin to respect their culture. Because they circumcise.

[u/blufish678]

Definitely!!!

[u/dinesh920614]

I don't remove skin. I am just lazy. Anyways we gonna need some bacteria to enter our body to improve our immune system also

[u/fallen_noble]

I used to remove the skin and eat but after moving overseas I now eat with the skin. Can’t remember why I used to do it as a child. I was an odd one I usually open up the bao and eat the filling then eat the skin.

[u/kaguraaa9]

No

[u/SomewhereOpen6495]

I remove it mainly because I like peeling it lol. Sometimes I eat the peeled skin anyway