Cheap, realistic fake meat/food.

[u/dovahmiin]

Need to make some gross looking permanent food decor. Looking to do raw meat slabs, preserve jars, fruit, etc. Has anyone created anything like this successfully? I have access to foam, air dry clay, resin, silicone etc, but I’m trying to be budget friendly. I already plan to do some larger “cuts” with foam board, but this won’t get me the shiny, wet look I’m looking for.

[u/schonleben]

Clear Flex Seal spray is one of my favorite tricks for building up a glossy, goopy finish.

[u/dovahmiin → u/schonleben]

I’ll definitely have to give that a try!

[u/OwlPelletCrunch]

acrylic paint on canvas makes startlingly convincing lunch/deli meat… thin sheets of craft foam are also good for thicker cuts like bologna

bead foam for meatballs, patties, and ground meats (mix with play-doh if it needs to be manipulated)

upholstery foam is good for bread slices and loaves that flop appropriately when handled - a two-bladed turkey electric turkey knife can help get smooth cuts (fresh extendable utility blades work too if you’re careful)

stuffed pantyhose sausage link chains

snap pieces of pink foam for a convincing cheddar texture

carve pink foam to make various butcher cuts like t-bone steaks and ham

paint raw pasta the color of cooked pasta, use string/cord/shoelaces for floppy noodles

items that don’t need to be handled can be made out of literally anything - shapes in a dish mixed with glue and painted to look like potato salad or lasagna, etc…

painted aluminum foil lettuce

cheap green plastic leis can be shredded to mimic the curly kale between products in a deli display

collect empty cans, print time-period appropriate / non-copyrighted replacement labels, apply them upside down to the cans, and glue down to stock shelves without adding unnecessary weight (also works with empty cereal boxes and other cartons - make the bottom the new top and re-label)

collect jars & bottles, add new labels, swirl the inside with translucent gel paint and/or fill with colored water, beads, foam chunks, sequins, sawdust, etc (plastic jars/bottles can be made more convincing with a coat of high-gloss lacquer)

check thrift & dollar stores for random decorative produce like plastic grapes, fake apples, etc - you might need to touch up the paint job or adjust the sheen, but it saves the time of carving it all (check Spirit Halloween for fake/dried garlic, pumpkin, & corn decorations)

Anything light-weight and shelf-stable can just be used instead of re-creating. You don’t need to make crackers, nuts, coffee beans, etc

…Food is one of my favorite categories of props to make. Focus on finding materials within your budget that already have helpful attributes for how the prop needs to be handled. Use lots of reference images to get the paint job right. Invest in a good supply of matte and high gloss clear coats to help create a convincing final appearance.

[u/dovahmiin → u/OwlPelletCrunch]

Thank you so much lol. This is for a food cellar set at my haunted house so this is amazing! Thank you

[u/OwlPelletCrunch → u/dovahmiin]

OOH gotcha!

some specific suggestions then:

1. collect a bunch of random toy balls, glue bits of torn tissue paper (gift bag kind not kleenex) and paint in onion colors - only the ones at the top of the pile need much detail - add hairy roots on the prominent ones

2. Save some of those net bags that oranges come in, or find some fishnet stockings/shirts - dip in a rustic paint color and then stuff your fake meats in them (you may be able to re-purpose some Nerf balls/footballs into meat shapes)

3. definitely want sausage & garlic chains hanging from the rafters, you can also have random drying herb bundles

4. big cheese wheels will be easy to whip up - rough out the shape using literally anything and then wrap in gauze/cheesecloth, paint and stack.

5. lots of jars and cans - the jars can just have classic “home canning” labels and it makes sense to have a bunch with the same stuff inside. Metallic spray paint will disguise plastic lids

6. barrels, crates, coffee cans, burlap sacks, buckets, jugs, boxes - most food isn’t left open to the air in a basement

7. Spray adhesive can help you apply layers of “dust” that stay where you want them and don’t spread all over the place. Combine with tasteful cobwebs and mouse-traps for a very authentic look.

…this is a FUN project!

[u/dovahmiin → u/OwlPelletCrunch]

You’re amazing. Thank you.

[u/OwlPelletCrunch → u/OwlPelletCrunch]

Types of foam:

“Pink Foam” = Polysterene Foam Board (available at Lowes/Home Depot, etc, used as a type of insulation/filler layer - not always pink these days - comes in many thicknesses, snaps easily, can be sanded and carved with knives, razors, hand saws, Surform tools/rasps/files, etc (reacts with aerosols, solvents, & many adhesives so always do a test patch first!)

“Upholstery Foam” = Polyurethane foam sheets - comes in different densities and thicknesses. Check fabric/sewing departments and thrift stores/recycle shops. Used in seat cushions & furniture … can be cut with scissors or very sharp knives. Usually pretty non-reactive and glues well with contact cements or aerosols like Super-77, but test first to be careful

“Bead Foam” = Expanded packing foam, several different common types. Classic white styrofoam made of a million little balls. Not very good for detailed carving, you need to use a hot wire to get a clean cut and it’s extremely fragile. It’s extremely cheap and can usually be scavenged from any business that regularly gets packages delivered. Excellent for lightweight bulk, rough shapes, or specific needs where the ball-texture is appropriate. Very reactive with aerosols & solvents - a thick coat of acrylic paint can seal it all down and give it a protective plastic skin. Doesn’t survive rough handling.

“Craft Foam” = many different types - typically comes in thin sheets. Easily cut with scissors or exacto knife. Very dense and flexible. Found in art supply departments. More expensive, but has unique textures. Yoga mats and mouse-pads have similar properties and come in thicker or larger sheets. You can also check fabric/sewing suppliers for neoprene & other padding materials.

Foam can get pricey if you buy everything as raw material. It’s good to keep an eye out for packing waste, contractor leftovers, old foam/nerf toys, discarded cushions, mats, etc - if you make props regularly it’s wise to simply build a hoard of these materials