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Update: I have gotten so much feedback from you guys on this post about the best Instagram food hashtags and how well it works!
I’ve added some new categories below that have helped me score up to 30,000 impressions on my posts. That’s pretty incredible!
I’m asked all of the time how I grow my audience on Instagram and find new people to follow and people to follow me.
Hashtags are a big part of my strategy on Instagram because they really do work! I’m here to deliver the best Instagram food hashtags!
Something that I’ve noticed lately is that my own impressions had been dropping. I tried focusing in on researching the best hashtags before every single post so that my posts could be seen by the most people.
How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?
On Instagram, you can use up to 30 hashtags on your post, and the possibilities are endless. As of September 2016, I recommend using 5-15 tags. Any more than that, and Instagram seems to limit your post reach, and it looks spammy.
You should still use high and low volume hashtags to get the best chance of ranking on the “top posts” page for the tags you’re using.
Does it matter whether your put hashtags in your caption or comments section?
Some people will say it matters where you stick your hashtags, but in my experience, it made a huge difference. Tags in my caption resulted in 75% fewer impressions. I’m so serious. (quite honestly, I prefer the comments section because when someone embeds your post, it keeps everything nice and polished).
Let’s take one of my posts with the worst performance from the last month. I love this as an example. This post had my lowest impressions and engagement at the time, but a good portion of those impressions came from hashtags – most of the people who saw it was not actually people who were following me.
Using proper hashtags does work, and it gives you a little bit of an advantage in terms of impressions. It helps your posts get seen more by people who aren’t necessarily looking for them and gives you the potential to reach a wider audience.
Additionally, now that you’re able to follow hashtags on Instagram, people following a hashtag, but not you, may start to see your content in their feed if you’re using the right ones.
One note to you is that you need to choose your tags carefully. Posting a fashion post on a food hashtag isn’t going to garner you the results you want. Your tags need to be targeted, and they need to be relevant to the tag feeds people are following.
You should also consider posting on low competition tags – meaning, if you post on a tag that has 500 million photos, you’re likely not going to get seen. Use a combination of highly posted tags, and ones that are less used to maximize your visibility.
So, maybe I should stop talking, and get to what you came for! I’ve used all of these tags in some form or another. Hopefully, they help you find new people to connect with.
Tips for finding hashtags
Finding hashtags is easy. You can search through platforms to see what’s already being used.
You can also use apps to get ideas about hashtag groupings that may pair well, and help your posts gain more reach.
GENERAL FOOD HASHTAGS
#dinner
#foodlover
#foodgasm
#foodpic
#dessert
#eat
#tasty
#hungry
#yum
#breakfast
#lunch
#nomnom
#foodpics
#foodblogger
#foodphotography
#foodies
#homemade
#foodblog
#foodgram
#healthyfood
#chocolate
#foods
#vscofood
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY HASHTAGS
#yum
#foodgram
#hungry
#foodspotting
#forkyeah
#thekitchn
#nomnom
#foodshare
#vscofood
#f52grams
#foodblogger
#foodphotography
#foodpics
#foodphoto
#eeeeeats
#onthetable
#foodlover
#foodblog
#foodies
#buzzfeast
#foodstyling
#beautifulcuisines
#f52grams
#buzzfeast
#thekitchn
#lifeandthyme
#vscofood
#heresmyfood
#yahoofood
#food52
#foodandwine
#foodphoto
#hautecuisines
#feedfeed
#onthetable
#foodphotography
#bareaders
#rslove
#foodvsco
#gloobyfood
#foodwinewomen
#eeeeeats
#foodart
#foodblogger
#tastemade
#vscocook
#instafeast
BREAKFAST HASHTAGS
#breakfast
#morning
#foodgasm
#eatbreakfast
#eggs
#yum
#delish
#healthybreakfast
#homemade
#foods
#hungry
#smoothie
#fruit
#oatmeal
#oats
BRUNCH HASHTAGS
#avocado
#lunch
#brunch
#Brunching
#SaturdayBrunch
#egg
#sundaybrunch
#bacon
#eggsbenedict
#pancakes
#yum
#sandwich
#brunchlife
#brunchbunch
#brunchtime
#breakfast
#brunchparty
#brunchclub
#brunching
#brunchgamestrong
#frenchtoast
#ladieswhobrunch
#BottomlessBrunch
#healthybrunch
#ilovebrunch
#birthdaybrunch
#brunchdate
#instabrunch
LUNCH HASHTAGS
#foodpic
#yum
#lunch
#hungry
#foodgasm
#foodpics
#tasty
#lunchtime
#foods
#eat
#instalunch
#fresh
#delish
#salad
#lunchideas
#whatsforlunch
#eating
#lunchbox
#lunchbreak
#cafe
#healthylunch
#lunchdate
#sundaylunch
#cooking
#chicken
#cheese
DINNER HASHTAGS
#tasty
#eating
#dinner
#hungry
#dinnertime
#dinnerfortwo
#healthydinner
#familydinner
#winnerwinnerchickendinner
#romanticdinner
#dinnerdate
#dinnerideas
#birthdaydinner
#vegandinner
#dinnerisserved
#itswhatsfordinner
#dinnerparty
#whatsfordinner
#breakfastfordinner
#homemadedinner
ASIAN CUISINE HASHTAGS
#aroi
#asiancuisine
#asianfood
#chinesefood
#comfortfood
#dimsum
#khmerfood
#ngonqua
#noodlelift
#ramen
#rice
#soup
#streetfood
#thaifood
#vietfood
#vietnamesefood
#spicy
#thairestaurant
#thaicuisine
#thai
#noodles
#pork
#dumplings
BURGERS & FRIES HASHTAGS
#bacon
#beef
#burger
#burgerlife
#burgerlove
#burgerlovers
#burgerporn
#burgers
#burgertime
#burgraphy
#cheeseburger
#fries
#hamburger
#instaburger
#meat
#frenchfries
#fastfood
#pommes
#poutine
#sweetpotatofries
#chips
#sweetpotato
#potato
#eataburger
#hamburger
#bestburger
#burgersandfries
#veggieburger
ITALIAN FOOD HASHTAGS
#italianstyle
#pasta
#cena
#Loveitalianfood
#pranzoitaliano
#mozzarella
#italian
#cucina
#pizza
#italianfoodies
#italiancuisine
#pranzo
#buonappetito
#italyfood
#spaghetti
#italianfood
#bestitalianfood
#yummyitalianfood
#diarioalimentare
#ciboitaliano
#giallozafferano
#foodpost
#italianfoodtraditions
#pomodoro
#italianfoodbloggers
#italyfoodporn
#cucinandoarte
#italianfoodisthebest
#realitalianfood
#cheese
JUNK FOOD HASHTAGS
#junkfoods
#thejunkfoodclub
#nationaljunkfoodday
#americanjunkfood
#realjunkfoodproject
#favoritejunkfood
#eatingjunkfoodagain
#junkfood
#veganjunkfood
#junkfoodmadehealthy
#bringmejunkfood
#junkfoodie
#junkfoodjunkie
#Ilovejunkfood
#junkfoodfordinner
#healthyjunkfood
#junkfoodfriday
#cheatday
#cheatmeal
MEXICAN AND TEXMEX FOOD HASHTAGS
#ilovemexicanfood
#guacamole
#texmex
#burrito
#taco
#tacos
#tacotuesday
#mexicanfoodisthebest
#fajitas
#salsa
#mexicanfoodporn
#mexicanfoods
#nachos
#veganmexicanfood
#tequila
#mexicanfood
#mexicanfoodpics
#allthemexicanfoodplease
#mexicanfoodie
#mexicanfoodlover
#mexicanfoodislife
#spicyfood
#mexicanfoodstagram
#mexicanfoodstagram
#mexicanfoodmyway
SEAFOOD HASHTAGS
#paella
#lobster
#restaurant
#oysters
#mussels
#salmon
#fish
#scallops
#crab
#octopus
#seafoodlover
#iloveseafood
#sushi
#tuna
#squid
#seafood
#shrimp
#shellfish
#seafoodie
#seafoodgalore
#clams
#rawseafood
#seafoodsalad
#seafoodrestaurant
#seafoodbasket
#seafoodplatter
#instaseafood
#freshseafood
HEALTH CONSCIOUS HASHTAGS
#rawvegan
#veganfoodshare
#veganlife
#govegan
#crueltyfree
#vegansofinstagram
#veganfood
#glutenfree
#whatveganseat
#veganfoodporn #vegetarian
#dairyfree
#veganism
#cleaneating
#organic
#plantbased
#vegansofig
#bestofvegan #fruit
#healthyfood
#paleo
#raw
#rawfood
#veganlifestyle
#wholefoods
MAGAZINES
#feedfeed #f52grams #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #insiderfood
KETO & LOW CARB DIET
#keto #fitness #healthy #weightloss #health #weightlossjourney #healthylifestyle #fitfam #lowcarb #healthyfood #ketodiet #motivation#food #lchf #ketosis #ketogenic #ketogenicdiet #workout #nutrition#diet #ketolife #fitnessmotivation #fit #ketofam #foodie #weightlosstransformation #hangrywoman #lowcarbhighfat #ketolifestyle #lowcarbdiet
Do you have any Instagram food hashtags you like to use to show off your photos? Leave them in the comments below!
14 Responses
What a blog, I really like to thank blog author for the wonderful post. Thanks for sharing.
Hi
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Thanks for share your kind information.
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Thanks for this info.
Awesome, thank you so much! 🙂
That is truly amazing.
Great hashtags. I have a lost I have composed as well that helps
Your awesome to share I am a North Houston Catering business that has been in Business for 20 yrs. (VERY BLESSED!) And sadly am behind in the social media platforms. I am getting a lashing from (those) who have said you need to get with the times…..(They) are right (I Do!) But running my business was my focus to be successful….Marketing truly is key, but I have been fortunate and truly blessed enough to the thousands of clients both Corporate, and Private….(some who have been my customers for 10, 12, 15 yrs mind you ?)…. But In addition to those 20 yrs I was also building my family which was taxing needless to say…..
Today, (“thank you” Lord because I’m getting old) they are Educated enough to help me build my social platforms and presence….. as we ALL know that is where the FUTURE is.
Everyone is picking up their phones (or if at work) looking on their computer for the next “Hot” thing idea, trend, or in my case food!…..Long story short I looked up how to properly “hashtag” (w. A Houston following) and ur beautiful artical came up……I truly look forward to potentially using your advice because I am on a budget and my accounting is only allowing us so much marketing dollars per social platforms.
That was the other thing….With there being so many “platforms” it was to hard for me to keep up….and that was my #1 reason it took me so long to move forward with the “TIMES”….(Heck it took Daddy 63 yrs to get a cell phone and he passed at 64yrs. Old…. that was 5yrs ago!!) Sometimes things are just best left untouched….?
Look me up when your free… They call me Chef Michelle the name of my business is “Catering To Your Taste Buds”. We have not published the Facebook page as of yet because we are working on that and are working on the Catering To Your Taste Buds Instagram page (hence the looking up of hashtags which we will add to the pics.)now u mentioned to keep it polished and add hashtags in the comments correct? We have so many pics. Over the yrs we have been in the business and it is so hard to pick and choose which ones to use because we are different from a restaurant…and have a different social following…
I thank you for your article….I am sorry I rambled but God Bless you!
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing these great hashtags 🙂
Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for sharing your insights. It’s always interesting to see.
These are great! I’m always looking for new hashtags to get my posts farther!
OMG this is such a great guide! I love this – some of these hashtags I’ve never heard of, they’ll be great to implement into some posts! Thank you for this!
Wow! Yo ucertainly hit the nail on this one. Have to wsave this for future referece. Sharing with my editorial team. at RWC ezine.
Good hashtags to know! I’ll definitely save this for when I post some foodie pics!