US baking influencer criticized for in-flight bread-making: ‘It’s a plane, not a cooking class!’

In an ambitious culinary stunt that’s soaring through social media feeds, US baking influencer Maria Baradell has ignited a storm of criticism after attempting to bake bread mid-flight. The viral video shows Baradell mixing flour, salt, and water on a tray table aboard a flight to Spain, transforming her seat into a makeshift bakery at 30,000 feet.
“Do you want to see the final results?” Baradell teases in the clip, as she kneads dough and prepares it for the oven—except the oven is still on the ground.With a follow-up video, she reveals she planned to bake the loaf once she landed and reunited with her sister in Spain. However, the in-flight baking antics didn’t sit well with many viewers.

Social media users were quick to criticize, labeling the act as both impractical and unsanitary. One user commented, “Imagine settling into your seat and finding your neighbor setting up a mini kitchen. It’s a flight, not a cooking class!”

Concerns over hygiene were also raised. A flight attendant weighed in, mentioning the unsanitary conditions often encountered on planes, from vomit to diaper changes, and questioned the wisdom of baking bread in such an environment. “The flour could easily spread, affecting passengers with allergies or sensitivities,” another user warned.

Baradell, who had initially sought to replicate a similar stunt she saw online, acknowledged the backlash in her second video’s caption. “#milehighsourdoughclub won’t be a thing. I was just trying to be creative,” she wrote. “Thanks for the feedback—I learned it’s not a great idea. But we enjoyed the bread in Barcelona, and exploring the city’s bakeries has been amazing!”