The cast of The Big Bang Theory spent a lot of time fake eating in the sitcom, but they did a bad job selling it. For most of its run, it was very popular. So CBS was more than willing to spend money on the cast's massive pay packets, with each core actor supposedly earning $1 million per episode. Unfortunately, they can't even properly pretend to have a good meal.
Debuting in 2007, The Big Bang Theory started with five original cast : Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Howard (Simon Helberg), and Raj (Kunal Nayyar). By season 4, the ensemble expanded by making Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) series regulars. The Pasadena gang went through many changes throughout the show's 12-year run until it wrapped up in 2019. People got married and kids; others progressed in their professional lives. But one thing remained until the very end, the squad regularly eating together.
Like many other sitcoms, the cast of The Big Bang Theory typically faked eating their food. This popular method ensures that actors don't get full no matter how many times they have to do a single take to get the shot. It also allows them to catch their timing easier when they need to deliver a line. Both Cuoco and Nayyar spoke up about this particular acting plot as Penny and Raj separately. Cuoco revealed (via Instagram) that all the leftovers from the shoot were donated at the end of the workday. Meanwhile, Nayyar even demonstrated (via Conan) some of the techniques they use while filming an eating scene on The Big Bang Theory. One of his tips included putting the food back into the containers after fake chewing.
Long before The Big Bang Theory started, Sheldon and Leonard were already hosting Howard and Raj regularly in Apartment A4. When Penny moved across the hall, she started ing their nightly dinners. Eventually, once Sheldon and Howard established their romantic relationships with Amy and Bernadette, they, too, ate with them. The scene of the cast gathered in the living room, eating take out became such an iconic scene that it was Young Sheldon, foreshadowing its titular character's future.
For what it's worth, it didn't seem like fans minded all the fake-eating in The Big Bang Theory. In fact, it might very well be their favorite part of the show as it gave the chance for all the characters to sit down and hang out with each other. No wonder it also featured some of the show's most memorable moments.