The channel intentionally
clickbaits first-time viewers to believe it is a how-to channel, with video titles, thumbnails, descriptions, as well as the channel's general description, claiming its videos to be tutorials on different subjects, with a particular emphasis on cooking. The actual content of the videos, instead, shows an unidentified man interacting in
point of view destroying, throwing, and lasciviously interacting with food and making a huge mess. Some videos have employed additional gags, with guest actors and related footage appearing. Originally, the videos were genuine tutorials of very simple actions, such as "How to pick up a umbrella" (the channel's first video) or "How to pour drinks". or the meal HowToBasic is trying to cook is smashed with a
hammer or a
shovel. Many of the videos include a
running gag in which the man gives a
thumbs-up or sometimes the
finger gun or the
middle finger in front of the camera while pointing the camera at the mess created, often grunting affirmatively. This is typically just before the scene ends. ==In popular culture==