I think most home-non-pro-off-the-spatula pix can be 'improved' by simply taking a second to look at what all 'else' is in frame and the general staging. example: was taking a pix of the holiday table - with an iPhone - looked at the pix and right there big and ugly on the left side . . . . the kitchen trash can. so I 're-framed' the shot.
I try to take that pause for any of the plated shots, etc. it can make a big difference if you take 10 seconds to wipe off the gravy drip. . .
here's another, a two-fer - (1) careless staging and (2) lighting differences