Why Does Airplane Food Taste Different? The Fascinating Science Behind Food And Altitude

Cabin conditions

[{"selector":"#anim-2f5b6d97-5314-4f23-ae59-d6ce3bac0cfd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ee0d327-641e-4837-bcb6-a159e016c760","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.97380%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Food tastes different at altitude because cabin conditions reduce taste bud sensitivity by roughly 30%. Credits: Unsplash

Dry cabin air

[{"selector":"#anim-cc6b48fb-faa1-4d46-8851-d0edfd0eb395","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28f0ea7c-c793-4a10-8795-f6fec3df6dc5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 205.80240%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The dry cabin air, comparable to desert conditions, significantly impairs one's sense of smell and taste. Credits: Unsplash

Aircraft noise

[{"selector":"#anim-e8dc45ab-f6eb-4663-a348-6a6afece6107","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51ad52cd-1a4b-4b91-a155-d3beb4510330","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 668.02455%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Aircraft noise and vibrations diminish flavour perception whilst enhancing umami tastes, explaining passengers' preference for tomato juice. Credits: Unsplash

Special meals

[{"selector":"#anim-85fdf29d-a9ae-4977-939d-5d7d439cd659","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a7a63b0-da09-4f10-993c-abed70bcae1a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 666.91345%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Airlines compensate by developing specially-formulated meals with bold flavours and spices rather than excess salt. Credits: Unsplash

Modern aircraft

[{"selector":"#anim-6d56d6f9-ec86-428c-b1be-6c6c063f1e7a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66b8472f-8203-4d3b-829b-89f7d80dbd5d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 679.13564%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Modern aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 offer improved cabin pressure and humidity, resulting in better taste perception. Credits: Unsplash

Descriptive menu labelling

[{"selector":"#anim-73713ddd-6ccd-4f6b-8fb0-0db4193c8a00","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c1b7e6e-7646-42e4-8b09-ac6185d9f018","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 240.03257%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Research shows descriptive menu labelling improves passengers' perception of in-flight meals. Credits: Unsplash

Noise-cancelling headphones

[{"selector":"#anim-0d1224ef-98a5-4774-93bc-3f5013eb4802","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd53b051-636a-44d5-8ff5-8e1051c06d50","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 634.69122%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Wearing noise-cancelling headphones can enhance the dining experience by reducing engine noise interference. Credits: Unsplash

Staying hydrated

[{"selector":"#anim-6e83d989-a931-4027-819e-429411983a50","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d687786-cec3-4dc4-93c5-4c5392706e86","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 684.34353%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Passengers can improve their experience by staying hydrated and choosing strong-flavoured, crunchy foods whilst flying. Credits: Unsplash

[{"selector":"#anim-17779141-78fe-4987-91fc-8abe598e9fc1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84ceca57-7a57-4eb7-ad50-f8b7c40cd72f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 1340.04640%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Are you often disappointed with in-flight meals? Credits: Unsplash