Airplane food divides minds: some love it, others see it as just a welcome distraction from travel stress. All the facts about airplane food. Also, if you love flying and drones, make sure to visit ‘Let’s Fly Wisely‘.
Airplane eating often improves the mood of passengers traveling. But why do many people like to drink tomato juice on board? And what should you not eat on a plane?
We eat much more on the plane than usual
Due to the noise level on the plane, the food tastes better – sounds weird, but it’s like this: volume can suppress our sense of sweet and salty. As a result, we eat more on board and consume about 20 percent more sugar than usual, so we can compensate for the loss of sweet taste.
The suppression of sweet and salty also enhances our fifth taste, which is called umami. This is the protein-heavy taste we perceive with parmesan, mushrooms or anchovies.
Do not drink tea or coffee on board an aircraft
The water for tea and coffee often comes from the faucet on the plane, not from a bottle. According to a sample of 158 aircraft, 13 percent of the water systems tested contained coliform bacteria. Two of the aircraft tested even found dangerous coliform bacteria in the water.
It’s better not to order Coke on a plane
“Boeing belly” is the phenomenon: above the clouds we suffer much more from bloating than at the bottom of the ground. This is due to the reduced air pressure. Gases accumulate in the intestine from an altitude of about 3,500 meters. The higher the plane rises, the greater the need to drain air. Added to this is the lack of exercise and the food that does its part.
Even flight attendants aren’t thrilled when you order Cola Light on board. This is the reason that Cola Light foams particularly strongly in the aircraft when pouring in.
Airplane food is heavily spiced
The dry air on board an aircraft makes the nose dry, so we can no longer smell and taste as good. Therefore, aircraft dishes are always very strongly seasoned.
Plane food is not cooked on the plane
Traditional aircraft food is already prepared by chefs at the respective airport. The finished food is then packed and distributed in the planes. It just needs to be warmed up there.
Tomato juice tastes particularly good on the plane
“On the ground, tomato juice smells slightly musty and tastes lax”. This is how Volker Scheible, Product Manager Bordservice and Lounges at Lufthansa, explains. “On board, it appears harmoniously, tends to taste sweet and fruity and distinctly like tomatoes.”
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP in Holzkirchen have been able to prove scientifically that tomato juice tastes better in an airplane. The reason: In an airplane at an altitude of about 10,000 meters, the taste buds perceive differently because of the different air pressure and the lower humidity. The fruity aroma of the tomato juice comes out particularly well there. But you have to salt the juice well, because you don’t taste salt as much.