Why does airplane food taste bad?

Question

Why is food on airplanes often considered to taste bad?

Answer 1

Airplane food tastes bad mainly due to the dry cabin air and low humidity levels, which dehydrate our sinuses and affect our ability to taste and smell. Our taste for sweet and salty flavors can drop significantly, leading airlines to increase the amount of salt and sugar in their food. Noise-canceling headphones can help improve taste by reducing the background noise of the airplane.

Comments

As an ex flight attendant, I ate a lot of airline food. Our meals were good! However, this was 50 yrs ago. The food was fresh and hot meals were heated in our ovens. Now it is very different. We gave much better service then.

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As far as airline food goes; I work for a popular airline catering co. The food is NOT freeze blasted, whatever that is.
It’s prepped the day of or night before, depending on what time the flight leaves.
Aaaand, the pilot and co-pilot get meals from the same menu class! They are different because it’s the law. They have to be different in case the pilot gets sick from their meal. The co pilot who didn’t eat the same thing, therefore not sick, can fly the plane.
You’re welcome. ;)

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Flight meals have actually improved drastically! Flying in a few days and will follow these tips!

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Am I the only one who actually enjoys airline food? Like anytime I'm taking an international flight I actually get excited for that part

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Very good and educational. My dad worked for the airlines since i was a baby in 1952. I've been flying all my life. i do miss the old days when we were served breakfast, lunch or dinner, depending on the time of day that we flew. Prop planes, turbo prop planes or jets. It was always great. No one ever misbehaved at the airport or on airplanes, Never. I still enjoy airline food and always have. I do miss the "good ol days" though. This applied to all classes, not just first class. And each person had enough room. Thanks. i enjoyed this, and learned a thing or 2.

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Out of all the airline meals I've eaten over my life, I've never left anything behind, haven't had a bad one yet. People are too fussy and wasteful.