When it comes to travelling, people have all sorts of hacks.
From packing more efficiently to trying to avoid queues – there are all sorts of things we try in a bid to reduce stress, but one thing we rarely think about is the food. Not everyone enjoys tucking into a meal on a plane.
While quality of the meals can vary on flights, some people just don’t enjoy eating when they’re in the air, and there may be reasons why. According to TikTok doctor, Dr Karan Raj, there are things we can do to make food taste better.
One of the easiest ways to do this – he says – is by opting for “umami-rich” foods. “Umami” translates to “pleasant savoury taste”, and is described as a “brothy or meaty” flavour.
You can usually taste it in foods that contain a high level of the amino acid glutamate, which include things like meats, tomatoes and cheeses. Dr Raj said if you opt for these types of things, you’re likely to enjoy them a lot more while travelling.
He explains the low cabin pressure when you’re flying affects your tastebuds, which causes sweet and salty flavours to become “muted”. Meanwhile, at the same time, the taste of umami is “amplified”.
Even though it may sound strange, he said it’s also wise to consider wearing ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones to try and “boost your sense of taste”. The method is thought to work because the continuous sound of the engine, as well as your ears popping, works to stimulate the middle ear nerve.
He said this “negatively impacts” the ability to taste sweet and salty foods. Dr Raj also noted it’s vital to hydrate before meals and consider nasal sprays if you’re travelling on long-haul flights.
When you’re travelling, the air humidity is said to be “very low” and, when combined with the air conditioning, he explained it can dry out your mouth and sinus cavities. This will also impact your ability to taste.
Since Dr Raj shared the advice, it’s left people pretty mindblown. They said he’s on “another level” when it comes to weird and wonderful facts.
One person said: “Oh – that’s why the lamb I had on a plane is the best I ever had.” Another wrote: “People looked at me like I was crazy when I said I can’t taste the food properly when I wear my headphones and listen to music. It’s actually true.”
A third replied: “I’ve always thought tomato juice only tastes good on a plane. So interesting!”
Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “Sweet and savoury flavours are muted. You mean I ate all of that pineapple for nothing.”
The advice certainly got a lot of people talking – whatever their thoughts on the matter may be. It looks like plane food may be about to get a whole lot tastier in the future.