It's one of the things we all wait for when we're on a plane; the meal cart is pulled down the aisle and it's finally time to eat. While you know the food will likely be disappointing, you can't wait to see what you'll get to eat this time. You paid for the expensive ticket, right? Perhaps you should reconsider this. Here are six surprising facts about airplane food.
1. Your food was probably cooked yesterday.
Most meals are pre-cooked on the floor, normally up to 12 hours before a flight departure. They are then frozen and kept in huge warehouses until they are driven to the airport and loaded onto the planes. Depending on the length of the flight – and the length of any delays – food can be refrigerated on board for an additional 12 hours before the cabin crew finally reheats the meals to serve them.
2. First class food isn't really that special.
When you travel in economy class with an uninspired tray of chicken and mashed potatoes, and dream of the delicious steak and chips you know they serve in first class , then think again. Airlines outsource their food preparation to a handful of anonymous companies where employees move from one customer to another throughout the day. So your beautiful first class dinner was probably made by the same people who make the economy class food. And you have to hope they don't get mixed up.
3. It will never taste great.
Low air pressure and low humidity dry out our noses, which dampens our sense of taste. Scientists even say that sound affects taste – so the hum of airplane engines ruins our food. And it is even harmed by chefs who help prepare it.
4. It has one or two secret ingredients.
Chefs and scientists are trying to make the food in the air a little better. They know that certain extras give us pleasure, so the meal is overloaded with salt and pepper. They've also found something new, the so-called "fifth taste" of umami, which brightens up most foods at altitude. It's in a lot of tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach - so expect more of that in airline dishes from now on.
5. It's not healthy.
We lose our ability to taste sugar at 35,000 feet — so extra servings are added to airplane foods to compensate. And although the portions look small, they are high in calories.
6. You can't even trust the water.
If you drink anything, make sure it's not tea or coffee. The water used to make your drink probably comes from the plane's water tank, which is located underneath the plane — and it probably isn't very clean. And because the water boils at a lower temperature at high altitudes, it never produces the perfect cup. A bottle of water is a better option.
