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Food tastes differently - Traveling in the air affects your taste buds. That means all food that’s eaten in-air should taste differently.

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All ears - Air pressure is said to dull the taste of sweet and salty food.

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The importance of Umami - Umami is one of our five basic tastes, and it isn’t affected by flying. It is commonly found in foods like spinach and tomatoes, so you're likely to see quite a few of those in your airline dishes.

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Drinks taste different -

Thought flying only affected food? Think again. Alcoholic drinks are also influenced by flying. It’s said that this is due to their acidity.

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Testing it out - Alcoholic drinks are apparently tested twice: once on the ground, and again in the air. This is in order to taste the difference.

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Planning ahead -

Menus for airlines are apparently prepared six months to a year in advance.

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A lot on the menu - A lot of food is produced every day for air travel. Airlines like Emirates produce around 150,000 meals every day.

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Comfort foods - It’s said that airline chefs prepare a lot of comfort foods like steak and apple pie. This is so that the passengers recognize the dish immediately.

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Stew, rice, and curry - The best food on an airline is apparently stew, or rice and curry. It’s said that these dishes can taste great, even when stored over time.

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Undercooked meats - It’s thought that meats are only cooked partially before the flight. Then the meals are apparently completed in the plane’s ovens.

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Lightweight -

In regards to airline food, it all comes down to weight. American Airlines reportedly saved US$40,000 by simply dropping one olive from its salads.

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Getting tipsy in the sky -

Apparently, the effects of alcohol are stronger when flying. This is because low air pressure usually makes blood thinner.

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Lindt balls - Lindt truffles are apparently very popular with airlines. In 2015, the Australian company Qantas stated they serve four million Lindt truffles per year to economy passengers.

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Tastes sweeter -

Tomato juice is a surprisingly popular pick on flights. The drink apparently tastes much sweeter in-air, making Bloody Marys all the more tempting.

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Simulation - Catering services go to great lengths to test their food. In Singapore, catering companies test food in simulated aircraft cabins.

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No raw food - Oysters are something of a luxury seafood, but you don't usually find them on an airplane. This is because raw food can be too tricky to handle.

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Handiwork - According to a report by the Australian website Delicious, one airline goes to great lengths to ensure quality with its food. United Airlines reportedly packs all its food by hand.

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Happy meal - Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines has a tailor-made menu for kids. Young passengers are invited to pick their own food from a menu featuring fish fingers, as well as macaroni and cheese.

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A chef's touch - Apparently, several airlines have a revered chef to oversee their menus. Australian chef Neil Perry is in charge of the menu for Qantas.

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Austrian Airlines -

According to the Luxury Travel Expert, the best airline for food is Austrian Airlines. Runner-ups include Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.

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Inflight Feed - Ever thought of Instagramming your airline food? You should visit inflightfeed.com, where the best airline food is rated and ranked.

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Hello Kitty food - Some airlines have pretty quirky features. The Hello Kitty Jets on EVA Air have Hello Kitty-branded food.

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High-flying food -

Caviar isn’t just sold to high-flying elites. At LAX, you can pick up a “Picnic in the Air” pack, which features caviar, as well as cured meats and smoked salmon.

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Localized content - This shouldn’t be a big surprise, but airline menus change depending on where you are around the world. According to FlightCentre, some airlines serve English lamb when working in the UK.

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Chef's tip - Vegetables tend to be marinated with spices before being served. This is so that the food has a richer taste.

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Signature dishes - British Airways live up to their name with one of their signature dishes. They serve up sandwiches with cakes, Cornish clotted cream, as well as English strawberry jam.

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Gluten-free food - Gluten-free food is getting very popular on planes. Flight Centre estimates that 10% of airline dishes are “special,” meaning they are catered to a customer with dietary requirements.

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The rise of Indo-Chinese food -

Apparently, Indo-Chinese food is also on the rise. It’s estimated that customers will be seeing more of this type of food in the next few years.

See also: These foods taste better leftover

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