Taste expert says that wearing headphones can make plane food taste better

When flying most of us have tucked into a hot meal provided by the airline – and it’s rarely a gourmet treat.

While some tourists enjoy plane food for many it’s the worst part of flying.

And, even if you think the tomato pasta or chicken curry is going to be tasty after hours on a plane – it can be tasteless and mushy.

READ MORE: Flight attendant explains what passengers 'should never eat or drink' on planes

It’s thought that this is possibly because our taste buds don’t work properly while in a pressurised cabin rather than the food itself being bland.

But, there is a trick that might make your plane meal taste marginally better.

Oxford professor and expert in taste and food, Charles Spence, explained that wearing headphones can help to improve the flavour of plane food.

He told the Telegraph: “Donning a pair of noise-cancelling headphones could actually be one of the simplest ways in which to make food and drink taste better at altitude.

“The lower cabin pressure, dry cabin air and loud engine noise all contribute to our inability to taste and smell food and drink.”

It’s also thought that listening to low-pitched sounds can make food taste more bitter by a whopping 10%.

While high-pitched sounds make food taste sweeter by 10% – as research conducted at at Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant, the Fat Duck, found.

So, clamping on a pair of headphones that dulls the noise emitted from the plane could boost the taste. Fascinating.

If you’re not willing to eat the plane food, one flight attendant has said that you should bring your own packed lunch anyway.

Amber, an air hostess who has been flying for a US airline for years claimed that "airline meals are extremely unhealthy".

She stated that this is why the crew prefers to bring their own food rather than eating what’s available on the flight.

Amber recommended bringing your own sandwiches or snacks when jetting off for the summer, reportsthe Express.

She said: "I typically bring my own food: light sandwiches or pasta salad.”