Four Tips for Getting Really Decent Airplane Food

Air travel remains the fastest and most efficient way to get anywhere, which is unfortunate because airlines continue to make things worse. Hidden fees , smaller seats, less legroom, annoying people and baggage restrictions all make flying commercially increasingly frustrating. Reduced benefits and service make matters worse: while you used to actually get free food on a flight, these days you’re often lucky enough to be able to pay for a snack.

But maybe not having food isn’t such a bad thing: airplane food is notoriously terrible. There are reasons for this: air pressure, low humidity and cabin noise deplete our taste buds , and airplane food is usually prepared elsewhere and reheated on the plane, which is not an ideal scenario for a delicious meal. But if you’re planning on snacking on your next flight, you can greatly up your game and increase your chances of truly enjoying your meal by trying one of these four tips.

Instant updates

You can, of course, eat before boarding or bring food on the plane. But if you don’t want to blow your budget on expensive airport fares, remember one thing: flight attendants are usually happy to bring you hot water.

What does it mean? This means you can bring instant noodles or instant oatmeal and instantly have a much better meal option. Cooking instant noodles and then adding sauces or oil, along with proteins, vegetables, or other parts of your free lunch, turns a questionable portion of microwaved food into a much more satisfying meal. Likewise, if you eat fruit and then mix it with hot oatmeal, you will have a filling and happy breakfast rather than a greasy and unsuccessful breakfast.

One word of caution: the water on your plane may not be the cleanest in the world . If you never order coffee on a plane because you’re hesitant about the water situation, skip this order or add your own water first and ask if the ramen can be microwaved.

Be spicy and piquant

Because our taste buds are sandbagged on an airplane, most of the food we’re served will taste bland and probably too salty (because it’s loaded with preservatives and airlines know how bland the food is). One way to improve the quality of your airplane food is to order the spiciest food you can find. Sometimes your choices are limited, but most airlines try to accommodate religious and dietary restrictions, so check if you can pre-book a Hindu food option . Anyone can order it, and you won’t steal anyone’s food. The benefit lies in the spices: these dishes tend to use more of them, counteracting the taste-bud-suppressing effects of cabin pressure and providing a more satisfying experience.

Also, if you have a choice of dishes, always choose the most savory option. Airplanes are dry, dry places, and these meals are cooked alive to make sure no one gets sick, so the more sauce you have, the less likely your food is to remind you of eating cardboard.

BYO seasonings

As an airplane passenger, you have a superpower: you can bring your own condiments with you. You know your food will disappoint you – it’s airline food . Of course it will be a disappointment. But! You can jazz it up with hot sauce, your own salad dressing, spicy mayonnaise or gourmet mustard, homemade spreads—anything you can pack in your carry-on in a secure container. There are people in this world who add hot sauce to every meal in their lives for a reason: it can transform the most bland and boring piece of chicken into a satisfying meal almost instantly. And any quality or homemade condiment or paste will allow you to deconstruct the food and reconstruct it as something much better.

pre order

Finally, don’t sit around like a sucker and wait to see what the aviation gods have in store for you. Pre-order your food like a smart person. Most airlines offer a range of options for pre-booking special meals, such as vegan or vegetarian meals (or, see Hindu meal option above), and you should do this for two main reasons:

1. Speed. Pre-ordered meals tend to arrive before other meals, meaning your meals will arrive hot and steaming rather than lukewarm and smashed. Vegetarian food will be easier and less harmful to the stomach and digestive system. And many people (including airline professionals) believe that “niche” meals are prepared in smaller portions and are therefore of higher quality.

2. Planning. By ordering your food in advance, you’ll know what you’re eating so you can bring the appropriate condiments and plan the rest of the meal.

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