Cutlery influence the taste of food

• April 27, 2024

The size, weight, shape and color of the cutlery can affect the taste of food, suggests a recent study of Oxford University, in the United Kingdom

In the research, the participants perceived that the taste of the food, like white yogurt, was sweeter than pink yogurt when eaten with a white spoon, and the opposite occurred when a black spoon was used.

These findings may help people improve their eating habits by reducing portion sizes or the amount of salt they add to food, the researchers said.

"The way we perceive the taste of food is a multisensory experience that has to do with the taste , the sensation of the food in the mouth, the aroma and the appearance that it has before our eyes ", commented Vanessa Harrar and Charles Spence , of the University.

"Even before putting the food in your mouth, the brain He has already made a judgment about it, which affects the experience in general. "They found that yogurt appeared to be denser and more expensive when eaten with a plastic spoon.

White yogurt was described as sweeter, liked more and was considered more expensive than pink yogurt when eaten with a white spoon. These effects were the opposite when the yogurt of both colors was eaten with a black spoon.

When the participants were offered cheese with a knife, a spoon, a fork or a toothpick, they said that the cheese had a taste salty when they took it from the knife, according to the study, which appears in the magazine Flavor.

"Subtle changes in cutlery and utensils can affect how pleasurable or satisfying food looks," Harrar said. "When a dish is served, it must be taken into account that the color of the food seems different depending on the background in which it is presented, and therefore, it has a taste different".

This could also be used to control eating patterns, such as portion sizes or how much salt is added to the food. People could also choose better food choices if their associations rooted in color are less affected by constant advertising and packaging.

Previous research has shown that the weight and color of a dish can alter people's perceptions of how dense, salty or sweet the food tastes.
 

More information. The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders from USA UU has more information about taste and taste disorders.