11 Bizarre Rituals That Will Make Your Food Taste Delicious

Terrible at cooking? Don’t fret. Simply perform a bizarre ritual and your food will soon be bursting with flavour. Have a break and come with KITKAT on a gastronomic journey like no other.

1. Tucking into some Thai food? Do us all a favour and listen to Michael Bublé.

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Listening to Michael Bublé is bound to make anything taste better, but did you know there is a "study" that claims the Canadian’s music might actually improve the taste of Thai food?

Last year, Oxford University psychologist Professor Charles Spence was roped in by takeaway service Just Eat to test the effects of music when matched with various types of food. Apparently Bublé did a fine job at improving the taste of Thai cuisine. We’ll let you judge the science behind the findings.

2. But lend your ears to Pavarotti if Italian food is more your thing.

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The same study suggested Pavarotti's billowing "Nessun Dorma" as an ideal accompaniment to Italian cuisine.

Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!

3. Or sit in silence.

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Background noises, however, can reduce the salty and sweet taste in food according to another study. So silence at the dinner table, please.

4. Turn homemade pizzas into your favourite celebrities.

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If you like the look of your food, then the chances are it will taste better. This is why Michelin-starred chefs pay an enormous amount of attention to how they plate their food.

But there's nothing to stop you having fun and creating artistic food in your own home. How about taking a bite from a portrait of Simon Cowell on a pizza? Remember: This is homemade pizza, so think outside of the box!

5. Share photographs of all your meals on social media.

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That's right. Much to the delight of people who photograph every single thing they eat, some scientists have claimed that "rituals enhance the enjoyment of consumption". It's a sweeping claim, which some have taken to include the "ritual" of sharing photos of food on social media.

Tell that to the next cynical person who tells you to put your phone away at the dinner table. They clearly don't know anything about food.

6. Blow out candles before every meal.

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The same study goes on to describe how "ritualistic behaviours" can also include seemingly insignificant experiences, such as blowing out candles on a birthday cake.

Don't forget to make a wish!

7. Or celebrate every meal with Christmas crackers.

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What can possibly be wrong about celebrating Christmas every day with a festive ritual? Don't be a scrooge!

8. Share a funny joke before you tuck in.

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Professor Charles Spence also claims that lowering stress can enhance the taste of your food. Lightening the mood around the table with a hilarious joke, for example, is one simple way to tingle those taste buds.

9. Never eat yoghurt using a metal spoon.

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Did you know that yoghurt will taste more expensive if eaten using a light plastic spoon? You probably didn't. As bizarre as it sounds, participants in the study found yoghurt "denser" and "more expensive" when tasted using a lighter spoon compared to heavier substitutes.

10. Book a flight if you have a craving for tomato juice.

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Tomato juice tastes better if you happen to be 30,000ft in the air, according to a German scientist. The study found that 23% of people who ordered tomato juice in the air would not have chosen to drink it on the ground.

The scientist behind the study, Dr Andrea Burdack-Freitag, explained how cabin pressure influences how much salt and sugar we can taste in food and drink, such as tomato juice.

11. Always serve sweet desserts on a round plate.

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Think twice about your crockery the next time you dine on a slice of cheesecake. Researchers at the University of Newfoundland claimed round plates can enhance the sweetness in food. Give your sweet desserts the round plates they deserve!

Last but not least, everyone swears by their personal KITKAT eating ritual. Whether you snap your KITKAT, nibble it delicately, or dunk it in your cuppa... there's no right or wrong way to have a break! Find out more:

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