Can music actually make our food taste better?

Virgin Radio

14 Jan 2022, 15:50

Credit: Pixabay

Extensive research from an Oxford University study has found that different sounds can elevate the tastes of certain foods.

Professor Charles Spence, an experimental psychologist working at the University, found there may be a correlation between different styles of music and their enhancement of flavours.

His research team conducted the experiment by choosing four distinct styles of music, high pitch, low pitch, staccato (short) sounds and legato (smooth) sounds.

They paired the sounds with different flavours to see how their senses overlapped when eating and listening- and it produced some tasty results.

According to their research, high pitched music will enhance the sweetness of food whereas low pitched sounds enhance more bitter tastes.

Staccato sounds go best with crunchy food and creamier flavours are enriched by smooth legato music.

The research was presented by Wren Kitchens, who then took it upon themselves to pair some meal ideas with good song recommendations to enhance the flavours:

High pitched songs

Sticky honey chicken

Ingredients:

  • 500g chicken breast / Firm Tofu

  • 3 tbsp honey

  • 3 tbsp soy sauce

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons corn-starch

  • 3 garlic cloves minced

  • Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe:

  1. Cut the chicken breast / tofu into bite sized pieces, season with salt and pepper and cover in corn-starch.
  2. Mix honey, soy sauce, garlic in a bowl and set aside.
  3. Fry your chicken / tofu on medium-high heat with olive oil for 5-6 minutes until almost fully cooked.
  4. Toss in your honey mixture and cook on low for an extra 2 minutes.

Recommended Songs:

Mariah Carey –We Belong Together

Christina Aguilera – Hurt 

Low pitched songs

A rich, decadent dark chocolate molten cake

Ingredients:

  • 200g dark chocolate

  • 175g unsalted butter and extra to grease

  • 3 large eggs

  • 125g light brown sugar

  • 60g plain flour

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Recipe:

  1. Preheat your oven to 200C / 180C fan / Gas mark 6 and grease your moulds with butter.
  1. Put your butter and dark chocolate in a bowl and set over boiling water to melt (or put it in the microwave for 30 second bursts while stirring between) then set aside to cool.
  2. Whisk together the eggs and sugar in a separate bowl then pour in the chocolate mixture. Sift the flour in and fold until combined.
  3. Bake in the oven for 20 mins.
  4. Serve immediately with cream or ice cream if you fancy.

Vegan alternative:

If you’re looking for a vegan alternative, try switching the butter for plant-based butter or margarine (same measurement). For the eggs, try using Aquafaba (9 tbsp or 3 tbsp per egg). Then just make sure you use a plant-based friendly chocolate.

Recommended Songs:

Tracey Chapman – Fast Car [6]

Johnny Cash – Ring of fire [7]

Staccato sounds

Fresh Caesar salad with crunchy garlic croutons

Ingredients:

  • 1 Romaine lettuce head leaves separated

  • 1 medium loaf of crusty white stale bread

  • 3 tbsp olive oil

  • 3 garlic cloves crushed

  • Caesar dressing

  • Salt and pepper

  • 50g parmigiana Reggiano

Recipe:

  1. Preheat your oven to
  2.  
  3. 200C / 180C fan / Gas mark 6.
  4. In a mixing bowl, combine the garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper.
  5. Shred your bread with you hands and coat with garlic oil mixture.
  6. Place onto a baking tray and bake for 7-10 mins or until golden. Make sure to keep an eye on it.
  7. Cut up your lettuce and dress with Caesar dressing.
  8. Plate up your lettuce and scatter your croutons on top along with your parmigiana Reggiano.

Vegan alternative:

If you’re wanting a vegan alternative, just make sure to use a plant-based Caesar dressing, and for the Parmigiana either nutritional yeast or a plant-based cheese alternative.

Recommended Songs:

Tom Jones – Delilah [8]

Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky [9]

Legato sounds

(Legato being notes that are played or sung smoothly and connected)

A deliciously creamy spaghetti Carbonara

Ingredients:

  • 3 egg yolks

  • 50g parmigiana Reggiano

  • 100g fresh spaghetti

  • 75g pancetta or bacon lardons

  • Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe:

  1. Fry your pancetta or bacon with a dash of olive oil until crispy and set aside.
  2. Cook your spaghetti per packet instructions.
  3. Whisk together your egg and parmigiana Reggiano and season with pepper.
  4. When pasta is cook, reserve some pasta water and strain.
  5. Taking it off the heat, add in your bacon and egg mixture and stir in pasta water to loosen.
  6. Serve up with some extra parmigiana Reggiano on top.

Vegan alternative:

For a vegan alternative, try switching the bacon/pancetta for plant-based meat replacements, the eggs for a vegan cream (240ml), the parmigiana for nutritional yeast (3tbs), and then some white miso paste (1/2 tsp).

Recommended Songs:

Frank Sinatra – New York New York [10]

Further information on the study can be found on their blog.

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