The 13 Worst In-Flight Meals Ever
Airplane food. The mere mention conjures images of questionable protein, questionable freshness, and a desperate yearning for the days of free peanuts. While airlines like Emirates and Singapore Airlines are known for their luxurious spreads, budget carriers and long-haul flights can leave you staring down a culinary disaster. Here are 13 meals that will make you reconsider that overpriced airplane menu and opt for the limp pretzels of the pre-flight snack bar instead.
Mystery Meat
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Airlines are known for their cryptic descriptions, and some protein options defy identification entirely. This mystery meat could be poultry, beef, or some undiscovered land creature – the rubbery texture and complete lack of flavor do little to shed light. The mere taste might be enough to make you question your dietary choices and yearn for the predictability of a soggy bag of pretzels.
Fish Out of Water (Literally)
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Seafood is a gamble at 35,000 feet. Undercooked fish is a recipe for a turbulent stomach, while reheated fish can take on a distinctly unpleasant aroma that permeates the entire cabin. One whiff of questionable seafood can turn even the most adventurous eater into a staunch advocate for the in-flight beverage service (and maybe a strategically placed napkin).
Mac and Cheese Misery
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A childhood comfort food transformed into a culinary nightmare. This pale, flavorless lump of overcooked noodles and unidentified cheese product is a mockery of the real deal. Just a glance at this beige disaster might have you yearning for the days of burnt cafeteria mac and cheese – at least it had a distinct taste, even if unpleasant.
Egg-static Experience (Except Not in a Good Way)
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Rubber eggs with a greenish tinge and a pungent sulfurous aroma are enough to turn anyone off breakfast. These questionable orbs defy the laws of physics, remaining stubbornly solid even after reheating. One bite might have you clinging to the safety briefing card for dear life, desperately hoping for a time machine to rewind to a breakfast of cereal at home.
The Salad that Forgot it Was Supposed to be Fresh
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This “chef’s creation” consists of wilted lettuce that’s seen better days, limp vegetables that have surrendered their crispness to the dry cabin air, and a mystery dressing past its prime. The best part of this “salad” might be the plastic dome trapping in all the unappetizing aromas. This sorry excuse for greens will have you wishing you’d packed some zip-lock bags and a travel-sized bottle of your favorite vinaigrette – at least then, you could control the level of disappointment.
A Spicy Identity Crisis
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This offering is a distant cousin to the vibrant, flavorful enchiladas you might find at your local Mexican joint. The filling is a questionable meat mixture of indeterminate origin, and the “cheese sauce” appears to have forgotten about the concept of melting. One bite might leave you wondering if this dish even originated south of the border and longing for the taste of a genuine, cheesy enchilada – even a slightly burnt one would be a welcome relief.
The Continental Breakfast of Champions (Maybe Not)
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This supposed breakfast basket is a collection of disappointments. The sausages look overdone, dry, and chewy. Meanwhile, the cheese omelet, if you can even call it that, is a flavorless slab that wouldn’t melt if you held it over a volcano. This “continental” offering might have you questioning the entire concept of breakfast and yearning for the simplicity of a bowl of cereal – at least, that wouldn’t leave you feeling like you need to visit the dentist afterward.
Frozen Fruit Frenzy: A Blast from the Ice Age
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Imagine biting into a rock-solid berry that shatters on impact or a flavorless melon cube that has seen more birthdays than you’ve had hot meals. This “fruit plate” is a testament to the airplane freezer’s chilling powers. The fruit selection is a time capsule from a bygone era, frozen at its peak ripeness (or lack thereof) who-knows-when. This frozen tundra might have you re-evaluating your in-flight entertainment options – watching paint dry might be more stimulating than this culinary disappointment.
The Great Grain Debate: A Bland Odyssey
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Is it rice? Is it some kind of unidentified white mush? This mystery grain defies classification and flavor expectations. It possesses the texture of wet cardboard and the taste of disappointment. One mouthful might have you embarking on a philosophical journey about the nature of grains and the meaning of airplane food in general. Perhaps a bag of airplane peanuts, though a meager offering, would provide a more distinct taste sensation (and a more satisfying crunch).
A One-Way Ticket to Heartburn City
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Some airlines take “local flavors” a bit too literally. What appears to be an innocent curry can quickly transform into a firestorm on your taste buds, with chilies that could clear a blocked sinus and induce tears. You’re bound to end up reaching for multiple beverages (and praying for a clear path to the airplane restroom). This dish is a gamble not for the faint of heart (or stomach) and might make you yearn for the bland predictability of an airplane bread roll – at least it wouldn’t leave you gasping for air.
Unidentified Soup
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The murky green (or questionably brown hue of this mystery soup is enough to send shivers down your spine. The consistency is somewhere between sludge and questionable paste, and the only discernible ingredient might be a lonely carrot bobbing on the surface. One whiff might be enough to convince you to stick solely with beverages for the rest of the flight – dehydration might be a better alternative to this culinary enigma.
The Cheese Plate of Despair
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This supposed “sophisticated” option is a masterclass in mediocrity. The cheese selection resembles a collection of forgotten leftovers, dry and flavorless, with a texture that wouldn’t inspire a sonnet from even the most passionate cheese connoisseur. The crackers, if you can even call them that, are rock-hard and about as exciting as cardboard. The “fruit accompaniment” consists of mystery grapes that seem to have shriveled up in protest and a slice of melon that appears to be past its prime.
The Vegetarian Enigma
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Airlines often struggle with the concept of vegetarian cuisine. This offering is a limp salad adorned with a flavorless dressing that has forgotten the concept of vinaigrette. Alternatively, it could be a pile of overcooked mystery vegetables that have surrendered any semblance of color or texture. One bite might leave you wondering if vegetarians are secretly punished on airplanes and yearning for a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich – at least that would be a familiar (and hopefully edible) taste.