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  4. This is what airline chefs actually do to prepare passenger meals onboard

This is what airline chefs actually do to prepare passenger meals onboard

This is what airline chefs actually do to prepare passenger meals onboard
Austrian Airlines onboard chefAustrian Airlines
  • Flying chefs are slowly returning to the sky after the pandemic suspended the high-touch service.
  • Inflight chefs are responsible for food preparation and taste but do not cook from scratch onboard.

Receiving an inflight meal on long-haul flights is the standard on most international carriers. Passengers can expect anything from a chicken or steak dish to eggs or pasta.

Receiving an inflight meal on long-haul flights is the standard on most international carriers. Passengers can expect anything from a chicken or steak dish to eggs or pasta.
Onboard meal      Tyler Olson/Shutterstock

However, airplane food has not always been something passengers look forward to because of concerns it could taste mediocre, lack freshness, or contain questionable ingredients.

However, airplane food has not always been something passengers look forward to because of concerns it could taste mediocre, lack freshness, or contain questionable ingredients.
Preparing meals onboard      Milkovasa/Shutterstock

So, airlines are changing the expectation of meals onboard and have taken several routes to make that happen. For example, JetBlue introduced "Dig" dishes on its transatlantic routes for the economy cabin, which allow passengers to build their own meal right from their seatback screens.

So, airlines are changing the expectation of meals onboard and have taken several routes to make that happen. For example, JetBlue introduced "Dig" dishes on its transatlantic routes for the economy cabin, which allow passengers to build their own meal right from their seatback screens.
Flying JetBlue Airways from New York to London.      Thomas Pallini/Insider

The food is prepared fresh on the ground and passengers can select one of three entrees and two of three hot and cold sides dishes, making each meal customizable and personal.

The food is prepared fresh on the ground and passengers can select one of three entrees and two of three hot and cold sides dishes, making each meal customizable and personal.
Flying JetBlue Airways from New York to London.      Thomas Pallini/Insider

Meanwhile, some airlines have taken a different approach and have employed onboard chefs to improve the meal experience for premium class passengers.

Meanwhile, some airlines have taken a different approach and have employed onboard chefs to improve the meal experience for premium class passengers.
Turkish Airlines onboard chef      Turkish Airlines

Only five carriers worldwide offer this service, including Turkish Airlines….

Only five carriers worldwide offer this service, including Turkish Airlines….
Turkish Airlines onboard chef      Turkish Airlines

Saudia ...

Saudia ...
Saudia chef      Saudia

Source: Saudia

Garuda Indonesia ….

Garuda Indonesia ….
Garuda Indonesia onboard chef      Garuda Indonesia

Gulf Air…

Gulf Air…
Gulf Air onboard chef      Gulf Air

Source: Gulf Air

And Austrian Airlines.

And Austrian Airlines.
Austrian Airlines onboard chef      Austrian Airlines

Etihad Airways formerly employed onboard chefs but dropped the service due to the pandemic in an effort to lower costs.

Etihad Airways formerly employed onboard chefs but dropped the service due to the pandemic in an effort to lower costs.
Etihad onboard chef      Lester Cohen/Contributor/Getty Images

When someone hears "flying chef," they may picture the employees cooking each individual appetizer, entree, and dessert right in the galley over an open flame at 35,000 feet, but that is not reality.

When someone hears "flying chef," they may picture the employees cooking each individual appetizer, entree, and dessert right in the galley over an open flame at 35,000 feet, but that is not reality.
Airline meal kitchen on the ground      Austrian Airlines

Instead, the food experts are responsible for presentation, garnishing, and minor last-minute modifications for taste, like adding a sauce or spice. They do not cook from scratch in the galleys or a dedicated kitchen. Rather, food is pre-made on the ground and then reheated in the sky.

Instead, the food experts are responsible for presentation, garnishing, and minor last-minute modifications for taste, like adding a sauce or spice. They do not cook from scratch in the galleys or a dedicated kitchen. Rather, food is pre-made on the ground and then reheated in the sky.
Austrian Airlines onboard chef      Austrian Airlines

However, there are some foods, like eggs and steaks, that are made in small ovens concealed in the galleys.

However, there are some foods, like eggs and steaks, that are made in small ovens concealed in the galleys.
Ovens in galley of A380      Suchanun R/Shutterstock

Because chefs have access to some cooking equipment and ingredients, they can modify meals based on traveler requests.

Because chefs have access to some cooking equipment and ingredients, they can modify meals based on traveler requests.
Chefs can modify onboard meals      Turkish Airlines

For example, if a passenger orders a meal but does not like one ingredient or has a dietary restriction, chefs can swap it out for another from a different dish. Flight attendants do not always have the bandwidth to do that on other carriers.

For example, if a passenger orders a meal but does not like one ingredient or has a dietary restriction, chefs can swap it out for another from a different dish. Flight attendants do not always have the bandwidth to do that on other carriers.
Turkish onboard meal      Turkish Airlines

Once the meals are ready, the flight attendants and chefs serve the dishes to the passengers and help with pairing the food with certain drinks, like red or white wine.

Once the meals are ready, the flight attendants and chefs serve the dishes to the passengers and help with pairing the food with certain drinks, like red or white wine.
Austrian Airlines meal service      Austrian Airlines

In many cases, passengers will not see the chefs before or after the meal service, and they typically wear flight attendant uniforms before changing into their chef uniform to prepare food.

In many cases, passengers will not see the chefs before or after the meal service, and they typically wear flight attendant uniforms before changing into their chef uniform to prepare food.
Chef prepares meal      Reuters

While having five-star made-to-order dishes onboard would be the height of luxury, flying chefs do add to the passenger experience by offering customizable meals, enhanced taste, and personalized customer service.

While having five-star made-to-order dishes onboard would be the height of luxury, flying chefs do add to the passenger experience by offering customizable meals, enhanced taste, and personalized customer service.
Flying chefs      Turkish Airlines

Furthermore, airlines with this service typically invest more into their food products and source fresh ingredients that are quickly transferred from the kitchen to the aircraft, meaning the meals have not sat for a long time before being reheated.

Furthermore, airlines with this service typically invest more into their food products and source fresh ingredients that are quickly transferred from the kitchen to the aircraft, meaning the meals have not sat for a long time before being reheated.
Workers prepare meals for airlines in a kitchen in Indonesia      BK Awangga/Shutterstock

Moreover, heating up the food individually and then assembling them on plates rather than all together in containers can make all the difference in freshness and taste.

Moreover, heating up the food individually and then assembling them on plates rather than all together in containers can make all the difference in freshness and taste.
Onboard meal      Aureliy/Shutterstock

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