Note if the color is consistent throughout or not. [1] X Research source Note if any liquids are transparent or not.
For example, a coarse sugar might remind you of sand.
If the packaging has any important parts that enable you to eat the food, do they work? For example, if the food item is a juice box, does the diameter of the straw fit in the hole that is cut for it?
For example, a cereal may smell of corn if that is an ingredient. Alternatively, a chocolate chip cookie might smell not only of vanilla but also remind you of your grandma’s house. If you’re having trouble smelling the food, break it up a bit with your fingers. [7] X Research source
You might consider if it crunches between your teeth or dissolves, for example. It can be helpful to think of texture, soft to hard, on a scale of 1-10. A numerical system can help if you are comparing different samples. Observe whether the food’s texture makes the food easy to swallow and eat or if the texture leaves your mouth dry.
Rate the sweetness, savoriness, sourness, and spiciness of the food. If you like, you can do so on a scale of 1-10. When tasting a food, it can be helpful to think about what’s pleasing about it and what you would change about it. Note the aftertaste, if any. For example, when tasting certain lasagna, you might note that it tastes like fresh tomatoes, pecorino cheese and too much oregano. Maybe it reminds you of a bad lasagna you had in a frozen dinner once because it has some sweetness you do not like (5/10). You could also note it is not spicy and not sour. The lasagna is dry and could use more tomato sauce.
Your sense of taste and smell is sharpest in the morning before eating other foods. This may be a good time of day to hold an evaluation.
If your food sample is oily, crunching on a cleansing food, such as raw carrots, before sipping water can cleanse your palate of some residual fats. [11] X Trustworthy Source University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities Go to source
For example, if you are giving direction to other testers, you might say at the beginning of the test, “Today, I want to find out if you like this blueberry muffin or not. ”
For example, if you are giving direction to other testers, you might say at the beginning of the test, “Today, we want to find out which color of ice cream you like best. ”
