Can something be delicious while having a bad texture?

Question

My friend and I are having an argument about whether or not something's flavor depends on its texture. I am of the opinion that flavor is entirely independent from texture and that something can have a bad texture while still being delicious. My friend on the other hand thinks that something with an awful texture (too chewy, too hard, too soft, etc) would therefore have a lesser taste and be incapable of being delicious.

We both agree that texture is important in judging a food and can make a food good or bad. The disagreement is in whether or not it actually affects taste. I know that this really all comes down to semantics, but we are both stubborn and it has become a very heated debate.

We are mostly looking for chefs' and other food professionals' opinions on the matter, but others are more than welcome to comment as well.

Thank you,
-giusti

Answer 1

Yes and No ~I have been cooking for over 45 years and taste is the most important element not texture or presentation Taste ,Texture ,and Presentation, all 3 together make it wonderful and over the top ..of course whenever we cook that is what we always strive for ,all 3 .. Key is what proper texture is supposed to be in that particular food .. hard? soft? creamy?....Toffee is very hard, marshmallows are gooey, marshmallow cream is soft and runny soup has a very watery texture and creamed soups can have a weird texture and look pretty weird yet be delicious Ice cream has a very different texture than most foods. Fruit salads vegetable salads, jello salads & molds & casseroles combine many textures and flavors But the wrong texture in a particular recipe will actually ruin a good tastiing recipe like a very runny cheese dip . a cake that is very dry or hard or grainy can be disastrous Some cakes are made to be heavy like fruitcake but... some are not If a fruitcake batter is too light it will not hold and bind the fruits properly and can ruin the fruitcake because of texture.. Proper texture depends on the particular food as there are so many kinds of textures and food combinations..What good is texture if it does not taste good? What good is presentation if it does not taste good? Now texture does play a big part in taste for instance if a brownie is supposed to be chewy and is hard or grainy ,that plays a part in the brownie taste or if the middle of a cheesecake was not cooked thru and it is very runny that can also be unappetizing on the other hand If that brownie has wonderful texture and does not have flavor no one wants to eat it and the same for the cheesecake without flavor it does not matter how good the texture is. "It ain't fit to eat " as Grandpa always says ..Flavor does not depend entirely on texture but flavor and texture do work together...

Answer 2

I don't think flavor is dependent on texture, but for a person who only likes certain textures - soft, smooth, non-grainy, for example - they would get less enjoyment out of eating something like beef jerky than if the beef were not dried, say a tender pot roast. My bf hates tough foods because he has sensitive teeth. Have you ever thought to think that some people enjoy different types of texture that others don't and that it adds to their eating pleasure? I am just not happy with a salad that doesn't have chopped celery and carrots and croutons in it because I like crunchy, even hard foods. Don't give me soup without crackers either. When it comes to food, both flavor and texture are important to people, but people have preferences with both.

Answer 3

you may have a hiatus hernia or hiatal hernia. An expansion/ hardening of the lower esophagus/ upper stomach that effects the passage of food Stretching may give relief, but if you still have acid coming up into the esophagus then it will be a waste of time. With the prevention of acid entering the esophagus, this should help prevent the burning and hardening of the esophagus. With meats especially dry meats, this can be a nightmare. With these meats etc, take smaller bites and drink liquids after ever bite even thought it may not feel like food is stuck. This will ensure thorough flushing of the esophagus. If you have been to the doctors and they suggested stretching the esophagus, you must mean that a Gastroenterologist has suggested this. Did they put a scope in you to see what your esophagus looks like? They might have mentioned the hiatal hernia etc. They should have if they are a gastroenterologists.

Answer 4

Of Course !!! Take THESE Examples: Jello, Cheeto's, M&M's, Peanuts and Granola Bars. ALL have wildly varying Textures & Tastes, and yet MOST people would find them Delicious! So Methinks it depends MORE on the Tastes of the Individual- than it does on the food they're Consuming... -For AS the "Saying Goes,"- there's NO accounting- for Taste ! :)

Answer 5

Think of the melted cheese on a pizza. do they look good? do they have nice texture? but do they fail to make you drool? hmm yummy even to think of it!



it's like this. texture is important because it makes a first impression. your eyes and nose eat first before your mouth does. it might sound funny but you must first be impressed with the look of a food, then it must have a good aroma so that you appreciate the taste. it's the main reason chefs decorate their food. sometimes the dishes you eat in hotels are not so tastier than your mother's cooking but they seem scrumptious because they've already succeeded in seducing you with their appearance and aroma.

so it's kinda disadvantage to those who can cook a tasty meal but don't know how to make them look or smell good.

Answer 6

Yes i find straberry icecream delicouse but i hate the little strawberrys in it giving it a bumy texture same with vanilla bean....but if someone asked if i like strawberry icecream i wouls still say i love it...but i would prefere it without the bumpiness so what...it's like when you cook a sauce with out stirring it to often it get lumpy which is gross but the taste is relitivly the same DELICOUSE

Answer 7

hell yes i made this like crapy dence cake it tasted so good