ADVERTISEMENT

Enjoying your meal is about more than just taste, which, after all, comes after the initial sensation of actually seeing it.

A popular saying claims that we eat with our eyes too, so Bored Panda decided to test the validity of this phrase and put together a collection of oddly satisfying food pictures.

From a pristine McDonald's hamburger bun to a symmetrical striped cake, continue scrolling to participate in our "study" and see if the images are enough to make your stomach growl. Bon appétit.

#1

A Koi Pond Mousse Cake For Father’s Day. Everything On The Cake Is Edible

A Koi Pond Mousse Cake For Father’s Day. Everything On The Cake Is Edible

petrichoro Report

#2

Due To Depression At The Time I Never Posted One Of My Most Beautiful Loaves I've Ever Baked: Pumpkin

Due To Depression At The Time I Never Posted One Of My Most Beautiful Loaves I've Ever Baked: Pumpkin

JimmyMus Report

If the photos, for some reason, aren't enough and you still need more proof that the way a chef plates and presents their food has a big impact on the guest's experience, consider this experiment from Oxford psychologist, Professor Charles Spence.

Inspired by Wassily Kandinsky's 'Painting Number 201', the Franco-Columbian chef and fellow co-author of the study Charles Michel designed a salad resembling the abstract artwork.

#3

This Peacock Cake And Cupcakes

This Peacock Cake And Cupcakes

Malizzi Cakes Report

Add photo comments
POST
burrows-j3 avatar
J Burrows
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is that "oddly" satisfying? It's clearly straight up satisfying!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#4

I Made An Apple Tart For Christmas And Wanted People To See It

I Made An Apple Tart For Christmas And Wanted People To See It

emkay95 Report

Add photo comments
POST
bantrobel avatar
La Petite Morte
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's amazing! All the time that took, wow. I bet it tastes as awesome as it looks.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

Perfectly Executed Cranberry Tart

Perfectly Executed Cranberry Tart

beekay90 Report

"A number of chefs now are realising that they are being judged by how their foods photograph – be it in the fancy cookbooks [or], more often than not, when diners Instagram their friends," Professor Spence explained.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thirty men and thirty women were each presented with one of three salads containing identical ingredients, arranged either to resemble the Kandinsky painting, a regular tossed salad, or a "neat" formation where each component was spaced away from the others.

#6

Got My First Tart Pan Recently. White Chocolate And Cranberry Tart

Got My First Tart Pan Recently. White Chocolate And Cranberry Tart

f4cev4lue Report

#7

I Call Them "Snookies" (Snail Cookies)

I Call Them "Snookies" (Snail Cookies)

stirphanie Report

#8

First Attempt At Making Cedric Grolet's Apple Tart. It's Not Perfect, But I'm Really Proud

First Attempt At Making Cedric Grolet's Apple Tart. It's Not Perfect, But I'm Really Proud

luax14 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Christmas Cake I Made For A Holiday Baking Competition At My Office

Christmas Cake I Made For A Holiday Baking Competition At My Office

DolphinGirlLJ Report

Seated alone at a table mimicking a restaurant setting, and unaware that other versions of the salad were on offer, each participant was given two questionnaires asking them to rate various aspects of the meal on a scale of 1 to 10, both before and after digging in.

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Homemade Charcuterie Board

Homemade Charcuterie Board

United-Management958 Report

#12

Homemade Ravioli With Pressed Flowers And Dill

Homemade Ravioli With Pressed Flowers And Dill

itssjulss Report

#13

My First Striped Cake. Pineapple Cake With Elderflower Buttercream

My First Striped Cake. Pineapple Cake With Elderflower Buttercream

BakedExp Report

Add photo comments
POST
amyzhang2010 avatar
HelluvaHedgehogAlien
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such talent! I tried, but I couldn’t always get colors in cream to stay nice and neat.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Before the participants of the study sampled their plateful, the Kandinsky-inspired dish was rated higher for complexity, artistic presentation and general liking. Participants were prepared to pay twice as much for the meal as for either the regular or "neat arrangements."

After finishing off their portion, participants also rated the Kandinsky-esque salad higher for "tastiness," despite it receiving similar ratings to the other salads for the four basic components of taste: salty, bitter, sweet, and sour.

#15

Sushi That’s Almost Too Perfect To Eat

Sushi That’s Almost Too Perfect To Eat

JD_1925 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#16

I Made A Strawberry Vanilla Crepe Cake For My Mom

I Made A Strawberry Vanilla Crepe Cake For My Mom

TheCroatianCookie Report

#17

My Friend Let Her Chickens Loose On A Watermelon. They Picked It Clean

My Friend Let Her Chickens Loose On A Watermelon. They Picked It Clean

6295 Report

Of course, teasing apart exactly which aspect of the salads' presentation affected how much participants were willing to pay for a dish, and their perception of its "tastiness," is a tricky endeavor.

But the authors of the study suggest that the perceived effort involved in preparing the plate and its aesthetic appeal could be among the factors influencing participants.

#18

My Wife's First Attempt At A Charcuterie Board. How'd She Do?

My Wife's First Attempt At A Charcuterie Board. How'd She Do?

dylanspencer11 Report

#20

I Made These Little Cheeseburger Macarons Filled With Homemade Chocolate Ganache

I Made These Little Cheeseburger Macarons Filled With Homemade Chocolate Ganache

DomesticatedAnarchy Report

#21

My Cake I Just Popped Out Of The Cake Tin Did Not Break At All. Feels Good

My Cake I Just Popped Out Of The Cake Tin Did Not Break At All. Feels Good

RealMeggarra Report

ADVERTISEMENT

To put it simply, expectations were raised [with the Kandinsky-eque salad] and that led to the willingness to spend more and to an increased experience during consumption. The presentation of a dish can excite us and make us more present during the course.

If you want to continue with testing this theory, fire up our older publication 169 Oddly Satisfying Food Photos That We Can’t Stop Looking At.

#22

Put Cream In The Mug First, And My Coffee Maker Created This Visible Color Gradient

Put Cream In The Mug First, And My Coffee Maker Created This Visible Color Gradient

now_in3D Report

#24

Natural Honeycomb

Natural Honeycomb

Proteon Report

Add photo comments
POST
amyzhang2010 avatar
HelluvaHedgehogAlien
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like some kind of modern architectural building… or maybe the building looks like a hive XD

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Homemade Snoopy Chicken Curry

Homemade Snoopy Chicken Curry

oceansunfish17 Report

#26

Cranberry Curd Tart In A Gingerbread Crust

Cranberry Curd Tart In A Gingerbread Crust

Suitable-Concert Report

Add photo comments
POST
jenmower avatar
TheNewJenBrady
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brain mixed up 'curd tart' and read it as 'turd cart' lol I need sleep

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

First Chocolate Tart

First Chocolate Tart

Extrafluffymeowloaf Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

Here's A Cornucopia I Made Out Of Bread For Thanksgiving

Here's A Cornucopia I Made Out Of Bread For Thanksgiving

123comicbro Report

#30

Homemade Peppermint Macarons

Homemade Peppermint Macarons

AURA_MephiIes Report

Add photo comments
POST
bantrobel avatar
La Petite Morte
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, that's beautiful. Macarons are so hard to bake without cracking or slumping.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

Perfectly Assembled Sprinkles

Perfectly Assembled Sprinkles

pokeaim Report

#32

Focaccia Bread Out Of The Oven, Per Request

Focaccia Bread Out Of The Oven, Per Request

havkson Report

#33

Homemade Chocolate Butter Croissant

Homemade Chocolate Butter Croissant

input36 Report

#34

My Mom Was So Sad When My Grandmother Passed Away Cause She Would Miss Her Cheesecake, So For The Last 7 Years, I Have Been Making Her One Every Year For Christmas

My Mom Was So Sad When My Grandmother Passed Away Cause She Would Miss Her Cheesecake, So For The Last 7 Years, I Have Been Making Her One Every Year For Christmas

skydivesre Report

Add photo comments
POST
espresso-overload avatar
SuperChicken
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're a sweet daughter and granddaughter, Op. I bet, your Mom appreciates it and loves that delectable-looking cheesecake.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#36

Cream Cheese Bread Turned Out So Good

Cream Cheese Bread Turned Out So Good

YohoPlanet Report

#37

The Most Perfect Loaf Of Bread I’ve Ever Made

The Most Perfect Loaf Of Bread I’ve Ever Made

_grumpycat1 Report

#41

Homemade Ratatouille, Hand-Cut

Homemade Ratatouille, Hand-Cut

bardezart Report

Add photo comments
POST
madmolf avatar
Mat O'Dowd
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bravo it's beautiful, in France we call it a Tian de légumes Provençal !

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

This Perfect Pudding

This Perfect Pudding

Babythoven Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#44

This Freshly Baked Croissant

This Freshly Baked Croissant

Kummunista Report

#45

This Perfectly Ripe, Tiny Seed Avocado

This Perfectly Ripe, Tiny Seed Avocado

reddit.com Report

#47

How This Frozen Diet Pepsi Exploded

How This Frozen Diet Pepsi Exploded

iBleeedorange Report

Add photo comments
POST
bbbrohamer avatar
SonicAlchemy
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always do this 😆 I'm really picky about soda being ice cold so I always stick one in the freezer and end up forgetting about it. Never had one explode in such an artistic manner, though. I end up having to gut the freezer and wipe everything down because mine always explode like an ink bomb.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

Just Made A Batch Of Caramels And After Cutting Them I Had An Oddly Satisfying Moment

Just Made A Batch Of Caramels And After Cutting Them I Had An Oddly Satisfying Moment

MarlyMonster Report

#49

Homemade Sourdough Blueberry Croissant

Homemade Sourdough Blueberry Croissant

That0neBelgian Report

Add photo comments
POST
bbbrohamer avatar
SonicAlchemy
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks more like a food coloring job to me. Blueberries in any form would never be that vibrant and fluorescent.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

The Spaghetti Arranging Itself In My Pan

The Spaghetti Arranging Itself In My Pan

NelsonMinar Report

Note: this post originally had 140 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda