Why does food taste different hot than in does cold?

Question

Things such as cheese on toast, cereal with hot milk or cold milk taste different when you heat them up than they do if you just eat them cold why?

Answer 1

Heating foods actually changes the chemical and molecular structure of the various chemicals and compunds that give food their taste.

Heating foods also changes the molecular structure of the fibre giving it a different texture.

Answer 2

Warmth increases the smell of food. Odour is a big part of what we conceive as being the taste in food. Think of rotting food in the garbage, lots of smell but unappetizing. Then - at the other end of the scale - even rotten food, when frozen, doesn't smell, and to eat it - whilst still cold - would be possible and a great deal less distasteful than if left to warm up. FOOD FOR THOUGHT?!

Answer 3

heat, especially in things like milk, will cause different acids and things to act differently, and that can affect their flavor. it can enhance some flavors, and it can cook the taste right OUT of something as well. depends on what you're cooking, and how.

Answer 4

Just a variations and common practice,but in some place ive been they do the reverse like coffee being serve cold in Thailand,ice cream in Malaysia served hot,eggplant eaten raw in some Asian countries,and there are more examples.

Answer 5

because heat makes the essential oils in your food evaporate: this way, they reach better the smell receptors in your nose - that's where most of "taste" resides.

(think of when you have a bad cold and can't taste anything!)

Answer 6

i think it's because the heat opens up the flavor and cold closes the flavor. this is a stupid answer, i don't know how to explain what i mean.

Answer 7

heat changes reactions and responses to the ingredients....it brings out flavor more-
think of a candle...when does it smell more? when lit right? exactly the same principle