The Worst Airplane Food Ever To Be Served

Mystery meat sandwich

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Airplane meals have a mixed reputation, and while many airlines strive to provide quality food, there have been instances of less-than-appetizing dishes being served. A great example of this, is a mystery meat sandwich, which consists of some form of 'meat' in between two slices of limp bread.

Rubber chicken

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Chicken is a popular dish served on airlines, and can be prepared in a variety of ways. However, there have been numerous times when airline passengers have been served bland, rubbery chicken. Rubbery chicken often has the texture of sawdust, and can be extremely dry.

Overcooked pasta

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Pasta is yet another popular airline dish, and it is typically one of the 'safer' options available. However, there have been times when pasta has been completely overcooked, and then served to passengers. Overcooked pasta ends up being wet, limp, tasteless and uninspiring.

Stale bread rolls

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Bread rolls are typically served as an accompaniment to a meal, or as a form of appetizer. These bread rolls will be served with butter, and can be eaten hot or cold. On some airlines, passenger have experienced being served stale bread rolls...definitely not the best accompaniment for their dinner.

Soggy salad

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Salad can be a refreshing choice of food, and is typically served on short-haul flights/during the day. These salads can come with a range of toppings and dressings, which can really help elevate the flavor. Despite this, there are certain times on airlines, when passengers are served soggy, limp salad.

Cold omelette

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Omelettes are relatively easy to make, and are great for airlines to serve, as they don't require much storage space etc. Omelettes can be served plain, or with a selection of additional ingredients, and they're best served piping hot. However, this is not always the case with airlines.

Dry rice with mystery sauce

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Dry rice with a mystery sauce does not sound appetizing at all, and this is something that has been served to unsuspecting airline passengers. Rice can be a typical dish on certain airlines, and it will usually be served alongside steamed vegetables and a tasty sauce, just not 100% of the time.

Bland vegetarian option

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Vegetarian and vegan options may be limited on airline flights, but there are typically three choices given to passengers. The options are normally meat-free versions of other items on the menu e.g. lasagne, meat substitutes and vegetable based dishes (soup). Unfortunately, some of these options can be pretty bland.

Undercooked vegetables

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Steamed/boiled vegetables are a typical accompaniment for many airline dishes, and they can provide you with a much-needed supply of vitamins and fibre. The only thing worse than mushy, overcooked vegetables, is severely undercooked vegetables. They can be rock solid, and pretty much raw.

Burnt fish

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Fish is great alternative for pescatarians, or people that don't particularly want to eat any meat on their flight. Some airlines provide some great fish-based dishes, which can be surprisingly tasty. However this isn't always the case, as some passengers have had to deal with being served burnt fish.

Unappetizing gravy

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Gravy is typically an accompanying sauce for meat-based dishes e.g. roast dinner or chicken tenders. Gravy can vary in color, taste and thickness, and it has the ability to elevate or ruin a meal. Airline gravy is known, for not being the best quality gravy available.

Watery soup

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Soup is another standard airline dish, and there are typically two flavors available e.g. tomato soup and chicken noodle soup. The majority of airline soups will come from a can, or a batch cooker, and will be relatively thick in consistency. However, there have been cases of thin, watery soup being served.

Dry turkey

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Turkey isn't the most popular choice of meat on an airline menu, as it is typically served within business or first-class. The turkey will usually be served alongside steamed vegetables and gravy. Unfortunately, some passengers have had to deal with being served dry turkey.

Reheated pizza

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Pizza is a great option for young children that are flying, or people that don't want to eat a heavy meal whilst travelling. The majority of airlines will have fresh pizzas onboard, and they will be served to order, to ensure that every passenger has a hot meal. Despite this, there have been instances of reheated pizza being served.

Tasteless beef stew

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Beef stew may not seem like the most obvious choice of airline meal, but it is available on some airlines, especially on long-haul flights. The portions of beef stew are relatively small, and will be served with vegetables and a dinner roll. Unfortunately, some beef stews are completely tasteless.

Flavorless rice and beans

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Another potentially flavorless airline meal, is rice and beans. Rice and beans is a staple meal within certain parts of the world, and will be offered on specific airlines. It can be a bad airline meal to choose, as the rice can be overcooked, and the beans can be undercooked.

Gluey mashed potatoes

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Mashed potato is another standard side dish/accompaniment on airlines, and can be served by itself (if/when necessary). Airline mash is relatively tasty, but obviously it doesn't compare to freshly made mash. In some cases, airline mashed potato can be gluey, thick and tasteless.

Overcooked broccoli

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Broccoli is a popular vegetable choice on airlines, and will usually be included within a vegetable medley. The majority of airlines will use steamed broccoli, that can be heated to order, but this can lead to broccoli being overcooked. Some passengers have had to deal with being served limp, overcooked broccoli.

Limp green beans

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Staying on the topic of vegetables, green beans are a common side dish for many airline meals. Similarly to broccoli, green beans are typically steamed, and heated to order. Despite this, there have been occasions where the green beans are overcooked, and become limp.

Soggy French fries

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French fries are a common side dish, and can be served with a dish or alone. They are typically served for young children flying, or passengers that only want a small portion of food. Unfortunately, due to the method airlines use to heat French fries, they can become soggy and inedible.

Cardboard-like chicken tenders

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Chicken tenders are a great choice for children, and for passengers that only want a small snack whilst travelling. They are typically served with French fries, gravy or sauce e.g. ketchup, mayonnaise or ranch. For some passengers, they have been served cardboard-like chicken tenders, that are dry and stringy.

Gelatinous dessert

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For long-haul flights will typically serve three-course meals, so passengers have a choice of dessert to finish their meal off with. These desserts can range in choices and flavor e.g. chocolate cake, jelly and ice-cream, fruit salad and tea/coffee. Unfortunately, some of these desserts can be gelatinous and unappealing.

Stale pretzels

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As well as main course meals, many airlines also offer snack options and drinks. Snack choices will vary from airline-to-airline, with some airlines offering pretzels. Pretzels are typically packets of small pretzel shapes, but they can be larger as well. Some pretzels are served, and they are (unfortunately) stale.

Stale peanuts

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Yet another staple airline snack choice, is peanuts. These can range in flavor e.g. plain, salted and dry-roasted. Similarly to pretzels, peanuts are served in small packets, to allow easy snacking. Unfortunately, it is quite common for these packets of peanuts to be served in a stale condition.

Overcooked sausage

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Sausage is another airline menu item that can be tasty, but also has the potential to be completely inedible. Sausage will typically be included within the following meals: casserole, sausage and mashed potatoes, sausage and baked beans and sausage and vegetables. Sausages are often overcooked on airlines.

Overcooked bacon

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Staying on the topic of overcooked meats, bacon is another menu item that is typically served overcooked. This means it is served to passengers, and they have to deal with burnt, tough, chewy and measly portions of bacon rashers. This is due to the method of cooking/heating the bacon, on-board the aircraft.

Uninspiring cereal and milk

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For early flights, airlines will alter their menu choices slightly, so that breakfast items are made available e.g. milk and cereal. Unfortunately, the majority of airlines (especially if they're low-budget) don't have many options for cereal. They will typically be uninspiring, and will be served with room-temperature milk packets.

Overcooked noodles

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Noodles are another hot snack option, but they can be served with other accompanying menu items. Airlines will typically offer a couple of flavor options e.g. beef, chicken and vegetable, but they are not the best choice of airline food. They are normally overcooked, and completely bland.

Bland eggs

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Eggs are a common airline menu item, and will be served during breakfast, lunch and dinner (in a variety of forms). For the most part, airline eggs are edible and are improved with the use of seasoning/sauce. However, they can be completely bland and rubbery.

Lukewarm lasagne

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Lasagne is another airline staple, and can be served normally, in a vegetarian style and in a vegan style. It is one of the more popular dinner choices among passengers, and is great for people on long-haul flights, as it is a filling dish. Despite this, they can be served lukewarm, due to the heating method used onboard the aircraft.