One of the perks of working in the science building is that on a regular enough basis, you get a little card with an appointment time for you to come to the Nutrition Sciences lab and taste test for money. It's very simple actually: all you do is go in at your appointed time, go into a little cubicle where they slide trays out to you through a cool portal thing and then you proceed to answer questions about the various food samples like the appearance, the smell, the taste, the texture, and the overall evaluation. You usually have to go in for two sessions per testing day and you get $10! Score!
Today was margarine testing day and I must say it was not exactly enjoyable. I taste tested 20 different samples today and it was quite the experience let me tell you. Some of the margarine samples were a sickening pastel orange with the consistency of Play Doh while others were a frightening, almost neon-y, yellow with the texture of semi-melted butter. Eew. There were even a couple of samples I rated "dislike extremely" for appearance and taste. They provide you a saltine cracker and a small glass of water to refresh your taste before each sample and I'm not going to lie, that was the best part. I learned to take small bites so the lard-like taste on some wouldn't last as long. All is well though because today I earned $1o and tomorrow will be the same, except I get to taste test shortbread cookies instead! This is definitely a fun job sometimes! (I get to do more taste testing next week!)
6 comments:
What a bizarre way to make $10. I wouldn't be so keen on that since I'm such a picky eater, but it makes for a cool story.
My sister-on-law graduated in food science last April. She was always having to make up foods. I thought it was kind of a funny major.
Why would they let you, picky eater of the world be a taste tester? Anyway, did you have to eat the margarine plain, because that sounds nasty. I hope the cookies taste better.
I've always thought it was hilarious when Timm did taste-testing, now you're in on it too! That job has some pretty strange perks, eh? Margarine tasting sounds gross, but I could definitely get behind the shortbread cookies.
I am laughing out loud at the thought of YOU, my PICKIEST EATER, taste-testing something as inherently gross as margarine! Did you have to fill out some sort of application to get the tasting job? Do they KNOW what a finicky palate you have? Shouldn't this perhaps disqualify you from the taste-testing profession, unless of course the only thing they want you to try is chocolate and peanut butter? Whew! My gut hurts from laughing...
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