Why chips are more delicious when taken from someone else’s plate
A new study has found that French fries taste significantly better when taken from someone else's plate, particularly in high-risk or covert scenarios. Participants reported nearly 40% greater enjoyment when stealing the chips compared to receiving them directly or as a gift. The research suggests that the thrill of transgression and social risk enhances the perceived taste. The effect aligns with psychological and economic principles linking scarcity and forbidden access to increased desire.
- ▪The study by Valentin Skryabin involved 120 participants tasting identical chips acquired in different social contexts.
- ▪Chips taken covertly, especially from a stern-looking stranger, were rated as tastier than those given directly or as gifts.
- ▪Guilt and excitement were linked to higher enjoyment, but the context of acquisition was the strongest predictor of taste perception.
- ▪The findings support psychological theories that forbidden or risky behavior can amplify sensory pleasure.
- ▪The experiment simulated transgression without real consequences to isolate emotional responses to unauthorized actions.
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NewsUKHome NewsWhy chips are more delicious when taken from someone else’s plateA new study has found that forbidden food does indeed taste better Holly Evans Tuesday 28 April 2026 10:05 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2966173","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/chips-fries-stolen-tastes-better-study-b2966173.html","title":"The forbidden secret that makes food delicious"}}open image in gallery{"id":"trigger-autogallery-33457","index":0}French fries were found to be tastier when stolen from another diner’s plate (AFP/Getty)Your support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read more{}Human folklore has often claimed that “stolen food tastes better”, with the maxim resonating in Italian kitchens with the phrase “Il cibo rubato ha più sapore” to Japanese “nusumigui”, meaning secret eating is tastier. A new study has now revealed that this forbidden food does indeed taste better, with a set of participants ranking stolen French fries as nearly 40 per cent more enjoyable than those served directly to them. As part of an experiment to investigate if “moral transgression might enhance gustatory pleasure”, 120 participants were each given the same chips to eat on four occasions. if (document.cookie.split(';').some(cookie => cookie.trim() === '__DEBUG__=true')) { console.log('Ad logs: "mpu1", renderedAtParagraph: 3'); }if (document.cookie.split(';').some(cookie => cookie.trim() === '__DEBUG__=true')) { console.log('Ad logs: "mpu1", injectedAtParagraph: 3'); }Despite being identical servings, they were acquired in different ways. open image in gallery{"id":"trigger-autogallery-33458","index":1}The higher the risk, the saltier and crispier the French fries would taste (Getty)The participants would either be given their own portion directly, with the second portion gifted by another diner. On the other two occasions, they would be instructed to take the French fries covertly from another person’s plate while they were distracted, and steal in another higher-risk scenario where a stern-looking stranger was present. The study, conducted by Valentin Skryabin of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education in Moscow, found that the higher the risk, the tastier the fries were reported to be. if (document.cookie.split(';').some(cookie => cookie.trim() === '__DEBUG__=true')) {…
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