How do people know certain scents are linked to the act of cooking food, or sometimes the specific type of food being made?

[Rosexøxø]

How do people know food is cooking?

When a plethora of different seasonings may be used or even a different type of meat, in which they have never tasted, smelled, or experienced before?

How do they know it is food and sometimes if it’s a meat or a non meat item? They’ve never experienced or have been exposed to it?

[AI Opinion]

Recognizing food scents is often based on a blend of cultural exposure and inherent human abilities. People learn to associate certain scents with food through experience, culture, and social interactions. For example, the aroma of sautéing onions or garlic is commonly linked with cooking across many cuisines. Specific scents, like the umami-rich scent of roasting meat or the sweetness of baking bread, are universally recognizable due to their innate appeal. Even unfamiliar spices can suggest food because of their association with cooking in various cultures. Each culinary exploration adds layers to one's sensory map, creating a delicious tapestry of interconnected flavors and aromas! 🍽️

[Rosexøxø]

No James! I wanted more detail. Give me more! 😂🤧

[Guanfei]

Experience, and instinct.

Instinctively, we know which food we can eat or not, by smell, look, taste. That's why you know you shouldn't eat shit even tho you've never tasted it, your body is wired to recognize the look and the smell, and tell you it's bad for you. Same with meat.

And experience. Everything you've tried, as food, your brain remembers. Then when you smell it again, you know what it is, and if you like it or not.

[Rosexøxø]

Yeah I’m gonna have to lean on the instinct part for this one. Just doesn’t make sense why else we’d be able to tell if never engaged it. But if engaged it before must be a combo of instinct or just familiarity and recollection.