Professional Taster

Imagine eating ice cream all day, or being one of the first to try out the latest type of cereal. Sound like a dream? As a Professional Taster, this is just another day at the office.

In this job, the Professional Taster tries out the latest creations of different food companies. A Professional Taster looks for things like the product’s consistency, taste, smell, and overall feel.

Though there are jobs out there that lets you sample incredible food (think chocolate, wine, and ice cream Tasters), you might also get stuck with something less appetizing. Everything from meat companies to fast food businesses hire Tasters, and pretty much every food on a grocery store shelf has at one point been sampled by a professional. Even dog food and cat food are occasionally tested. After all, someone has to give feedback, and an animal can’t do that.

No matter what food you taste, you use pretty much the same technique to get the job done. You start by observing how the food looks and smells. Then you evaluate things like color and texture, and try to distinguish the different odors.

The actual tasting involves taking small bites to truly savor the food and get the distinct flavors. To avoid overwhelming your mouth, you only taste a few products a day, and usually gargle or take sips of water between bites. Lastly, you record your thoughts.

Though it sounds more fun than anything, this job isn’t trivial at all. The information you gather and the feedback you give can be used to change food ingredients or influence marketing strategies.