In the realm of creative expression, few artistic creations can create a multisensory experience like a masterfully prepared meal. Similar to how painters work with a palette and canvas, amazing chefs transform raw ingredients into pieces of art that engage our tastebuds and our minds, and tap into our emotions.

Whether it’s a fancy meal, a sculpture, or a meal shared at home, when a chef taps into their power to create an experience of flavor, texture, and presentation, meals can be transformative works of art. However, food as art isn’t limited to only what’s edible. Many food artists use food in ways that are not intended for human consumption. Food has a long history of being used in art installations and as an actual medium for painting and drawing.

In any case, here are the best reasons why food is art.

One food can be visually presented in many ways

When purchased raw at the store, a vegetable, like broccoli, holds immense potential with an end result that will differ based on how it’s cooked. For example, you can bake it, deep fry it, fry it in a pan, sauté it, barbecue it, chop it up and turn it into a creamy dip, or put it on a pizza covered in cheese. In each of these cases, the broccoli will not only taste different, but it will look different, too.

If you’re cooking outdoors on a traditional flat top grill, for example, you’ll likely be cooking decently-sized pieces of broccoli that have been sliced off the head, but retain some of the stem. If you’re adding broccoli to your pizza and baking it in a wood-fired oven, you’re probably going to use smaller pieces because pizzas don’t cook for very long. Just like the way you cook it, the way you slice your broccoli will change the entire visual presentation of your meal. You can choose whether to create a classy presentation or make it look a little messier. There’s no right or wrong way, and the possibilities are endless.

Food presentation can evoke emotion

They say that art is an emotional experience, and that’s true even with food. In fact, when people share meals together, they feel good and uplifted and it’s a great way to bond with friends and family. However, the visual presentation of food works similarly to art, where it can evoke very specific emotions and memories. For example, some people continue to visit their favorite restaurant and order the same dish every time simply because the visual appeal reminds them of something warm and fuzzy.

When you visit a high-end restaurant, something similar happens. The way the food is plated can evoke emotions, like joy and happiness. Chefs who have mastered the art of plating know exactly what they’re doing and intentionally design dishes to make guests feel good.

Food presentation has an impact on flavor

Many studies have been performed to find out how the presentation of a dish impacts the perception of flavor. Researchers discovered that visuals absolutely influence the perception of taste, and the fancier the presentation, the better the perception, even when the ingredients are exactly the same.

The lesson here is that our eyes play a dominant role in how we taste our food, and first impressions can impact that experience. And it’s not just about making a dish look neat. It’s also about the color and shape of the foods being presented.

Food is often used as an actual medium

In addition to edible dishes being aesthetically pleasing, there are people who use food in their works of art. For example, food artist Tom Wolfe makes amazing food art, which includes edible installations, by using visuals, smell, and taste to immerse people in his performative works. He’s not the first person to incorporate food into art, and food artists can be found just about everywhere.

Food as art can be subjective

While some say food has to look good to be considered art, or it has to be part of an actual art exhibit, others believe the true art is the passion that goes into preparing a meal. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Not everyone gets excited over the idea of looking at pieces of cheese smeared on the wall, or looking at paintings made with cranberries. Some people prefer to keep that kind of art separate from their food, but still consider amazing plating to be works of art. Whether you see food as art is completely up to you.