To call a food palatable means that it is pleasing or agreeable to the palate or taste of an individual. Palatability is not static: it is always changing, based on the state of the individual, especially in regards to the time of food consumption. Palatability also is not something that is permanent. People can acquire a taste for certain flavors, and some flavors may actually become less palatable over time.

Humans need food and liquids to live because they provide energy and cleanse the system. These needs, often referred to as homeostatic needs, directly correlate with palatability because foods and liquids that appease people's palatability meet their homeostatic needs. All humans find at least some flavors palatable. This is a basic biological trait which is necessary for survival. Without the ability to find any food palatable, humans would not be able to meet their energy needs.

One of the main factors influencing palatability is food deprivation. This deprivation can be a period of only a few hours. When someone has not eaten in some time, palatability will be increased to a greater number of foods. In some cases, individuals may even experience increased palatability to flavors that they generally do not even like. This is a natural process occurring daily.

Hedonic hunger is a phenomenon influencing palatability. Hedonic hunger is the notion that individuals may become preoccupied with food to the extent that it is a frequent thought or urge. It occurs in any short- or long-term absence of food, and the duration and extent of it varies by individual. For all who experience hedonic hunger, however, the effect on the palatability of food is a sharp increase. Some are able to control hedonic hunger by distinguishing between whether they need or want food. However, they still must repress the increased palatability for a variety of foods.

The palatability of food decreases after food consumption, and especially after one is extremely full. This is a natural biological process which occurs to let humans know when they are able to stop eating. This process is controlled by a feedback mechanism. When your body recognizes that it is full, the brain sends out a message which becomes a negative feedback mechanism, alerting the rest of the nervous system that palatability can now be decreased. However, extremely palatable foods - which vary based on the preferences of the individual - can circumvent the negative feedback mechanism, and people may choose to continue eating regardless of their satiety.