Why does cooking oil make things taste better when it doesn’t taste good by itself?

Question

I get why sugar makes things taste better since it tastes good by itself but why does something like cooking oil which doesn’t taste good on its own make food taste better than it otherwise would be?

In: 734

Answer 1

Whenever this comes up nobody ever mentions that fat has been confirmed to be a fundamental taste like salt and sour. And just like those other two tastes, it’s not good in its pure state but it is delicious when balanced with other tastes.

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2015/Q3/research-confirms-fat-is-sixth-taste-names-it-oleogustus.html#:~:text=%22The%20taste%20component%20of%20fat,%2C%20salty%2C%20bitter%20and%20umami.