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5 Best Sites that Pay for Taste Testing for Money (Locally)

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Written by: Kate Starr
Last Updated:

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Ever thought about taste testing for money? Companies often pay consumers to try their products and provide feedback.

We’ll explain how you can participate in taste tests and get compensated for your opinions.

Best Sites that Offer Taste Testing for Money

Schwan Food Company


Taste Testing for money is an easy way to get a job at the Schwan Food Company, a popular food development and research company located in Marshall, Minnesota,

You can spend as much as $15 to taste pizza, ice cream, breakfast, and frozen foods. Each tasting session lasts 15-45 minutes. 

You are eligible to participate three times a month or at least twice a year, depending on how often your profile fits the criteria for the test they have in mind.

However, you don’t need a degree in culinary arts to become a Schwan taste tester. You must be a Minnesota resident and register your profile on their website.

McCormick Corporation


The testing program is located at the McCormick Company in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Participants will test foods ranging from snacks to beverages. 

You don’t need to live close to the facility, as you can take the tests at your convenience. Register for free on their website and be placed in the database. 

McCormick uses this database to pick participants randomly. If you’re lucky to be selected, they’ll email you questions to see if you’re eligible for the test. If your answers meet their requirements, they’ll let you know your pay and the test duration.

You can participate in up to four studies per year, though not more than one tasting session every three months. They conduct tests every day of the week(except weekends) from the day until the evening. The minimum age for eligibility is 18, but parents can register their kids to their account when the company needs a child for a particular test.

focus groups for money

Contract Testing Incorporated


Contract Tasting Inc. is one of the largest sensory testing companies manufacturers use to test food products. Therefore, many food options are available, including; snacks, frozen dinners, cookies, pizza, soups, and more!

However, note that you can’t participate in their testing studies more than five times yearly. You earn a minimum of $25 to $30 per session. You could receive more depending on the type and length of the test. Most studies last about 1 hour.

To get started, create a profile with your personal information. CTI will alert you when a new test fits the profile you have given. Everyone is eligible to sign up, so you can even include your kids.

paid research studies

MMR


MMR is a sensory-tasting company that specializes in food product testing. Before starting the study, they will examine your senses to verify that you’re a good fit. The verification process involves taking taste and odor recognition tests and asking you to describe the attributes of food items.

Therefore, you must have no known food allergies or other allergies that may affect your senses.

You will work four days a week for a few hours each day. You also get to carry out some of the studies in the comfort of your home.

MMR is an excellent place to consider if you’re a good taste tester who enjoys eating and wants to make some easy extra cash!

Tasteocracy


With Tasteocracy, you can turn your taste buds into extra cash while shaping future market offerings. On average, you can earn between $20 to $50 per session. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Sign up on Tasteocracy’s website with your contact and demographic info.
  2. Check available studies that match your profile.
  3. Schedule a session, taste, and provide feedback.

Pro tip: Keep your profile updated and act fast on new test announcements—they fill up quickly! If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, don’t worry; Tasteocracy accommodates various needs.

Other Ways to Get Paid For Food Testing

Work for Paid Marketing Research Trials


Marketing research is an integral part of every organization. Before releasing every product, companies hire research firms to conduct product testing using focus groups, internet surveys, or taste-testing plans. This strategy helps them to save millions of dollars on a bad investment. 

But where can you fit in?

You can work as a paid taste tester for any market research firm open everywhere nationwide! Earn $5 to $20 for short surveys and an average of $50 to $200 for longer surveys. Your job is to give them feedback on new food products, compare them against popular companies, and share your opinions on services and products before launching.

You will need to fill out a preliminary questionnaire to see if you qualify for the study. Your location, age, sex, career, marital status, if you drink alcohol or smoke, and every other relevant information about you makes up your profile. No payment is required from you. If you qualify for participation, the market research company will contact you via call or mail.

Here are some common popular marketing research studies you can participate in:

PVR Research

Herron Associates

Schlesinger Associates

Work as a Food Critic


You can earn up to $37,720 to $100,000 per year testing food as a food critic

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that writers and authors (including food critics) earn about $61,240 per year on average.

This job could be an excellent option if you consider yourself pretty good at taste testing. You’ll get to taste different foods at restaurants and give them a review based on your opinions. You can work as a freelance critic, giving feedback on a personal blog or a social media page dedicated to your food critic career.

Sometimes, you will review the ambiance or customer service in the restaurant or hotel. You can earn a lot by taking up multiple food critic gigs. Pitch yourself to various food publications. You can start with local publications to gain your ground before landing a full-time job.

A food critic career often requires writing skills or an English, Journalism, or Communications-related degree. Apply for entry-level writing positions as a stepping stone to building your food critic career. 

Another way to get work is to complete an internship to gain relevant experience to add to your portfolio as a food critic. After gaining some experience, begin applying for full-time critic positions. Seek out paid positions on job board platforms, newspapers, and magazines.

Become a Food Blogger


Are you a food lover looking for some extra cash while having fun? It would be best if you considered starting a food blog. This is an opportunity to turn your passion for food into a side job or even a full-time career.

The average blogger salary is over $32,800 per year, based on several anonymously submitted salaries” (Glassdoor)

To become a successful blogger, find out what is most valuable to your reader audience and provide that in your blog. You could develop recipes, take food photos and videos, write blog posts, and share them on your blog.

  • Advertising for brands.
  • Selling or recommending a product, e.g., ebooks, cookbooks, online courses.
  • Affiliate marketing
  • Sponsorships from big companies.

However, you have to promote your blog to attract more visitors and increase your earnings. The traffic to your website determines your food blog’s earnings. You need to develop a marketing plan to drive traffic to your website by utilizing resources such as Google SEO optimization, email marketing, making YouTube videos, or sharing your content on other social media channels. 

Make money blogging by building good networks and consistently delivering quality content to your audience.

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Kate Starr

Dollarbreak

About the author:

Kate Starr is a personal finance, FinTech and MarTech writer. Her areas of expertise include making money, investing, and money management.

From earning money as a beginner entrepreneur to advanced investing in the stock market, Kate’s guides can help you to get more ideas on how to earn income online and increase your wealth.

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