Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most powerful techniques to analyze sample components, determine the structures of compounds and study chemical reaction processes. NMR is a rapid and noninvasive analytical method that was initially used to study moisture in food. The structural composition of food can be determined by analyzing the components of oil, protein and carbohydrates. The combination of NMR and multivariate statistical data has become increasingly popular in the field of food science. However, due to its low sensitivity and imperfect technical knowledge, NMR still has great development potential in the field of food science and very bright prospects. This review focuses on the application of NMR in food analysis, including oil, red wine, honey, milk, fruits and vegetables. NMR can quickly identify various compounds, distinguish the geographical origin of species, assess food quality, reveal various fraud behaviors, and predict the shelf life of food.