Question 1

What is chemistry in cooking?

Accepted Answer

Chemistry in cooking is about understanding how ingredients change when we mix, heat, or cool them. It's like a magic show where food ingredients turn into delicious meals!

Question 2

How do eggs change when cooked?

Accepted Answer

When eggs are cooked, the heat makes the proteins inside them stick together. This changes the eggs from runny to firm and solid.

Question 3

Why does bread rise when baked?

Accepted Answer

Bread rises because of yeast, a tiny living thing that eats sugar and makes gas bubbles. These bubbles make the dough puff up and become fluffy.

Question 4

What happens when you mix baking soda with vinegar?

Accepted Answer

When you mix baking soda with vinegar, they react to create bubbles of gas. This fizzy reaction happens because of the baking soda's base and vinegar's acid.

Question 5

Why do onions make you cry?

Accepted Answer

Onions release a special gas when cut, and this gas mixes with the water in your eyes to make them sting. It’s like your eyes get a little surprise!

Question 6

How does sugar turn into caramel?

Accepted Answer

When sugar is heated, it melts and then turns brown, creating caramel. This happens because the sugar's molecules break apart and form a new flavor.

Question 7

Why does chocolate melt in your hand?

Accepted Answer

Chocolate melts in your hand because your body heat is enough to turn it from solid to liquid. It's like the chocolate gets warm and starts to soften.

Question 8

What makes popcorn pop?

Accepted Answer

Popcorn pops because there’s a tiny bit of water inside the kernel. When heated, the water turns into steam, and the pressure makes it explode!

Question 9

Why do apples turn brown when cut?

Accepted Answer

Apples turn brown because when you cut them, air reacts with the inside part. This reaction is like the apple putting on a little brown coat.

Question 10

How do spices add flavor to food?

Accepted Answer

Spices add flavor because they have special oils that taste and smell strong. When you cook with them, these oils mix into the food, making it yummy.

Question 11

What happens when bread goes stale?

Accepted Answer

When bread goes stale, it loses moisture and becomes hard. This is because the water inside the bread slowly leaves and the bread dries out.

Question 12

How does cheese become stretchy?

Accepted Answer

Cheese becomes stretchy when it’s heated because the proteins break apart and then stick back together in long chains. This makes cheese ooey-gooey!

Question 13

What makes soda fizzy?

Accepted Answer

Soda is fizzy because it has carbon dioxide gas dissolved in it under pressure. When you open the bottle, the gas escapes and creates bubbles.

Question 14

Why do pancakes bubble when cooking?

Accepted Answer

Pancakes bubble because of the baking powder in the batter, which makes tiny gas bubbles when heated. These bubbles make pancakes light and fluffy.

Question 15

How do you make ice cream?

Accepted Answer

You make ice cream by mixing milk, sugar, and flavors, then freezing them while stirring. This makes the mixture smooth and creamy, just like in fun ice cream cones!

Question 16

What does salt do to food?

Accepted Answer

Salt makes food taste better by bringing out other flavors and helping to preserve it. It also helps your taste buds taste food more fully.

Question 17

Why does butter melt when heated?

Accepted Answer

Butter melts when heated because its fat turns from solid to liquid. It’s like butter loves to slide away when it gets warm.

Question 18

What changes happen when meat is cooked?

Accepted Answer

When meat is cooked, it changes color, and the heat makes it firm and tender. This happens because the proteins in the meat transform with heat.

Question 19

Why do cookies smell so good when baking?

Accepted Answer

Cookies smell good when baking because the heat releases flavors from sugar, butter, and spices. These yummy smells float through the air and make everyone hungry!

Question 20

What is fermentation in food?

Accepted Answer

Fermentation is when tiny living things like yeast and bacteria turn sugars into acids or alcohol. This helps make foods like yogurt and bread tasty and last longer.

The Chemistry of Cooking: Reactions, Techniques, and Flavor Science - 20 FAQs Explained Simply