Question 1

What is the chemistry of cooking?

Accepted Answer

The chemistry of cooking is about what happens to food when we cook it. It helps us understand how ingredients change with heat, mix together, and create different tastes and textures.

Question 2

Why does bread rise when you bake it?

Accepted Answer

Bread rises because of tiny gas bubbles made by yeast. Yeast is like a tiny helper that eats sugars and releases gas, making the dough puff up and get airy.

Question 3

Why do onions make you cry?

Accepted Answer

Onions make you cry because when you cut them, they release a gas. This gas irritates your eyes, and your body makes tears to get rid of it.

Question 4

How does heat change food?

Accepted Answer

Heat changes food by cooking it, which can make it softer, tastier, and sometimes safer to eat. The heat causes the food’s molecules to move faster and react in new ways, giving us cooked meals.

Question 5

Why do we cook meat?

Accepted Answer

We cook meat to kill germs that can make us sick and to make it taste better. Cooking also makes it easier to chew and digest.

Question 6

What makes chocolate melt in your mouth?

Accepted Answer

Chocolate melts in your mouth because it has fat called cocoa butter that melts at body temperature. This is why chocolate gets soft and smooth when you eat it.

Question 7

Why does food turn brown when you cook it?

Accepted Answer

Food turns brown when you cook it because of a reaction called the Maillard reaction. It happens when proteins and sugars in the food heat up and create new flavors and colors.

Question 8

Why do cakes rise in the oven?

Accepted Answer

Cakes rise because of air bubbles trapped inside the batter. When heated, these bubbles expand, making the cake light and fluffy.

Question 9

What makes food crispy?

Accepted Answer

Food gets crispy when moisture on its surface evaporates during cooking. What’s left is a dry, crunchy layer that we love to bite into.

Question 10

Why do eggs go from runny to solid when cooked?

Accepted Answer

Eggs change from runny to solid because the proteins in them unfold and then stick together when heated. This creates a firm, solid texture.

Question 11

How do spices add flavor to food?

Accepted Answer

Spices add flavor by releasing oils and chemicals when mixed with food. These help to enhance the taste, making it more delicious to eat.

Question 12

Why does sugar melt when heated?

Accepted Answer

Sugar melts when heated because its molecules move faster and break apart from their solid form. This process turns sugar into a liquid, which can be used in syrup and candy.

Question 13

What happens when you boil water?

Accepted Answer

When you boil water, it heats up until it starts to bubble and turn into steam. The steam is just water in a gas form that rises into the air.

Question 14

What does salt do to food when cooking?

Accepted Answer

Salt brings out the natural flavors in food, making it taste better. It can also help preserve food and keep it fresh longer.

Question 15

Why does ice cream feel cold in your mouth?

Accepted Answer

Ice cream feels cold because it has a lot of frozen water. When you eat it, the heat from your mouth melts the ice, but it stays cold and creamy.

Question 16

How does dough turn into bread?

Accepted Answer

Dough turns into bread when it’s baked. The heat from the oven makes the dough rise and become firm, turning it into the loaf we eat.

Question 17

Why do vegetables change color when cooked?

Accepted Answer

Vegetables change color when cooked because the heat alters the pigments inside them. Some colors might fade, while others, like greens, can become brighter.

Question 18

What makes butter melt?

Accepted Answer

Butter melts when it gets warm because the fat inside it starts to liquefy. This makes it soft and spreadable, perfect for toast!

Question 19

How does baking soda help cookies bake evenly?

Accepted Answer

Baking soda helps cookies rise evenly by releasing carbon dioxide gas. This gas creates small bubbles in the dough, making the cookies light and fluffy.

Question 20

Why does popcorn pop?

Accepted Answer

Popcorn pops because there’s water inside the kernel. When heated, the water turns to steam, and the pressure builds up until the kernel bursts, turning it inside out.

The Chemistry of Cooking: Transformations and Techniques - 20 FAQs Explained Simply