Question 1

What happens when you heat food?

Accepted Answer

When you heat food, it changes in color, flavor, and texture. This happens because the heat causes chemical reactions in the food.

Question 2

Why does bread rise when you bake it?

Accepted Answer

Bread rises because of yeast, which is a tiny living thing that makes carbon dioxide gas. The gas gets trapped in the dough and makes it puff up.

Question 3

Why do onions make you cry?

Accepted Answer

Onions have a chemical that turns into a gas when you cut them. This gas can irritate your eyes, making them water.

Question 4

What makes meat turn brown when cooked?

Accepted Answer

Meat turns brown because of a reaction called the Maillard reaction. This happens when the proteins and sugars in meat get hot and create new flavors and colors.

Question 5

Why does sugar melt when it's heated?

Accepted Answer

Sugar melts because the heat makes its crystals break apart. As it melts, sugar changes from a solid to a liquid.

Question 6

How do eggs become solid when cooked?

Accepted Answer

Eggs become solid because their proteins change shape when heated. These proteins then stick together, making the egg firm.

Question 7

Why do apples turn brown after cutting?

Accepted Answer

Apples turn brown because of a reaction with oxygen in the air. When you cut them, the inside is exposed, and a chemical called enzymes make them brown.

Question 8

Why does popcorn pop?

Accepted Answer

Popcorn pops because the water inside it turns to steam as it heats up. The steam builds pressure until the kernel explodes.

Question 9

Why do cakes rise in an oven?

Accepted Answer

Cakes rise because of baking powder or baking soda. They produce gas bubbles when heated, which get trapped in the batter, making it rise.

Question 10

How does vinegar change the taste of food?

Accepted Answer

Vinegar is sour and can make other flavors in food stand out. It also helps in breaking down some foods, making them softer and better for marinating.

Question 11

What makes ice cream smooth?

Accepted Answer

Ice cream is smooth because it is churned while freezing. This breaks up ice crystals, making the texture creamy.

Question 12

Why do cookies become hard when they cool?

Accepted Answer

Cookies become hard when they cool because the water inside them evaporates. Less moisture means they get crunchy.

Question 13

How does salt enhance flavor?

Accepted Answer

Salt enhances flavor by balancing sweetness and reducing bitterness. It makes food taste more like itself, bringing out its natural flavors.

Question 14

Why does toast turn brown?

Accepted Answer

Toast turns brown due to a reaction called caramelization. The sugar in the bread turns dark and crispy when heated.

Question 15

What does marinating do to food?

Accepted Answer

Marinating adds flavor and can make meat or veggies softer. The acid in marinades breaks down the surface, making everything tastier and tender.

Question 16

Why does fresh bread smell so good?

Accepted Answer

Fresh bread smells good because of the Maillard reaction. This chemical change gives bread its delicious aroma.

Question 17

Why is some cheese stretchy when melted?

Accepted Answer

Some cheese is stretchy because of the way its proteins are structured. When heated, these proteins allow the cheese to stretch.

Question 18

Why do we use lemon juice to keep fruits from turning brown?

Accepted Answer

Lemon juice contains acid which prevents the browning reaction. It keeps the oxygen from turning the fruit's surface brown.

Question 19

Why do we knead bread dough?

Accepted Answer

We knead bread dough to develop gluten. Gluten makes the dough stretchy and able to hold air, helping it rise.

Question 20

How does cooking make food safe to eat?

Accepted Answer

Cooking food kills harmful germs that can make us sick. Heat makes the food safe by destroying these tiny organisms.

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