Question 1

Why do we cook food?

Accepted Answer

We cook food to make it taste better, easier to chew, and safer to eat. Cooking also helps to kill germs that can make us sick.

Question 2

Who was the first to cook food?

Accepted Answer

No one knows exactly who first cooked food, but our ancient ancestors started cooking over fire millions of years ago. It helped them survive and evolve.

Question 3

How does cooking food change it?

Accepted Answer

Cooking changes the texture and flavor of food. It makes tough food like meat softer and releases delicious smells and flavors.

Question 4

Why is cooked food safer than raw food?

Accepted Answer

Cooking food kills germs that live in raw food. These germs can make us sick, so cooking helps keep us healthy.

Question 5

What is the oldest way of cooking food?

Accepted Answer

The oldest way of cooking is using fire, like grilling or roasting foods over a flame. Early humans used simple fire pits.

Question 6

How did ancient people cook without stoves?

Accepted Answer

Ancient people cooked food over open fires, hot stones, or in pits dug in the ground. They used tools made from rocks and sticks.

Question 7

What happens to vegetables when we cook them?

Accepted Answer

Cooking vegetables makes them softer and sometimes changes their color. It also makes them easier to digest and sweeter to taste.

Question 8

Why does cooked food smell nice?

Accepted Answer

Cooking releases special chemicals in food that create nice smells. Our noses like these smells and they make us hungry.

Question 9

Why did cooking change human evolution?

Accepted Answer

Cooking made food easier to digest, which helped early humans get more energy. This might have helped our brains to grow bigger over time.

Question 10

What's the difference between roasting and boiling?

Accepted Answer

Roasting cooks food in dry heat, like an oven or over a fire, which makes it crispy. Boiling cooks food in water, making it soft and moist.

Question 11

How does cooking kill germs?

Accepted Answer

Cooking heats food to high temperatures, which can kill germs and bacteria. These high temperatures make food safe to eat.

Question 12

Can we eat all food raw?

Accepted Answer

Not all food should be eaten raw. For example, raw meat can have harmful bacteria, so it's safer to cook it first.

Question 13

Why do people like cooked food more than raw food?

Accepted Answer

Many people find cooked food tastier and more enjoyable to eat. Cooking brings out flavors and makes food softer and warmer.

Question 14

What tools did early humans use to cook?

Accepted Answer

Early humans used tools like stones to crush food and sticks to stir or cook it over fire. They also used animal skins to hold food.

Question 15

Why does bread rise when we bake it?

Accepted Answer

Bread rises because yeast, a tiny organism, makes gas bubbles in the dough. Heat in the oven makes the bubbles expand, puffing up the bread.

Question 16

What is baking?

Accepted Answer

Baking is cooking food using dry heat in an oven. It's used for making bread, cookies, and cakes.

Question 17

Why do we grill some foods?

Accepted Answer

Grilling cooks food quickly and gives it a special smoky flavor. It's great for cooking things like hamburgers and hot dogs.

Question 18

What happens to meat when it's cooked?

Accepted Answer

Cooking meat makes it tender and easier to chew. It also changes the color from pink to brown and gives it a delicious flavor.

Question 19

Why does water boil?

Accepted Answer

Water boils when it gets very hot, turning from a liquid into steam, which is a gas. This happens when it reaches 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit).

Question 20

How has cooking changed over time?

Accepted Answer

Cooking has become more advanced with stoves, ovens, and microwaves. We now have many ways to cook, making it fun and creative.

The History and Science of Cooked Food - 20 FAQs Explained Simply