Question 1

What is heat in cooking?

Accepted Answer

Heat is the energy that makes things warm or hot. When you cook, heat helps change raw food into something tasty and safe to eat.

Question 2

Why do we use ovens to cook food?

Accepted Answer

Ovens are used to cook food evenly with hot air. They surround the food with heat, which helps it cook all the way through.

Question 3

How does boiling water help with cooking?

Accepted Answer

Boiling water is really hot and helps cook food quickly. It’s great for cooking things like pasta or vegetables because the heat is distributed evenly.

Question 4

Why does bread rise when baking?

Accepted Answer

Bread rises because of a tiny living thing called yeast. Yeast eats sugar and releases gas, which makes bubbles that help the bread puff up.

Question 5

What happens to food when you fry it?

Accepted Answer

When you fry food, you're cooking it in hot oil. The outside gets crispy and golden brown, while the inside stays juicy.

Question 6

Why do we need to preheat the oven?

Accepted Answer

Preheating the oven means getting it hot before putting food in. This helps the food start cooking right away and ensures it cooks evenly.

Question 7

What does the term 'caramelization' mean?

Accepted Answer

Caramelization is when sugar in food turns brown and tastes sweet after being heated. It's what makes onions sweet when cooked or gives cakes a golden color.

Question 8

Why does food change color when cooked?

Accepted Answer

Food changes color because heat causes chemical reactions. For example, meat turns brown, and bread turns golden due to new colors forming.

Question 9

What happens inside a microwave oven?

Accepted Answer

A microwave oven uses waves of energy to make water molecules in the food move fast and get hot. This heat cooks the food quickly.

Question 10

Why does freezing food help it last longer?

Accepted Answer

Freezing food makes it too cold for tiny germs and bacteria to grow. This keeps food fresh and safe to eat for a longer time.

Question 11

What is steam, and how does it cook food?

Accepted Answer

Steam is hot water vapor that rises when water boils. It's used to cook food like vegetables by heating them from all directions without making them soggy.

Question 12

Why is it important to let meat rest after cooking?

Accepted Answer

Letting meat rest means leaving it alone for a few minutes after cooking. This helps the juices stay inside, making the meat more tender and delicious.

Question 13

What does marinating do to food?

Accepted Answer

Marinating means soaking food in a flavorful liquid before cooking. It helps make the food taste better and can also make it more tender.

Question 14

Why do cookies spread out when baked?

Accepted Answer

Cookies spread because the butter and sugar in the dough melt when heated. This makes them flatten and spread out on the baking sheet.

Question 15

How does stirring affect cooking?

Accepted Answer

Stirring helps mix ingredients evenly, making sure they cook properly. It also prevents things from sticking to the pot or burning.

Question 16

What does grilling do to food?

Accepted Answer

Grilling cooks food using direct heat from below. It gives food a smoky flavor and char marks, making it tasty and a little crispy.

Question 17

Why do we use oil or butter when cooking in a pan?

Accepted Answer

Oil or butter prevents food from sticking to the pan and helps cook it evenly. They also add flavor to the dish.

Question 18

What happens during the process of roasting?

Accepted Answer

Roasting uses dry heat, like from an oven, to cook food evenly on the outside and inside. It's great for making veggies sweet and meats tender.

Question 19

Why is it important to measure ingredients in baking?

Accepted Answer

Measuring ingredients ensures the right balance in a recipe. It helps the baked goods turn out just right, not too dry or too wet.

Question 20

How does food get crispy when cooked?

Accepted Answer

Food gets crispy when cooked because heat removes moisture, and oils or fats help form a crust. This crunchy layer is what makes things like fries or chicken nuggets so yummy.

The Physics of Cooking: Heat, Reactions, and Techniques - 20 FAQs Explained Simply