Question 1

Why do we cook food?

Accepted Answer

We cook food to make it taste better, kill germs, and make it easier to eat. Cooking also helps bring out the flavors and makes the food warm.

Question 2

What happens to vegetables when we cook them?

Accepted Answer

Cooking vegetables makes them softer and easier to chew. It can also change their color and taste, making them sweeter or bringing out different flavors.

Question 3

Why does bread have holes in it?

Accepted Answer

The holes in bread are made by bubbles of gas from yeast. When the dough rises, these bubbles get trapped, and when the bread bakes, they leave behind the holes.

Question 4

How does food change color when cooked?

Accepted Answer

Food changes color when cooked because heat causes chemical reactions. For example, meat browns, and some veggies become brighter because heat changes their chemicals.

Question 5

Why do eggs become solid when cooked?

Accepted Answer

When eggs are cooked, the heat makes the molecules stick together and form a solid. It's like what happens when glue hardens as it dries.

Question 6

Why does some food burn if left on the stove too long?

Accepted Answer

Food burns when it's cooked too long or at too high a temperature. It's because the heat breaks down the food and turns it black and hard.

Question 7

Why does ice cream melt?

Accepted Answer

Ice cream melts because it’s mostly made of water, which turns to liquid when it gets warm. The warmth makes the ice crystals in the ice cream turn back to liquid.

Question 8

What makes popcorn pop?

Accepted Answer

Popcorn pops because there's water inside the kernel. When it's heated, the water turns into steam, and the pressure makes the kernel explode.

Question 9

Why do fruits turn brown when cut?

Accepted Answer

Fruits turn brown when cut because they react with the air. This is like a banana getting darker when it's left out for too long.

Question 10

Why does sugar melt when heated?

Accepted Answer

Sugar melts when heated because the heat makes the sugar crystals break down into a liquid. It's like how ice melts in the sun and becomes water.

Question 11

Why is salt added to food while cooking?

Accepted Answer

Salt is added to food to make it taste better. It helps bring out the flavors of the food and can also help with preserving it.

Question 12

What makes cakes rise in the oven?

Accepted Answer

Cakes rise in the oven because of the gas from baking powder or baking soda. These gases expand in the heat, making the cake rise and become fluffy.

Question 13

Why does butter melt on a hot pancake?

Accepted Answer

Butter melts on a hot pancake because the heat from the pancake turns the solid butter into liquid. It's similar to how ice melts into water when it gets warm.

Question 14

Why does pasta become soft when boiled?

Accepted Answer

Pasta becomes soft when boiled because the hot water makes it soak up water, making it swell and become tender. It’s easier to eat when it’s soft.

Question 15

What does marinating do to meat?

Accepted Answer

Marinating adds flavor to meat and can make it more tender. The sauce or juices soak into the meat, changing its taste and texture.

Question 16

Why does bread go stale?

Accepted Answer

Bread goes stale because it loses moisture and its molecules change. This makes it hard and dry as the water inside it goes away.

Question 17

How does yeast make dough rise?

Accepted Answer

Yeast makes dough rise by eating the sugars in the dough and releasing gas. This gas creates bubbles, making the dough puff up.

Question 18

Why does chocolate melt in your mouth?

Accepted Answer

Chocolate melts in your mouth because it's made with fats that melt at body temperature. That's why it feels smooth and creamy when you eat it.

Question 19

Why do you need to stir soup while it cooks?

Accepted Answer

Stirring soup while it cooks helps keep it from burning at the bottom. It also mixes the ingredients well, ensuring the soup cooks evenly.

Question 20

What makes smoothies so smooth?

Accepted Answer

Smoothies are smooth because they are blended until all the ingredients mix well together. This makes them thick, creamy, and easy to drink.

The Science of Cooking: Understanding Ingredients and Techniques - 20 FAQs Explained Simply