Unlock the Chemistry of Cooking - Advice for a Chemical Engineering Student

In summary, Dan has an interest in cooking and chemistry, and would like to learn more about the chemistry involved with food and cooking processes. He has found some resources that he will explore further, including an MIT course and the show "Kitchen Chemistry."
  • #1
danago
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Ive always had an interest in cooking and whenever i get a break from uni i like to get in the kitchen and experiment a bit; must be all those organic chemistry labs getting to me :tongue2:

Anyway i also have a pretty strong interest in chemistry and would like to learn more about the chemistry involved with food and cooking processes. Does anybody know of any books or other resources that i could try and get hold of to learn more about the topic? I am a chemical engineering student, so i have a fairly decent background in the basics of chemistry.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Dan.
 
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  • #2
Alton Brown - Good Eats.
 
  • #3
Well there was a whole show "Kitchen Chemistry" on Discovery before.

There's also an MIT course in the same, with a lot of the http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/special-programs/sp-287-kitchen-chemistry-spring-2009/" available under their OpenCourseWare thing.
 
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  • #4
Gokul43201 said:
Alton Brown - Good Eats.

Thanks, ill definitely check that one out.

alxm said:
Well there was a whole show "Kitchen Chemistry" on Discovery before.

There's also an MIT course in the same, with a lot of the http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/special-programs/sp-287-kitchen-chemistry-spring-2009/" available under their OpenCourseWare thing.

Is that the show with Heston Blumenthal? And thanks for the link. I use MIT OCW all the time but have never seen that one!

I just ordered a copy of McGee's "On Food and Cooking". Seems to get good reviews :smile:
 
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  • #5
danago said:
I just ordered a copy of McGee's "On Food and Cooking"...

That's the one I was going to recommend. A great book. Here's a snack, though...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maillard_reaction
http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/ciq_onions_tears.htm
 
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  • #6
chemisttree said:
That's the one I was going to recommend. A great book. Here's a snack, though...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maillard_reaction
http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/ciq_onions_tears.htm

Thanks for the links :smile: I've actually read that wikipedia article already (came across it during an intense wikipedia link-surfing session haha), but the second website is new to me, looks like it contains some interesting articles.
 
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What is "Unlock the Chemistry of Cooking" all about?

"Unlock the Chemistry of Cooking" is a guide for chemical engineering students who are interested in understanding the science behind cooking and how to apply their knowledge of chemistry to improve their cooking skills. It covers topics such as the chemical reactions that occur during cooking, the role of different ingredients, and techniques for achieving desired results.

How can this guide benefit a chemical engineering student?

This guide can benefit a chemical engineering student by helping them understand the principles of chemistry at work in the kitchen, which can in turn improve their ability to experiment with recipes and create new dishes. It can also provide a unique perspective on chemical processes and their applications outside of a laboratory setting.

Do I need to have a background in chemistry to understand this guide?

While a basic understanding of chemistry can be helpful, this guide is written in a way that is accessible to anyone with an interest in learning about the chemistry behind cooking. The concepts are explained in a clear and concise manner, making it easy for anyone to follow along.

What real-world applications can be learned from this guide?

Aside from improving cooking skills, this guide can also teach valuable lessons about the importance of precise measurements, the effects of temperature and pH on chemical reactions, and the importance of understanding chemical reactions in various processes. These are all important skills for a chemical engineering student to develop for their future career.

Are there any hands-on activities or experiments included in this guide?

Yes, this guide includes several hands-on activities and experiments that can be done in the kitchen to reinforce the concepts discussed. These activities are designed to make learning about chemistry more engaging and practical for the reader.

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