Food and Cooking Chemistry FAQs

Rock candy is candy made by crystallizing sugar. You can grow sugar crystals yourself, plus add color and flavor to make rock candy that you can eat.

Is it safe to use your kitchen glassware and utensils for chemistry experiments? Here's a look at some of the risks involved in using your dishes for chemistry.

Explanation of why copper bowls are used when whipping egg whites.

Can hot water freeze faster than cold water? You may have heard this question and wondered how, if it's true, it could even be possible. Here's the answer to the question.

If you have fruit, a couple of nails, and wire then you can generate electricity to turn on a light bulb. Learn how to make a fruit battery. It's fun, safe, and easy.

It's important to drink plenty of fluids, but can you overdo it? Learn the truth about water intoxication and hyponatremia.

Can you drink too much water? This video examines whether or not it's possible to drink too much water and the consequences of excessive water consumption.

Find out how many calories you burn when thinking and how it compares with the energy expended by physical exercise.

Does adding salt lower the boiling point of water? You may have heard this and wondered if it was true. Here is a look at the science behind salt and boiling water.

Learn whether baking powder is good indefinitely or whether baking powder has a shelf life. See how to test baking powder to determine whether or not it is still good.

Most bottled water has an expiration date stamped on the bottle, but does the bottled water actually go bad? If so, how long is bottled water good? Here's the answer to this common question.

Caffeine occurs naturally in coffee and is added to cola. Does caffeine have a flavor of its own or do decaf coffee and decaffeinated drinks taste different from regular coffee and cola for another reason?

Does adding salt to coffee reduce bitterness? Here's an answer to this cooking chemistry question.

Does coffee sober up a drunk? You may have heard you can drink coffee or take a cold shower to sober up from drinking alcohol, but does it really help? Here's the answer.

Find out why everyone wants to take a nap after Thanksgiving Day turkey dinner. Let's talk turkey and learn about L-tryptophan and carbohydrate metabolism.

Does hard water boil at a higher temperature than normal water? Here's the answer to the question and the explanation behind it.

Fluoride isn't only found in toothpaste and water. There are many everyday sources and several steps you can take to lower your exposure.

Use this redox-based iodometric titration to determine the amount of Vitamin C or ascorbic acid in juice and other samples.

Sugar crystals are also known as rock candy since the crystallized sucrose resembles rock crystals and because you can eat your finished product. You can grow clear sugar crystals with sugar and water or you can add food coloring to get colored crystals. It's simple, safe, and fun.

Baking powder and baking soda both are leavening agents, which means they help baked goods to rise. They are not the same chemical, but you can substitute one for another in recipes. Here's how.

Find out how pop rocks candy works and whether or not it's true your stomach will explode if you wash down pop rocks with soda.

Jell-O gelatin is a tasty jiggly treat that results from a bit of chemistry kitchen magic. Here's a look at what Jell-O is made from and how Jell-O works.

Popcorn pops because each popcorn kernel is special. Here's a look at what makes popcorn different from other seeds and how popcorn pops.

If civilization ended right now, could I still make beer? Learn about how beer is brewed and what is required to make this popular alcoholic beverage.

Have you ever wondered about the pH of milk and whether it is an acid or a base? Here's a look at the pH of milk.

This is a list of common food additives and a description of their uses.

If you've ever experienced a sudden stabbing pain in your forehead when eating ice cream or enjoying a cool drink then you know what brain freeze is. Do you know what causes brain freeze or how you can stop the pain?

Absinthe has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity, as countries lift the ban on making the green wormwood and anise-flavored spirit. Learn about the history of the liqueur, why it was banned, a bit about its chemistry, how to make absinthe, and how to drink it.

Carnauba wax is an ingredient in many foods and household products. Here's a look at what carnauba wax is made of and the properties that make it such as useful chemical.

Learn about the ingredients in chewing gum and find out whether it's true gum stays in your stomach seven years if you swallow it.

Learn about the difference between these two common cooking ingredients, the effect of substitutions, and find out how you can use baking soda to make your own baking powder.

Salt and sodium content are related, but are not the same. Learn about the difference between salt and the sodium in sodium chloride and how to calculate sodium levels in salt.

I've had some scorched coffee that I'm sure should have qualified for this award, but it turns out there's a real answer to this question of taste. Do you know what it is?

Did you know there are sweeteners that are 200,000 times sweeter than table sugar? Take a look at this list to find out how your favorite sweetener rates.

At what temperature does water boil? What determines the boiling point of water? Here's the answer to this common question.

If you add certain fruits to Jell-O or other gelatin desserts, the gelatin won't set up. Here's a look at which fruits have this effect and what happens that causes them to ruin Jell-O.

Learn why apples, pears, bananas, potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables turn brown when they are cut or damaged.

Find out why you cry when you cut onions and how you can keep it from happening.

When you tap on the top of an unopened carbonated beverage you reduce the chance that it will spray all over you upon opening. Your About Chemistry Guide explains what happens and how it works.

Why do you add salt to boiling water? There are a couple of answers to this common cooking question. Here's a look at the reason for salting water.

Learn about hydrogen bonding and density to understand why ice floats on water.

Have you heard that adding pineapple to Jell-O or other gelatin will prevent it from gelling? It's true. The reason pineapple prevents Jell-O from setting is because of its chemistry. Learn about what is in pineapple that causes this to happen.

Why doesn't vodka freeze when you put it in the freezer? The answer to the question has to do with the chemical composition of vodka and a phenomenon known as freezing point depression.

Find out what it means when wine has wine legs or tears of wine.

You may have used liquid smoke in a recipe or seen it on the grocery store shelf. Liquid smoke imparts a barbequed or smoky flavor to food. Here's a look at what liquid smoke really is.