The Chemistry of Cooking

Curriculum guideline

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Course
CHEM 1100
Discontinued
No
Course code
Chem 1100
Descriptive
The Chemistry of Cooking
Department
Chemistry
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
4.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15
Max class size
36
Contact hours
Lecture: 4 hours per week Lab: 2 hours per week
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Learning activities

The course will be presented using lectures, classroom demonstrations, problem sessions, videos, class discussions and guest lectures where possible. The laboratory course will be used to illustrate the practical aspects of the course material. Close coordination will be maintained between laboratory and classroom work whenever possible. 

Course description
This course will use the science of chemistry to understand what is happening when we cook food. The course covers basic nutrition, cooking meats, fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains and breads. The production of chocolate, beer, wine and distilled spirits will also be studied. In the lab, students will practice cooking and carry out experiments to illustrate and understand cooking practices. Students may have the opportunity to taste foods during the course, but are never required to eat anything. This course is a first year university level lab science course for non-science majors.
Course content

1.

Preamble

Basic nutrition and the chemical structures and properties of water, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Types of heat transfer during different cooking methods. The difference between taste and smell. Measurement and scaling recipes up and down.

2.

Eggs and Meats

 The composition of amino acids and proteins with regards to their water solubility and the consequence for structure and denaturation during cooking. Cooking meat and the effects of heat on muscle fiber and connective tissue and the Maillard reactions. The formation of egg foams and the effect of fats and ions on their stability.

3.

Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs and Spices

 The composition of the chemicals that give plants their colour (chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocanins) and the effect of cooking and pH on colour. The structure of amylose and amylopectin and the formation of pectin gels. Essential oils in herbs and spices. Processing tea and coffee.

4.

Legumes and Grains

 Legumes and essential amino acids as well as the relationship between oligosaccharides and flatulence.

 The production of flour and the differences between hard and soft wheat and the structure of protein and starch granules in flour. The production of gluten in bread vs pastry and the role of baking powder in quick breads.

5.

Chocolate and Confections

The production of chocolate, cocoa butter and cocoa powder. Tempering of chocolate and crystal structure. Caramelization reactions.

6.

Alcohol and Vinegar

The production of wine and beer by the transformation of carbohydrates into ethanol. The chemicals that produce aromas and mouth feel of beer and wine. Pot and column distillation to make spirits. Ethanol as a food and drug. The Orleans and modern methods for producing acetic acid from ethanol.

7.

Optional Topics:

The chemistry of cooking materials

 A comparison of the materials used to make modern cooking utensils such as copper, steel and cast iron pots and pans. Teflon coated frying pans, plastic and wooden cutting boards, ceramic casserole dishes.

Current topics in the chemistry of cooking

Items of interest from current news stories will be critically discussed. These might include organic vs. non-organic foods, preservatives in foods, BPA in plastic food containers, the formation of acrylamide during cooking, juice cleanses, and adulterated food. 

 

Laboratory Content:

Experiments will be selected from the following list and new experiments will be introduced:

1.

Introduction to measurement

2.

Basic calorimetry: determining the heat produced by burning food

3.

Heat transfer: scrambled egg whites vs omelettes

4.

Heating with microwaves

5.

Egg foams

6.

Formation of gelatin

7.

Effect of radius on cooking time of potatoes

8.

Cooking time and colour of green vegetables

9.

Project: How to avoid green blueberry pancakes

10.

Making jams and jellies

11.

Isolating essential oils

12.

Measuring caffeine in tea and coffee

13.

The effects of using multiple leavening agents in making drop biscuits

14.

Vodka pie dough

15.

From vinaigrette to mayonnaise

16.

Crystal size: rock candy and tempering chocolate

17.

Freezing point depression: making ice cream

18.

Boiling point elevation: sugar structures

19.

Extraction of essential oils with ethanol

20.

Fermentation, distillation and oxidation: production of vinegar

21.

Field trip to a Brewery

22.

Food Safety

23.

Poster Presentations

24.

Term Project

25.

The grand cookie experiment

26.

Chemical leavening agents and pancakes

27.

Effects of using gluten free flour mixtures
Learning outcomes
  1. Calculate the number of calories in a sample of food.
  2. Calculate the number of calories needed on a daily basis and the amount of calories provided by food intake.
  3. Evaluate the quality of a food in terms of calories, vitamins and minerals provided.
  4. If provided with a Kekule structure, be able to identify the molecule as a saturated or unsaturated fat, a carbohydrate or an amino acid.
  5. Explain the relationship between chemical structure and solubility in water and oils.
  6. Explain the consequences of vitamin deficiency to overall health.
  7. Explain how conduction, convection and radiation are involved in various cooking processes.
  8. Distinguish between taste and smell.
  9. Recognize the role of volatile chemicals involved in smell.
  10. Distinguish between volume and mass measurements.
  11. Convert between units and use density to convert between mass and volume.
  12. Change the scale of recipes, including non-metric units such as teaspoons and tablespoons.
  13. If provided with a Kekule structure, be able to identify an amino acid as hydrophobic or hydrophilic.
  14. Explain how proteins are denatured by high temperatures.
  15. Relate the browning of meat (Maillard reactions) to flavor.
  16. Explain how and why cooking time increases with the square of a roasts radius.
  17. Describe the structure of an egg foam.
  18. Describe the effect of heat on collagen and its transformation into gelatin and the structure of the resulting gel.
  19. Explain how cooking changes the colour of green vegetables.
  20. Explain how pH changes the colour of some foods, such as berries.
  21. Describe the structure of a pectin gel.
  22. Discuss how essential oils in herbs and spices contribute to taste and smell.
  23. Identify how processing changes the taste and smell of tea and coffee.
  24. Discuss the consequences of essential amino acid deficiency.
  25. Explain the connection between oligiosaccharides and flatulence.
  26. Describe the production of flour, including chemical aging.
  27. Describe gluten formation in producing bread and relate protein structure to the plasticity and elasticity of breads.
  28. Describe the role of fats in the production of pastry.
  29. Explain how chemical leavening agents are used to produce quick breads and batters.
  30. Describe the process used to produce cocoa butter, cocoa powder, Dutch cocoa powder and various types of chocolate (white, milk and dark).
  31. Explain how chocolate's crystal structure relates to its glossy appearance and brittleness.
  32. Discuss the caramelization reactions carbohydrates undergo when cooked.
  33. Describe the process used to make and age wine.
  34. Explain how and why grain is malted to make beer.
  35. Describe how chemicals produce the aroma and mouth feel of wine and beer.
  36. Discuss how ethanol content is increased by distillation.
  37. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of pot and column distillation.
  38. Calculate the amount of ethanol in a particular sample of beer, wine or spirits.
  39. Describe the negative effects of short and long term over consumption of ethanol.
  40. Explain how vinegar is made from ethanol.
Means of assessment

The final grade assigned for the course will be based upon the following components: 

Lecture Material (75%)

  • Two or three in-class tests will be given during the semester (20% to 30%)
  • A final exam covering the entire semester’s work will be given during the final examination period (30%)
  • Classroom activities and homework such as: problem assignments, tutorials quizzes, presentations, class participation [5% maximum] (15%  to 25%) 

Laboratory 25%

  •  Each experiment will be evaluated either by submission of a report sheet, a poster or a formal lab report and up to two of the experiments may be evaluated by students submitting a brief report of their results followed by an oral interview.

Note:

A student who misses three or more laboratory experiments will earn a maximum P grade.

A student who achieves less than 50% in either the lecture or laboratory portion of the course will earn a maximum P grade.

 

Textbook materials

The current edition of McGee, H. On Food And Cooking, Scribner, Toronto or equivalent textbook as selected by the instructor.

Douglas College, Chemistry 1100 Laboratory Manual.

Prerequisites

One of the following:

MATU 0410 C or better

Precalculus 11 C- or better

Precalculus 12 with a C- or better

Foundations of Math 11 with a C- or better

Foundations of Math 12 with a C- or better

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None

Which prerequisite

None