Learn the science behind:
Why is a tomato red? Why an orange orange? What does an egg consist of? Why is an Oreo black?
Those are just a few of the questions we ask ourselves when truly digging into our food ingredients. When you really understand and research your ingredients, you will better understand how your food is made. So, we research food ingredients extensively, to help you feel more comfortable using them and knowing how they work.
If you want to learn more about how ingredients change when you use them check out our posts on using ingredients.
If you want to compare ingredients and know which one to choose for which application, we have a category for that too!
Previous step: all these ingredients started out at a farm!
Potatoes are one of the most versatile foods out there. You can bake, fry, boil or mash them. Eat them warm or cold, with plenty of seasonings, or just plain. You can eat them months after they’re harvested, or fresh…
Have you tried making a recipe that calls for potato starch and wondered what it is and why it’s in your recipe? If so, you’re at the right place. We’re going to dig into the science of potato starch, explaining…
The secret behind that yellow dal, yellow rice, or beautifully colored curry? Chances are, it’s turmeric! A mere teaspoon can color a sauce or dish. Aside from those ‘typical’ dishes, you might also find it added to cheese, butter, or…
Ever stood in front of the shelf spaces full of olive oil bottles and cans and wondered why there are so many different types of packaging? Non-transparent plastic bottles, slim and tall transparent plastic bottles, oils in greenish plastic, some…
When looking into scientific literature you will find that some ingredients have been researched very intensely, whereas others have barely received any attention at all! Western staple ingredients such as wheat and potatoes have millions of hits when searching for…
The simplest of breads are made with just water and flour (such as a chapati). Add a little yeast and maybe some salt or fat and you can make a wide range of breads from a wide range of cultures…
The other day, having some rhubarb left and not wanting to make a rhubarb pie, cake or crumble (>90% of rhubarb recipes online seem to be for one of those!), I decided to try a rhubarb ice cream. I had…
This is a guest post by a fellow food technologist (in training), Shriya Kumar. She is currently working towards a Master’s degree at Wageningen University & Research and soon, a career in the food industry. Before you start reading this…
Ever unknowingly took a bite or big sip from a dish or a newly developed product and suddenly had your mouth on fire? Scrambling to find a glass of water (even though it doesn’t really help), some yogurt, a piece…
This is a guest post by a fellow food scientist with ample experience in various categories of new product development: Nathan Silva. Feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn. What flavor is Mountain Dew? How does someone make a…
Have you ever noticed in stores that some peanut butters have a layer of clear liquid on top of the peanut butter? It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s chunky or not, some brands just do. Other brands though do…
If you have your own sourdough starter, kept alive by carefully feeding it on a regular basis, you are growing your own micro organisms. Micro organisms are all around us, in the air and on most surfaces. In most cases…