Category: Food & Kitchen Science
Browsing posts filed under "Food & Kitchen Science".
Why do salt crystals clump in a shaker even in dry weather?
Salt clumps even in seemingly dry weather because it's hygroscopic (attracts water), pulling minuscule amounts of moisture from the air which then forms tiny liquid bridges between the cube-shaped crystals, causing them to stick together.
May 2, 2025
Why does shaking a sealed soda can lightly sometimes cause an overflow fizz?
Shaking a soda can lightly creates tiny gas bubbles near the surface that rapidly expand and cause a small fizz-over when opened, unlike a violent shake which creates more bubbles throughout the liquid for a bigger explosion.
May 2, 2025
Why do some plastic containers warp in the microwave but not others?
Plastic containers warp in the microwave because different types of plastic soften at different temperatures; 'microwave-safe' ones (often #5 PP) can handle the heat, while others melt or deform easily.**
May 1, 2025
What happens to the tiny air pockets in bread when toasted twice?
Toasting bread twice drives out even more moisture, making the walls of the tiny air pockets extremely dry, rigid, and brittle, resulting in extra crispness but also a higher risk of burning.**
May 1, 2025
What happens to sugar cubes left in salty water overnight?
A sugar cube left in salty water overnight will completely dissolve, just like in regular water, resulting in a uniform mixture of salty, sugary water with no cube shape remaining.**
April 30, 2025
Why does coffee taste different when sipped through a straw?
Sipping coffee through a straw bypasses much of the aroma reaching your nose and alters how the liquid hits temperature and taste receptors on your tongue, leading to a muted or different flavour experience.**
April 29, 2025
Why does pouring hot oil make kitchen tiles feel warm underneath?
Hot oil spilled on kitchen floor tiles transfers heat directly into the tile material via conduction, warming it up from the surface downwards, making the tile itself feel warm.**
April 28, 2025
Why do some ceramic mugs feel colder to touch than metal spoons at same temperature?
Metal spoons feel colder than ceramic mugs at the same temperature because metal conducts heat away from your hand much faster than ceramic, making your brain register a greater sensation of heat loss (cold).**
April 27, 2025
Why does beer foam cling to certain glassware patterns?
Those intricate patterns etched into beer glasses aren't just decorative; they create microscopic rough spots that act as nucleation sites, encouraging CO2 bubbles to form and cling, sustaining a beautiful head of foam.**
April 27, 2025