Molecular Gastronomy

Agenda for today Introduction of myself and the plans for the period Fill out pre-lesson quiz/survey Interactive experiment: dark chocolate custard Demo: liquid spheres Interactive experiment: fizzy candy

Notes about Lesson PLEASE be efficient today. I have lots of fun stuff planned, but only if we are fast You’ll get to eat what you make! (And maybe a little of what I make!) There’s going to be lots of science today. Don’t worry if you have a hard time understanding some of it. Feel free to ask questions!

Pre-quiz/Survey You have 2 minutes. GO!

Experiment 1: Gelification

Relevance? How could we use gelification in other places in society?

Relevance? Gluten-free pasta? Or flavored pasta? Balistics gel? Food in space? Any other ideas?

Ingredients 2g carrageenan 300mL milk 100g chocolate 45g sugar

Procedure Using hot plate, melt chocolate and sugar into milk When all ingredients are completely mixed together, SLOWLY mix in carrageenan

Procedure When mixture is almost at a boil, turn off hot plate CAREFULLY pour mixture into each cup Set aside the cups to cool. Try not to move them too much after that

Finished product!

Why does this happen? Carrageenan is a polysaccharide Polysaccharide definition: a number of sugar molecules bonded together. Sugar molecules are polar Polar definition: a compound bearing a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other

WHY Does this happen?

Why does this happen? Water becomes semi-immobilized, forming a gel! Carrageenan-specific traits: Only dissolves when heated up Gels at temperatures under 60° C

Demo: Spherification

Relevance? WD-50 faux egg A server puts a fried egg on your table. You cut into the egg, and both yellow and white liquids flow out. It tastes like a pina colada! WD-50, a NY molecular gastronomy restaurant, spherifies coconut and mango to look like a fried egg. A sweet surprise!

Relevance? Tylenol Liqui-Gels? Faux caviar? Candy? Any other ideas?

Ingredients 1.5g sodium alginate 1.5g calcium salt 100g water 100g iced tea

Procedure Mix sodium alginate with iced tea, and water with the calcium salt, using the immersion blender Let rest for ~30 minutes to let air bubbles escape Using a pipette or syringe, drop the iced tea into the calcium bath slowly Remove spheres from calcium bath, rinsing them in water Consume soon after!

Pictures!

Why does this happen? This is sodium alginate Sodium ions make one bond, so the molecule is flexible and moves freely when dissolved in water

Why does this happen? Iced tea & sodium alginate are dropped into a bath with calcium ions floating around Calcium takes sodium’s place, but calcium needs two bonds to be happy! So, it bonds with other molecules in the strand, making the long strand rigid

Why does this happen? Rigid strand=not dissolved in water Since the outside edge of the drop is first to bond with the calcium, it solidifies much quicker than the rest Therefore, caviar!

When this doesn’t happen pH is too low: too many hydrogen ions, so they react with the alginate instead of calcium Calcified liquid: adding the sodium alginate makes the liquid react before it can be made into the right shape, so it just becomes a big solid blob

Experiment 2: Effervescence

Relevance? Where could we use this?

Relevance? “Evaporated” soda? Air supply? Pop rocks? Any other ideas?

Ingredients 2g sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) 2g citric acid 10g powdered sugar

Procedure Mix the three ingredients together well Coat the candy in the powder Eat! (Or wrap it for later)

What happens? It may seem normal now Just put it in your mouth, and it will begin to fizz!

Why does this happen? Citric acid is an acid (well, duh) Sodium bicarbonate is a base Base definition: A chemical species that donates electrons/hydroxide ions, or accepts protons (basically, the opposite of an acid)

Why does this happen?

Why does this happen? Reactions generally can’t occur when both reagents are solids The powder must dissolve in your mouth to allow the reagents to move around and react with each other

Why does this happen?

Thanks! Homework Due tomorrow It’ll only take a couple of minutes, I promise! If you have questions or want to learn more, email me! I hope you had fun (and learned something)!