Fish, protein, and food science

Glidden provides a picture of a fish recently caught. Fish is a source of protein that has been on a rise in the U.S. and found in Asia for many years. Before I delve into the food science behind this source of protein. I would like to quote a poet and artist by the name of Kahlil Gibran Kahlil (1883-1931). This is a part of On Eating and Drinking: “Would that you could live on the fragrance of the earth, and like an air plant be sustained by the light. But since you must kill to eat, and rob the newly born of its mother’s milk to quench your thirst, let it then be an act of worship. And let your board stand an altar on which the pure and the innocent of forest and plain are sacrificed for that which is purer and still more innocent in man.”

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Poached egg, food science, cooking, and the relationship between them

Living well in the 21st century - Limassol, Cyprus. A picture of a poached egg on a toast with a side of liquid with ice in a cup.

Image credit: Ben Kolde by Unsplash

Relationship between cooking and egg structure

Poached eggs are my favorite breakfast item for energy throughout the day. Egg recipes are so versatile. You can be as creative as you like. For example, smoked salmon and veggies are a great combination. The final dish has a nice flavor and texture. The reason a poached egg undergoes a texture and taste change is due to protein. Let us start by explaining the structure of the protein in general.

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The Maillard Reaction

Living well in the 21st century - Limassol, Cyprus. Burnt toast on an marbel kitchen counter.

Image by Public Domain Pictures

“For British food scientists, toast color is no longer a matter of personal preference—it’s a matter of health.” 

The smell of fresh bread, or cooked crispy meat. Makes you wonder how does that happen? Each food product you cook with in the kitchen has two ingredients, proteins (amino acid) and sugars (reducing sugars) that lead to a reaction, which creates flavors and aroma. The most important in the reaction is heat. To start the reaction, the temperature needs to be above 300F to evaporate the protein on the surface of the product. This is an important first step because there are no enzymes that assist in the reaction. This process is called the Maillard reaction.

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