Questions tagged [molecular-gastronomy]

Questions on the applications of modern science to culinary techniques in the home or restaurant.

The tag refers to the eponymous style of cuisine, AKA modernist cuisine or experimental cuisine, in which modern scientific principles and techniques are used to enhance or replace the more traditional culinary methods used in home or restaurant kitchens.

The term molecular gastronomy has, on occasion, been used to denote any in-depth study of the physics or chemistry behind culinary techniques, as described in Wikipedia: Molecular Gastronomy. We prefer that questions with this tag relate to one or more areas commonly associated with the discipline, such as:

  • Use of chemical reagents (for foams/gels, spherification, etc.)
  • Use of specialized equipment (syringes, centrifuges, Pacojet, etc.)
  • Quantitative experiments designed to test claims or understand processes

If you are seeking a broad, general, theoretical understanding, as opposed to controlled experiments and applied chemistry, please use the tag instead.

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Is it possible to make a marshmallow that isn't sweet?

I've got in mind to make a savory play on s'mores, using morel mushroom paste where you would expect chocolate. The graham cracker replacement should be no problem. But I'm stuck on the marshmallow. If you google savory marshmallow, you basically…
Michael Natkin
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Is there any trick to make a palindrome-cocktail?

I'm trying to make a palindrome cocktail: made by building the components, like for example the classic B52; and also having the same ingredients going from top to bottom as it has going from bottom to top. At first I thought it was surface…
Jeroen
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How can I integrate molecular gastronomy into regular cooking?

I love the science-y, geeky side of cooking, and molecular gastronomy really appeals to me. I've been experimenting with it for a while. The issue I have is that it tends to become an end in and of itself rather than an integral part of a dish. This…
yossarian
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Creating a home "anti-griddle"?

I watched a restaurant documentary last night (Spinning Plates; pretty good!) which featured a modernist chef demonstrating their kitchen's anti-griddle: essentially a large metal plate chilled down to somewhere around -40 degrees (both F and C,…
logophobe
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Are there any vegetarian applications for transglutaminase ("meat glue")?

Transglutaminase is an enzyme that is popular among modernist chefs for two main purposes - to glue different meats together for special effects (like a modern turducken), and to create consistently shaped and sized portions for even cooking. My…
Michael Natkin
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How do I make a foam?

I'm making Lobster Sous Vide with Pain Perdu and Tomato Marmalade tonight. I wanted to serve it with a lobster bisque(y) foam. I was planning on mixing lobster broth, cream, and some of the butter used in cooking the lobster, heat it up. Use an…
yossarian
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Surface tension in food

Based on a related question, some of us are curious about surface tension in liquids commonly used in food and drink. There's a table on Wikipedia containing a tantalizing amount of information, including: The surface tension of water decreases…
Cascabel
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How to fake salmon roe using jello

A couple of days ago I made a first attempt at dessert sushi. Everything went reasonably well except for the salmon roe which I'd planned to make from orange jello. I made my own mould from plasticine covered in plastic wrap and imprinted all over…
Chris Steinbach
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What substances are good for spherification with algin?

Using sodium alginate, I know you can make "caviar" of many ingredients. For those who are not familiar with the process, here is an online explanation. Looking online, however, I keep seeing the same ingredients repeated over again: blueberries,…
luispedro
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Which thickener should I use for fake spaghetti out of fruit juice?

I would like to experiment with flavoured 'spaghetti' by taking a juice and gelling it in spaghetti shape, so I could have beetroot strands that I could use in a pasta dish. Anyone done this? Got any tips on gelling agents to use and what I could…
Sam Holder
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Is there a way to make compressed watermelon without a vacuum machine?

I've got in mind to make a dish with compressed watermelon, but I don't have access to a vacuum machine. I've tried once using weight, but it just cracks because the pressure is all from one side. Thoughts? If not, can it be done with a home vacuum…
Michael Natkin
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Chocolate mousse without eggs

I've a friend who is allergic to egg protein, and my wife inadvertently raved about my chocolate mousse to her, causing some food borne awkwardness that I'd like to erase with an eggless mousse. I've done some experimenting though, and I'm not…
Satanicpuppy
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Can I reuse an alginate bath for reverse spherification?

Can I REUSE an alginate bath for reverse spherification? If I use a solution of alginate today, can I use the same solution next week? How should it be optimally stored? How long will it keep. How many "spheres" can be produced by a batch of…
Ken
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What is Molecular Gastronomy?

There is a lot of material on TV, magazines and on the web recently about molecular gastronomy. Techniques like sous-vide and spherification seem to be popular. But what makes a cooking style "molecular gastronomy" and not "regular cooking"? Is…
Ken
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What are the key differences between lemons and meyer lemons?

"Meyer lemons" are advertised as a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange. The flavor is basically what you'd expect from that cross. Is it reasonable to use them as direct substitutes? What are the important differences to keep in mind when…
WBT
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