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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Can I create cream of tartar with tartaric acid and potassium hydroxide?

Here in Poland, I have no trouble buying both tartaric acid and potassium hydroxide. I'm having trouble sourcing cream of tartar though, so would it be enough to mix the acid and potassium hydroxide? Or do I need to get them to react in non-powder…
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Food-safe rotary evaporator grease

For those of you who have rotary evaporators or other chemistry glassware in the kitchen, what do you use to grease the ground glass taper/ ball joints so that the lubricant does not either absorb or introduce flavors into the product? Thus far I…
RudyB
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What is the proper word/term/expression to describe a dish that appears to be something different

I want to experiment with dishes that fool the senses. Dishes that look like one thing but taste completely different from what was visually expected (e.g. Heston's parsnip cereal) I want to google for these kinds of recipies, but what seach terms…
Ken
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Are the molecular gastronomy additives kosher?

Are the molecular gastronomy additives kosher?
user5240
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Liquid soy lecithin vs sunflower lecithin

I'm currently reading Modernist Cuisine at Home and one ingredient that keeps coming up is "liquid soy lecithin". I'm pretty familiar with the powdered variant for making light, airy foams, but the book is adamant that the powder cannot substitute…
Alex Reinking
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Why does pressure cooking of chicken eggs make eggs easier to peel?

In an experiment, I cooked a 12 organic chicken eggs from the same batch: A) 6 in boiling water and B) 6 in a pressure cooker: 6 eggs in a basket which is on a tripod inside the cooker 5 minutes in hot steam at 117 °C waited 5 minutes to cool…
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Preserving Nerds / Pop Rocks so they activate in the mouth and not in the food

I want to be able to use Nerds and/or Pop rocks in cooking. However, unless the food is ultra dry, the food itself activates / dissolves it; I want it activated in the mouth. a) Is there a way to do this that does not involve coating them with…
Sai
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Acmella oleracea (Szechuan buttons) - active chemical for mouth sensation?

I am looking to begin growing Acmella oleracea (Szechuan buttons). I would like to use them directly, and also make extracts specifically to maximize the taste/oral stimulation effect. Apparently there are a ton of different active chemicals. So…
Matthew
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Use of robotics in gourmet kitchens

I don't know if this question is relevant here, or if it should wait for the upcoming Robotics Proposal, but I'll ask it anyway. Chefs such as Heston Blumenthal and Ferran Adrià are known for appropriating various high tech pieces of equipment from…
Rocketmagnet
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How do I control the shape of my spheres?

I've been experimenting with reverse sphereification this week. The results... well, the results remind me that even the professionals have to practice. How do I control the tension of the alginate shell, so that it can maintain a round shape when…
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Training on molecular gastronomy and sous vide

I am looking for suggestions on opportunities for learning techniques directly from a skilled professional, preferably in a classroom setting. I have been dabbling in molecular gastronomy/precision cooking techniques in my home for a couple years. …
Bruce Goldstein
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Can apples, peaches, almonds or apricots be used for reducing lactose content in milk?

According to this paper: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5429307/#!po=13.1579 "β-Galactosidase is found in bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. In plants, it is mainly found in almonds, peaches, apples, and apricots." Supposedly,…
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How to improve the texture of popping/bursting boba spheres with reverse spherification?

I'm trying to make boba spheres using reverse spherification, but it doesn't have the texture like the ones you get from asian supermarkets, the one with a "hard, plastic texture" that burst in your mouth. The ones I make only result in a soft outer…
Hayme
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Sticky, tacky texture with less sweetness?

If I want a sticky, tacky surface on food, I typically use some kind of very sweet sauce. As it reduces down and the sugars caramelize during cooking, it leaves a delightful candied layer on the surface. Barbecue chicken, or some preparations of…
Preston
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Citrate buffer and pH range question

What is the range of pH that requires the addition of sodium citrate as a buffer? Does wine, specifically port wine, require buffer?
Paul Dieter