Where Chemistry Meets the Kitchen

How one Chemistry professor created a science course capable of uniting students across disciplines through a shared love of food.

Photo by Phil Hearing

Why does dough need to rise? What causes Kimchi to ferment? Why do you need salt to make ice cream? The questions are among the many topics that are explored in Dr. Sylvia Daoud Kinzie’s Chemistry of Food and Cooking class. 

The University of Portland’s Core Curriculum requires undergraduate students to take two science courses. The course options range from studies in sustainability sciences to biology, physics, and chemistry. Though there are many options, some non-STEM students struggle to find a science course that is accessible to their skill set and relevant to their interests. 

I was one of these students, an English major who is fascinated by the sciences but desperate for a class that could relate in some way to my interests. After feverishly of searching, I stumbled across a class that caught my attention: “Chemistry of Food and Cooking.” 

The class was first established by Dr. Kinzie in the Summer of 2018. Inspired by her passion for food and the chemistry behind it, she wanted to create a course where she could explore these topics with students. It’s growth has relied upon word-of-mouth communication between friends and classmates, eager to spread the word about the hidden gem of the chemistry department. Because of it’s relative newness, the class size is small; my class consisted of twelve students. In it’s smallness, it attracted an incredibly diverse group of students, ranging from music to business to science majors, freshmen to seniors, athletes, and beyond.  

I had never heard of the class before, and the ‘chemistry’ part of the title struck a feeling of hesitation into my gut. But, an amateur chef myself, the description of the course caught my attention. It mentions studying “fermentation of lactose in milk, dough rising, and making Kimchi.” After reading the first sentence, I was sold. This was followed by a description of studying “non-enzymatic browning of food (the Maillard reaction), freezing point depression and making ice-cream.” Making ice cream?! It seemed too good to be true. The class presents itself as devoted to providing students with a deeper understanding of the chemistry behind the food they are making and eating on a daily basis. Each experiment involves something related to cooking, whether it be baking cookies or studying what makes different fruits turn brown. Without a second thought, I registered.

As of next semester, this class will be featured as part of the University of Portland’s Exploration Level Courses, which is a new concept aimed at providing courses that connect the student body with the greater Portland community and beyond. The course will feature the same emphasis on chemistry of food and cooking, but with a global lens. Its goal is to “prioritize students learning to ‘apply a comparative perspective to global issues.’” This means that each experiment will be complimented by a lesson about the history and culture of the food, providing students with a well-rounded perspective on the foods they are are consuming. This will also involve various field-trips to bakeries and restaurants around Portland. This allows students the opportunity to learn chemistry, while also providing them a deeper understanding of the city they have chosen to call home.

Photo by Gleb Albovsky

So, you might ask, why does dough need to rise? What causes Kimchi to ferment? Why do you need salt to make ice cream? Because of Dr. Kinzie’s class, I know that dough needs to rise because the yeast needs time to react with sugar and carbon dioxide. Kimchi ferments because the bacteria transforms the sugar into lactic acid. You need salt when making ice cream because salt lowers the freezing point of water, which helps the ice cream solidify. Without salt, the ice cream will remain runny. This class has changed the way I see food by providing me with a more well-rounded look at the food I am making and eating. With its continued growth each semester, Dr. Kinzie plans to spread this knowledge with as many students that will listen, in order to further connect food-lovers to the chemistry behind their meals.

Written by Mia Tierney

42 thoughts on “Where Chemistry Meets the Kitchen”

  1. I needed to thank you for this good read!! I definitely enjoyed
    every bit of it. I have got you book-marked to look
    at new things you post…

    Review my web-site elafonisi

  2. Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids.
    I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter
    and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed.
    There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
    LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!

    Feel free to surf to my blog post: usmle exam prep

  3. Howdy! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
    Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure
    things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m
    not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions?
    Cheers

    My web page – How to start a youtube channel

  4. Link exchange is nothing else but it is simply placing
    the other person’s website link on your page at appropriate place and other person will also do similar for you.

    Feel free to surf to my web blog: decoratrice Toulouse

  5. I absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be exactly what I’m looking for.
    can you offer guest writers to write content to suit your
    needs? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on many
    of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome site!

    Here is my web-site – おすすめのオンカジBEST3

  6. Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring
    on other websites? I have a blog centered on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share
    some stories/information. I know my viewers would appreciate your work.
    If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

    Here is my blog post; see the live version

  7. I am not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
    Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this info for
    my mission.

    Here is my web page – you could try here

  8. Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is excellent, let alone the content!

    Feel free to surf to my page … Directory AI Agents

  9. If yyou wissh foor tto gget a goo deal frpm thiis
    articloe then you have too apply such techiques to your won blog.

    Also viit my site; sexozilla.com

  10. Wats up thhis is kiind off oof off topic but I wwas wonderring iff blogs uuse WYSIWYG editor or if yyou have tto manually code wit HTML.
    I’m starting a blog soon but haqve no coding knowledge sso I wanted to gett adsvice from
    someone with experience. Any help would be enormouslly appreciated!

    Feel free too surf too mmy web-site – whichav.win

  11. That could be at the same time the best send in that in reality preferred examining. It’s actually not every single day that many of us support the chance to figure out the very first thing. https://666lottery.uk.com

  12. It is actually in a similar fashion an awesome write-up i always most certainly savored investigating. It’s not at all really day-to-day i always cultivate the method to seek out a single thing. https://bg6786.com

  13. Aw, this is an incredibly nice post. In thought I must set up writing this way moreover – spending time and actual effort to manufacture a good article… but what / things I say… I procrastinate alot and by no indicates apparently go accomplished. https://in5551.com

  14. I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it
    up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road.
    All the best

    Also visit my web site … buy instagram post comments

  15. Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?

    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of
    hard work due to no backup. Do you have any solutions to stop hackers?

    Feel free to surf to my page; nba youngboy youtube views

  16. Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after checking through
    some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely happy I
    found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!

    Also visit my web-site … pg slot99

  17. Really engaging article! It’s impressive how online gaming platforms blend education, psychology, and entertainment. For example, Winbox offers practical examples of user learning through strategic decision-making.

  18. This is an excellent point about digital transformation in education. Even entertainment-based platforms like Winbox can be studied to understand how design and data influence user learning behavior.

  19. Really engaging article! It’s impressive how online gaming platforms blend education, psychology, and entertainment. For example, Winbox offers practical examples of user learning through strategic decision-making.

  20. Hey there are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new
    to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own.
    Do you require any html coding knowledge to make your own blog?

    Any help would be really appreciated!

    Here is my web-site Zplatform.ai

  21. They can present customized recommendation and steering to ensure a protected and tailor-made approach that fits your particular person wants and goals.
    Another choice for buying Winstrol within the UK is thru native shops or pharmacies.

    Nevertheless, it’s important to notice that the supply of Stanozolol in physical stores could additionally be limited because of its controlled standing.
    Pharmacies, specifically, usually require a sound prescription from a licensed healthcare professional.
    If you determine to explore local stores or pharmacies,
    it’s advisable to contact them prematurely to inquire about
    their insurance policies and whether they stock this kind of steroid.
    Upon finishing a Winstrol cycle, the focus shifts to the restoration stage,
    emphasizing the significance of implementing a well-structured post-cycle therapy (PCT).
    This is crucial to restore the body’s natural hormonal features, safeguard hard-earned gains, and promote general well-being.

    Winstrol is typically taken orally or injected, and it works by growing protein synthesis and
    purple blood cell manufacturing. On the other hand, Winstrol is a stronger steroid that’s higher fitted
    to skilled customers who want to build muscle mass and enhance their total efficiency.
    It is also effective for chopping cycles and might help to minimize back body fat while retaining
    lean muscle mass. Nevertheless, Winstrol also can trigger unwanted aspect effects similar to joint pain, liver injury,
    and excessive levels of cholesterol. Winstrol, also referred to as stanozolol, is an injectable steroid that’s usually utilized in chopping cycles to assist athletes lose fat and maintain muscle mass.
    It’s also efficient at increasing power and endurance,
    and it could help you construct lean muscle tissue.
    Nevertheless, Winstrol is understood for its harsher unwanted side effects, including liver damage
    and joint ache.
    Andriol is the brand name for oral testosterone,
    also referred to as testosterone undecanoate. The downside to oral testosterone is that it is notably costlier than injectable
    testosterone. With Anavar also being a pricey compound,
    this cycle can value hundreds of dollars. This is a standard follow-up cycle to the first
    Anavar and testosterone cycle listed. These numerous types
    of testosterone possess distinct esters, which determine their absorption fee and
    period of presence within the physique. The standard
    types of testosterone are enanthate and cypionate, attributed
    to their affordability and ease of administration. Let’s break
    down what to stack with Winstrol — and tips on how
    to defend your physique during the cycle.

    Winstrol is a potent muscle-builder, though not as powerful as
    bulking steroids, similar to Anadrol or Dbol. However, this isn’t to say it’s only
    utilized by girls, with a number of male powerlifters and bodybuilders additionally using
    Anavar to good impact. Anavar is non-aromatizing and has a relatively gentle effect on liver enzymes,
    especially at reasonable doses. Thus, Anavar just isn’t
    strongly hepatotoxic in comparison with different oral steroids.

    No, Winstrol (Stanozolol) is illegal for women’s use with no prescription in lots of nations, including the
    Usa. Its potential for abuse and misuse led to its classification as a restricted substance.
    Keep hydrated– it could possibly cause ache in joints and other components
    of the body during high-intensity workouts as a result of it’s dry.

    Although such signs could occur while a woman is taking Anavar,
    they will disappear as soon as she stops taking it.
    Aspect results, like zits or deeper voice, do happen—just
    not for everyone. All The Time listen to your body and pay
    consideration to adjustments, especially should you notice hair development, pimples, or changes to your interval.
    That’s a massive advantage for feminine bodybuilders trying to achieve large advantages out of Winstrol while keeping unwanted facet effects at
    bay.
    Research have discovered Anavar to suppress endogenous testosterone, which isn’t simply problematic for males;
    testosterone stays a vital hormone for women as properly.

    If a woman unknowingly takes Dianabol, virilization unwanted
    effects are very doubtless in our expertise. We find that women are rarely troubled by the side effects of Anavar, particularly from a masculinization/virilization perspective.
    There are studies additionally demonstrating Anavar to be properly tolerated among females in analysis.
    This reduction in visceral fat mass is particularly beneficial for girls, as they’re more prone
    to storing stomach fats. This is due to women having higher estrogen levels, causing distinct fats distribution in comparability with their
    male counterparts. Nonetheless, top-of-the-line benefits of Anavar is
    that it burns each visceral and subcutaneous fats, serving
    to girls obtain a smaller waist.
    In the preparation to cycle Winstrol for women,
    one must be very careful about getting out the utmost quantity of output and the possible lowest risk.
    However, the cycle time and stacking of Stanozolol with different compounds strongly have an result on the outcomes.
    Also, by means of constructing lean muscle,
    there are various bulking steroids that are superior to Winstrol (in phrases of effectiveness).

    We have seen Winstrol cause masculinization in girls in reasonable
    doses as a result of its low affinity when binding to
    SHBG, thus dramatically rising free testosterone ranges.
    Finasteride and different drugs commonly used to inhibit hair loss will be ineffective on Winstrol,
    as it’s not a substrate for the 5α–reductase
    enzyme. In quick, Winstrol doesn’t convert testosterone to
    DHT, as Winstrol itself is already a spinoff of DHT; thus,
    blocking such a conversion is futile. Thus, bodybuilders beneath our care commonly make the most of post-cycle remedy (PCT) to efficiently speed up the recovery of their testosterone production. TUDCA is an FDA-approved remedy for various cholestatic liver
    diseases (2). Winstrol considerably will increase energy because of larger ranges of protein synthesis and nitrogen retention contained in the muscle cells.
    Many bodybuilders need to hide their torsos with t-shirts and jumpers when taking estrogenic bulking compounds due
    to extreme water retention.
    They can talk about the advantages and dangers of hormone remedy and advocate
    a form and dose that’s right for you. Docs usually advocate beginning with the lowest effective dose to manage signs of menopause whereas minimizing potential risks.

    The main operate of Winstrol drugs is to scale back the SHBG content material to encourage
    larger levels of testosterone in the body. It is that this distinction in testosterone that makes the injectable model of Winstrol simpler for girls.
    By letting the steroid interact with the SHBG and creating a surplus of testosterone within the
    body, you have to use the relaxation of the hormone to construct muscle.
    The anabolic effects of Winstrol can take over solely after SHBG has accomplished its job.

    The reserves of testosterone obtainable in your physique cannot be used to construct muscle simply
    because they are certain to SHBG.

    References:

    pedselite

  22. I do not know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering issues with your site.
    It appears as if some of the written text in your content are running off the screen. Can somebody else
    please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them too?
    This might be a problem with my internet browser
    because I’ve had this happen before. Thanks

    Visit my blog – weed deals Canada

  23. Aw, this was a very nice post. Spending some time and
    actual effort to produce a really good article… but what can I
    say… I put things off a lot and don’t seem to
    get anything done.

    Feel free to visit my page … buy google reviews

  24. This is an excellent point about digital transformation in education. Even entertainment-based platforms like Winbox can be studied to understand how design and data influence user learning behavior.

  25. Really engaging article! It’s impressive how online gaming platforms blend education, psychology, and entertainment. For example, Winbox offers practical examples of user learning through strategic decision-making.

  26. Definitely imagine that that you stated. Your favourite reason seemed
    to be at the web the simplest factor to be mindful of.
    I say to you, I definitely get irked at the same time as other people think about issues that they
    just don’t understand about. You managed to hit
    the nail upon the top and also defined out the entire thing without having side effect , people can take a
    signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thank you

    My web page :: best online casinos in Canada

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *