Food
Why a pinch of salt can make dessert taste sweeter
Salt changes the balance of taste signals; the effect depends on the food and the dose.
Food
The science, history and culture behind what we eat.
Food
Why the microwave leaves hot and cold spots
The oven's wave pattern and the food's own shape make heating a surprisingly uneven process.
Food
Why Does Coriander Taste Like Soap to Some People?
A genetic clue points to smell, while experience and the rest of the recipe also matter.
Food
Why Does Searing Meat Create So Much Flavour?
A hot, relatively dry surface becomes a busy chemical workshop.
Food
Why does chocolate melt so satisfyingly in the mouth?
Well-made chocolate is firm enough to snap at room temperature but softens rapidly near body temperature. The arrangement of cocoa butter crystals makes that contrast possible.
Food
Why can reheated food taste better the next day?
Some stews, curries and sauces seem richer after a night in the fridge. Cooling and reheating change how flavours are distributed and released, but the effect is not universal.
Food
How Cheese Gets So Many Flavours From Milk
Starter cultures, moisture, salt, microbes and time turn a simple beginning into a huge range of aromas and textures.
Food
Why Does Bread Go Stale While Biscuits Go Soft?
The same kitchen air meets two foods built with very different amounts of water.
Food
Why Coffee Can Smell Richer Than It Tastes
The aroma rising from a cup reaches the nose differently from the flavours released while you drink.
Food
Why Warm Fizzy Drinks Taste Flat
Heat changes how carbon dioxide stays dissolved and how quickly it escapes once the bottle is open.
Food
Why do onions make us cry?
Cutting an onion sets off a chemical chain reaction. Your tears are the eye's response to the tiny irritant it releases.
Food
Why does chilli feel hot when it is not burning you?
Capsaicin, the compound that gives chillies their kick, activates nerve sensors that also respond to damaging heat. Your mouth reports a burn even though its temperature has not risen to match the sensation.