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Project Summary
| Difficulty | 2 |
| Time required | Short (several days) |
| Prerequisites | Access to cooking pots made of different materials. |
| Material Availability | Readily available |
| Cost | Low ($20 - $50) |
| Safety | Minor injury possible. Always exercise caution when using a stove. Adult supervision is required. Make sure that the cooking pots you have chosen to test are designed for stovetop use. |
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| * Note: This is an abbreviated project idea, without notes to start your background research or a procedure for how to do the experiment. You can identify abbreviated project ideas by the asterisk at the end of the title. If you want a project idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk. |
Abstract
What is cooking? Cooking is applying heat to food in order to help make it taste good. But the decision to cook your food doesn't end there. Do you want to cook it at a low temperature for a long time or do you want to apply high heat and cook or sear it right away? You might think that a pot is just something in which to cook your food, but it is also a cooking tool. Pots and pans are made from different kinds of materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel, iron, and ceramics. Each of these materials transfers heat differently. In this cooking and food science fair project, you will determine which material transfers heat the fastest. Try different kinds of pots to see which kind boils water the fastest or use a kitchen thermometer to find out which delivers the highest temperature after 10 minutes. You can also test and see how long the hot water stays hot in the pot. After doing this science fair project, you'll be the expert and can help your parents make cooking decisions, like the best pot to cook stew in or the best pan in which to sear meats.Bibliography
This website gives a great tutorial on heat transfer and the different ways of transferring heat.
- Zimmerman, B. (2007, June 1). Heat Transfer and Cooking. Cooking for Engineers. Retrieved October 9, 2008, from http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article/224/Heat-Transfer-and-Cooking
Variations
- For more science project ideas in this area of science, see Cooking & Food Science Project Ideas.
Last edit date: 2008-10-16 12:00:00
Career Focus
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring careers in Cooking & Food Science.
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Food Science Technician Good taste, texture, quality, and safety are all very important in the food industry. Food science technicians test and catalog the physical and chemical properties of food to help ensure these aspects. |
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Food Scientist or Technologist There is a fraction of the world's population that doesn't have enough to eat or doesn't have access to food that is nutritionally rich. Food scientists or technologists work to find new sources of food that have the right nutrition levels and that are safe for human consumption. In fact, our nation's food supply depends on food scientists and technologists that test and develop foods that meet and exceed government food safety standards. If you are interested in combining biology, chemistry, and the knowledge that you are helping people, then a career as a food scientist or technologist could be a great choice for you! | |
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Dietitian or Nutritionist Ever wondered who plans the school lunch, food for patients at a hospital, or the meals for athletes at the Olympics? The answer is dietitians and nutritionists! A dietitian or nutritionist's job is to supervise the planning and preparation of meals to ensure that people—like students, patients, and athletes—are getting the right foods to make them as healthy and as strong as possible. Some dietitians and nutritionists also work to educate people about good food choices so they can cook and eat their own healthy meals. | |||
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