Why One-Day-Old Rice Should Be Used For Fried Rice

Why One-Day-Old Rice Should Be Used For Fried Rice

When the cooked rice is refrigerated, the starch molecules gradually undergo a reformation process called retrogradation. In food chemistry, retrogradation refers to the phenomenon in which starch returns or reverts to a crystalline structure as it cools down. The result of retrogradation is the formation of resistant starch. This is the same reason why bread in the refrigerator hardens over time.

Acrylamide In Food: Chemistry, Formation, And Health Effects

Potato chips

Acrylamide forms through a chemical reaction known as the Maillard reaction. This reaction occurs when certain amino acids and sugars in food react at high temperatures, typically above 248°F (120°C).

Acrylamide forms during frying, broiling, baking, and roasting due to the high temperatures involved, which promote the Maillard reaction and acrylamide formation.

The Key Difference Between Amylose and Amylopectin

The Key Difference Between Amylose and Amylopectin

Starch is classified as a polysaccharide, which is a type of carbohydrate consisting of multiple sugar molecules linked together. In the case of starch, these sugar molecules are primarily glucose units. The individual glucose units in starch are connected by glycosidic bonds, which are chemical bonds formed between the carbon atoms of adjacent glucose molecules. These bonds create long chains known as polysaccharides, mainly amylose and amylopectin.

Food Chemistry: What Is Denaturation of Protein?

Protein denaturation

Denaturation of protein is a common occurrence during food preparation and cooking. Proteins are large, complex molecules composed of chains of amino acids folded into distinct 3D shapes. In this state, they are called native folded protein, and are able to perform their specific biological functions. But when they are denatured, they lose their functions. Denaturation is a process that disrupts the structure of a protein, causing it to lose shape and function.

What Is A Leavening Agent In Baking?

Bread

The process of leavening occurs when the gluten structure or air spaces is filled with a leavening agent, making the dough or batter to rise and expand during baking. Although carbon dioxide is the primary cause of leavening, other gases, such as ammonia gas, water in the form of steam, and integrated air (added during mixing), also contribute to the expansion of baked goods.