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On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen

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'On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen' by Harold McGee is an extensive reference book that delves into the science, history, and sociology of food and cooking. The book explores a wide range of topics, from the chemistry of ingredients to the physics of cooking techniques, providing detailed explanations and fascinating insights into the world of culinary arts. McGee's writing style combines scientific explanations with historical anecdotes and practical information, making the book both educational and enjoyable to read for anyone interested in food and cooking.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex scientific concepts understandable while incorporating historical context.

Plot/Storyline:

The book serves as a comprehensive reference on food science and culinary techniques, exploring diverse topics and providing detailed insights.

Setting:

The setting revolves around the scientific aspects of food and cooking, enhanced by historical and illustrative content.

Pacing:

The pacing allows for detailed exploration of topics, making it suitable for reference use rather than sequential reading.
What better subject for the first chapter than the food with which we all begin our lives? Humans are mammals, a word that means “creatures of the breast,” and the first food that any mammal tastes is...

Notes:

On Food and Cooking is an extensive reference book about food science and cooking techniques.
Harold McGee dedicates 68 pages to eggs, discussing their structure and cooking properties.
Did you know ovalbumin makes up 54% of egg white protein and sets at 180°F?
The book explains the physics and chemistry behind cooking in an accessible way.
It includes fascinating historical anecdotes and excerpts from ancient cookbooks.
The new edition focuses more on applied science in cooking compared to the earlier version.
Edible plants, milk, dairy products, and meat are some of the chapter topics covered in the book.
It provides tips on how to improve your cooking with scientific knowledge about ingredients.
This book highlights the Maillard reaction, an important process in cooking.
It is not a cookbook but serves as a context for understanding culinary techniques better.
McGee's insights can make everyday cooking more interesting and informed.
The book can spark curiosity about various food-related topics and science.
It has a bibliography for readers who want to explore topics in greater depth.
The effects of temperature and acid on protein-rich foods are detailed in the new section on proteins.
Readers have described the book as a textbook for laypeople interested in food science.
It even covers unusual topics like why beans cause gas and the transformation of milk into cheese.

From The Publisher:

A kitchen classic for over 35 years, and hailed by Time magazine as "a minor masterpiece" when it first appeared in 1984, On Food and Cooking is the bible which food lovers and professional chefs worldwide turn to for an understanding of where our foods come from, what exactly they're made of, and how cooking transforms them into something new and delicious.

On Food and Cooking pioneered the translation of technical food science into cook-friendly kitchen science and helped birth the inventive culinary movement known as "molecular gastronomy." Though other books have been written about kitchen science, On Food and Cooking remains unmatched in the accuracy, clarity, and thoroughness of its explanations, and the intriguing way in which it blends science with the historical evolution of foods and cooking techniques.

· Traditional and modern methods of food production and their influences on food quality

· The great diversity of methods by which people in different places and times have prepared the same ingredients

· Tips for selecting the best ingredients and preparing them successfully

· The particular substances that give foods their flavors, and that give us pleasure

· Our evolving knowledge of the health benefits and risks of foods

On Food and Cooking is an invaluable and monumental compendium of basic information about ingredients, cooking methods, and the pleasures of eating. It will delight and fascinate anyone who has ever cooked, savored, or wondered about food.

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About the Author:

Harold McGee is a world-renowned authority on the science of food and cooking. He studied science and literature at Caltech and Yale, and has written two prize-winning books, On Food and Cooking and The Curious Cook, as well as many articles and reviews. He has been named food writer of the year by Bon Appétit magazine and to the Time 100, an annual list of the world's most influential people. He lives in San Francisco.

 
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