Culinary Chemistry: The Science of Cooking – High School Curriculum

Description

Bring Science to the Kitchen with This Culinary Chemistry Curriculum for High School

Turn your kitchen into a chemistry lab with Culinary Chemistry: The Science of Cooking, a high school curriculum that blends hands-on experimentation with scientific inquiry. This unique culinary chemistry curriculum for high school students uses food to teach core scientific concepts through real-world applications—from emulsions and fermentation to the Maillard reaction and pH balance.

Whether you’re baking bread to observe chemical leavening, measuring density while crafting sauces, or investigating the molecular structure of proteins through egg-cooking experiments, students will develop lab-grade critical thinking with every bite.

🍳 What Students Will Learn:

• The chemistry of molecules in food: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, water

• Scientific method application in cooking scenarios

• Heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation) in food preparation

• Phase changes, emulsions, and foams

• Acid-base chemistry, fermentation, and leavening reactions

• Food safety, kitchen measurement, and thermodynamics

• Global cuisine connections, historical context, and food science careers

✨ Curriculum Features:

• 📄 Format: PDF curriculum with printable worksheets, labs, review questions, quarterly quizzes, and answer keys

• 📚 Structure: Over 10 chapters of interdisciplinary learning, aligned with high school chemistry standards

• 🧪 Activities: Lab-based cooking experiments with safety guidelines

• 🌍 Integration: Cross-cultural food examples and global culinary science

• 🏡 Use Cases: Ideal for homeschoolers, co-op classes, micro-schools, or enrichment programs

📈 Outcomes:

Students will walk away with a deeper understanding of both science and everyday life—able to interpret ingredient labels, explain cooking techniques chemically, and experiment in the kitchen with confidence.

🌐 Explore More About Culinary Chemistry:

🔗 Science of Cooking – Exploratorium
🔗 American Chemical Society – Chemistry of Food

🔗 Link to related curriculum: High School Classes
🔗 Link to full catalog