Cover of The Inquisitive Cook

The Inquisitive Cook

In a light, anecdotal, but highly informative style, seasoned cooking writers reveal the unexpected and always practical science of the kitchen. Covered are such subjects as the amazing alchemy of granules and powders, the astonishing egg, the effects on food of different cooking methods, the biology and psychology of flavor, the remarkable chemistry of doughs, spices, and much, much more. Amusing anecdotes, sidebars and illustrations en-liven the text. Throughout, there are "cook's queries," quick tips, and even recipes that will delight anyone interested in becoming a more knowledgable cook.

Audience
adult
Length
short · 160 pages

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it. Point at it (on a phone, tap it) for less of it instead.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

Liked The Inquisitive Cook? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked The Inquisitive Cook. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Kitchen Science: A Guide to Knowing the Hows and Whys for Fun and Success in the Kitchen Shares food, cookbooks, nonfiction
  2. The Hungry Scientist Handbook: Electric Birthday Cakes, Edible Origami, and Other DIY Projects for Techies, Tinkerers, and Foodies Shares food, science, nonfiction
  3. Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Cooks, and Good Food Shares food, cookbooks, nonfiction
  4. On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen Shares food, cookbooks, cooking

“If you want more of the same (cooking about food), start with these.”

  1. Culinary Reactions: The Everyday Chemistry of Cooking
  2. What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained
  3. The Science of Cooking
  4. Molecular Gastronomy: Exploring the Science of Flavor

“If it was the food that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. The Science of the Oven
  2. How to Read a French Fry: And Other Stories of Intriguing Kitchen Science
  3. Ideas in Food: Great Recipes and Why They Work
  4. Heston Blumenthal: In Search of Perfection: Reinventing Kitchen Classics

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. The Science of Good Food: The Ultimate Reference on How Cooking Works
  2. The Science of Good Cooking: Master 50 Simple Concepts to Enjoy a Lifetime of Success in the Kitchen
  3. Kids Cook French: Les enfants cuisinent a la francaise
  4. Essential Spices and Herbs: Discover Them, Understand Them, Enjoy Them