In every grocery store I shop at, apples take up the most real estate in the produce section. All year long, while other fruits come and go, shiny round apples sit waiting to be bought. Why are apples so popular? Besides the great taste and crisp texture, apples are hardy and useful. Read on to… Continue reading Apples
A reader asked how a food expiration date is determined. What a great question! The answer is both simple and oddly complex. Basically, we get expiration dates by storing a food and waiting to see when the quality starts to go down. That's right, just let the food sit for a long time and see… Continue reading How are food expiration dates determined?
Everybody knows what a chef is. It is right up there with astronaut and doctor on the list of jobs that kids learn about and want to be when they grow up. But no one knows what a food scientist is. The most common reaction I get when I say I'm a food scientist is:… Continue reading Food Science vs Culinary Arts
Did you know that spices have a "best if used by" date? Some of them do. In my spice collection about half of them have a "best if used by" date. For example, the ground mustard I recently purchased is best if used by 2014. What does this "best if used by"date mean for spices?… Continue reading Do spices expire?
A food scientist works in the food industry, typically in product development, quality control, sensory evaluation, or research.
A Dash of Science 