AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition: Student Book

Shellfish Explanation Some foods contain natural toxins (poisons) that would be harmful if the food was eaten raw. Cooking destroys the toxins and makes the food safe to eat. Raw red kidney beans must be boiled for at least 15 minutes. Canned red kidney beans are safe because they are cooked when they are canned. Explanation Cooking develops flavour by causing chemical reactions to take place in the food, for example: Cakes: fat melts, proteins in eggs and flour coagulate, sugars caramelise, starch gelatinises. Meat stew: vegetables soften and cook, meat protein coagulates, extractives (juices) in the meat muscle are squeezed out into the liquid, meat flavour develops as the proteins tenderise. Quiche flan: flavours from each filling ingredient combine with the egg and milk, egg protein sets, cheese melts and develops a golden, well-flavoured layer on top. To develop flavours in the food Cakes Meat stew Why food is cooked 79