The Effects of Heat on the pH levels of Vegetables and Their Pigments
The Effects of Heat on the pH of the Vegetable and Their Pigment
PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment is to see how pH levels of certain vegetables change while being cooked in four different mediums (frying, boiling, steaming, roasting), and how the varying pH levels change the coloring of the vegetables. We will analyze how the different method of cooking/heating changes the levels of pH.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This experiment is based around the different pigments in vegetables, of which we researched and encountered 3. We were looking at the effects of four different types of heating or cooking methods to see their effects on the pH of vegetable and their pigments.
Cooking Methods:
Boiling relies on currents of heat and doesn’t trigger browning reactions. The temperature of the wateraises to around 212 degrees, and it is the heat of the water that cooks the food.
Steaming is a less dense medium. Vapors in steaming provide more energy, and like boiling, the water used is around 212 degrees and provides steam which is hot enough to cook food in a similar fashion to boiling.
Frying uses a small amount of cooking medium, which is oil. It provides higher heats than boiling and steaming, though not as high as roasting. pH pH is the standard measure of proton activity, or measure of acid or base character of a liquid solution. The measure is based on the hydrogen ion concentration of the liquid or solution. The measure is expressed in a number from 0 - 14, and the measure of water is neutral pH 7, the liquids going from pH 0 to pH 6 are acidic, and the liquids going from ph 8 to pH 14 are basic.
Pigments:
Pigment Any coloring matter in plant or animal cells that reflects light of certain wavelengths while also bringing light of other wavelengths without producing appreciable luminessence used to impart color to other material.
Chlorophyll is a green pigment with a ring structure similar to HEME molecule in animal blood. It is the most common
PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment is to see how pH levels of certain vegetables change while being cooked in four different mediums (frying, boiling, steaming, roasting), and how the varying pH levels change the coloring of the vegetables. We will analyze how the different method of cooking/heating changes the levels of pH.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This experiment is based around the different pigments in vegetables, of which we researched and encountered 3. We were looking at the effects of four different types of heating or cooking methods to see their effects on the pH of vegetable and their pigments.
Cooking Methods:
Boiling relies on currents of heat and doesn’t trigger browning reactions. The temperature of the wateraises to around 212 degrees, and it is the heat of the water that cooks the food.
Steaming is a less dense medium. Vapors in steaming provide more energy, and like boiling, the water used is around 212 degrees and provides steam which is hot enough to cook food in a similar fashion to boiling.
Frying uses a small amount of cooking medium, which is oil. It provides higher heats than boiling and steaming, though not as high as roasting. pH pH is the standard measure of proton activity, or measure of acid or base character of a liquid solution. The measure is based on the hydrogen ion concentration of the liquid or solution. The measure is expressed in a number from 0 - 14, and the measure of water is neutral pH 7, the liquids going from pH 0 to pH 6 are acidic, and the liquids going from ph 8 to pH 14 are basic.
Pigments:
Pigment Any coloring matter in plant or animal cells that reflects light of certain wavelengths while also bringing light of other wavelengths without producing appreciable luminessence used to impart color to other material.
Chlorophyll is a green pigment with a ring structure similar to HEME molecule in animal blood. It is the most common