How Does A Tasting of Culinary Science—Starch Work?

Starch is like invisible glue that makes food go from chewy to soft when it gets warm.

Starch is found in foods like potatoes, pasta, and bread. When you cook these things, the starch starts to change. Imagine you're eating a cold potato, it's hard and doesn't melt in your mouth. But when you heat it up, like in a microwave or on the stove, the starch inside gets all wiggly and turns into something called gelatin, which is like melted jelly.

• When you cook food with starch, it’s like giving the glue a warm hug, it becomes soft and stretchy.
• If you cool it down again, like when you make a pudding or a cake, it gets firm and smooth, just like how your favorite cookie feels when it's done baking.

So next time you eat pasta or a sandwich, remember that starch is working hard behind the scenes to make everything taste good and feel right in your mouth!