Abstract OK, spill the beans, what's your favorite bean-rich food? Burritos? Chili? Or maybe you prefer the spicy Indian stew of lentils, known as dal? But what about fried tofu? Soymilk? Or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Did you know those foods come from beans as well? Beans are important to the diets of many people, and in this cooking and food science fair project, you'll learn how the liquid that beans are cooked in affects how quickly or slowly they soften. Objective To determine which cooking liquids slow bean softening and which cooking liquids hasten bean softening. Introduction Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...classic! If you love this food, you might not realize it, but you're not actually eating tree nuts (like almonds or walnuts) at all! You're eating a bean, also known as a legume. Legumes are small, but powerful sources of nutrition. After the grains, like wheat and rice (from the grass family of plants), legumes are the second most important family of plants in human diets. Their special contribution to human nutrition is protein,which they are able to make thanks to a clever bacteria known as rhizobium. These bacteria get into the roots of the plant and change the nitrogen in the air into a form that the plants can use to make amino acids, the basic building blocks of protein. The protein content in legumes is 2-3 times as great as the protein content in the grasses. Having a reliable source of protein has been critical to the development of human civilizations. Animal protein is often hard to obtain and can be expensive, and protein from grasses is too limited to survive on over the long-term, so legumes have filled that human need for protein in many cultures throughout the world, especially in Asia, Central and South America, and the Mediterranean. They may be small and humble looking, but beans are held in high standing in many societies. For example, some cultures, like those near New Orleans, Malta, Nicaragua, and Italy, believe eating beans on New Year's Day will bring you good luck, and the Romans named powerful families after the names of legumes in the Mediterranean: Fabius was named after the fava bean, Lentulus after the lentil, Piso after the pea, and Cicero comes from the word for chickpea. Legumes provide people not only with protein, but also with B vitamins, iron, some starch (complex carbohydrate), and, in the case of soybeans and peanuts, rich, healthy oils. Their seed coats are indigestible, which means that they are a good source of fiber, and colorful, which means they are full ofantioxidants, which help prevent diseases. Legumes are also high in defensive compounds, which are substances that the plant makes to protect itself. If dried beans are fed to people or cattle raw, or not fully cooked, the beans can make them sick. Cooking removes or disables these defensive compounds, and makes them safe to eat. How are legumes cooked? It depends on the type of legume. A few legumes, like peas and bean sprouts, can be eaten safely fresh (without any cooking). Others with high oil content, like peanuts and soybeans, are safer cooked. Fresh, moist, shell beans in their pods (like green beans) should be simmered, sautéed, or steamed, but only for a few minutes, as they cook fairly quickly. It is the dried, mature bean seeds that require a lengthy cooking time, and these will be the focus of your science fair project. Most beans, with the exception of soybeans and peanuts, are made up primarily of protein and starch. The nutrients are stored inside the bean seed in a part of the bean called the cotyledon, as shown in Figure 1. The two cotyledons are completely surrounded by a tough seed coat, except for the point at which the bean has a little dimple. That is where there is a break in the seed coat and you'll find a little hole or pore called the hilum. The hilum is where the bean seed was attached to the living plant before it was picked and dried. Initially, when placed in water, the dried bean seeds can only absorb water through their hilums. After about 30-60 minutes, though, the seed coats expand and become hydrated. At that point, water can move into the bean through the hilum and the entire seed coat surface. Cooking dried bean seeds in a liquid is necessary to soften the cotyledon cell walls and the starchy granules within them. Dried bean seeds are best cooked in just enough cooking liquid to barely cover them. If you use too much liquid, then the flavor will be weak. Also, it is best not to hard-boil them because the turbulence from the hard boil can damage the seed coats and cause the beans to break up into pieces. A slow simmer (180-200°F) is a better and gentler cooking treatment. Food scientists have learned that several substances added to the cooking liquid can impact the softening of beans. Sometimes, slow softening over several hours is desirable, if, for example, you have a dish that needs hours of cooking to develop flavors and you don't want the beans to fall apart into mush. Other times, faster softening is desired, such as if you need the finished cooked beans more quickly, or if you want a more pureed-like end product. Softening can be slowed by the addition of these substances to the cooking liquid: 1. Acids 2. Sugar 3. Calcium Acids work by making structures called hemicelluloses in the cell wall of the bean seed more stable and less inclined to dissolve in water. Sugars work in two ways: they strengthen the cell walls and slow the swelling of the starch granules within the cotyledons. Calcium also works on the cells walls, cross-linking and strengthening their pectins. So, for example, if you live in an area with "hard water," with high levels of calcium and magnesium, and you use that water for your cooking liquid, you will slow the softening of your beans, and may even prevent them from softening fully. Or, if you add a substance like molasses to your cooking water (molasses is slightly acidic, and rich in sugar and calcium), the molasses will work to slow the softening of beans in four different ways: stabilizing hemicelluloses, strengthening cells walls, slowing the swelling of starch granules, and cross-linking pectins. Softening can be sped up by making the water more alkaline. For example, adding 1 teaspoon (tsp.) of baking soda for every 1 quart (qt.) of water can decrease the cooking time by nearly 75 percent! Baking soda works by helping the hemicelluloses dissolve in water, and it contains sodium, which kicks out the magnesium from the pectins in the cell walls and makes them more readily dissolvable. The disadvantage, though, is that baking soda can give the finished product a slippery or soapy feel and taste. Table salt can also speed up softening, although many cookbooks suggest otherwise. It does initially slow the rate of water absorption, but once that happens, plain salt (in amounts of 2 tsp. per qt.) will speed cooking greatly. Finally, cooking times can be reduced, not by the addition of a substance to the cooking liquid, but by simply presoaking the beans overnight in water. This reduces cooking time by 25 percent or more so that time cooking isn't spent just getting water to the center of the bean. So now you're ready to put some cooking liquids to the test and see which ones result in beans that are tough or tender. Terms, Concepts, and Questions to Start Background Research
Questions
Bibliography
To see some beautiful photos of different beans from around the world, visit this source:
For help creating graphs, try this website:
Materials and Equipment
. Experimental Procedure Presoaking Your Beans 1. Open the bag of beans and dump them into a large container. Add water to the container until the beans are well covered (by at least 1-2 inches of water). Put the lid on the container and place the container on the counter overnight (or for at least 8-10 hours). 2. After they have soaked, examine your beans and write down in your lab notebook your observations about what has happened to them. If you are not going to do any testing right away on your beans, then put them in the refrigerator in the covered container (without draining them). Cooking the Beans Using Your Test Substances 1. When you're ready to begin testing, put ½ cup of fresh water in the saucepan. 2. Add one of your test substances to the saucepan and swirl or stir it gently with a spoon for a few seconds to mix the water with the test substance. 3. Scoop up ½ cup of soaked beans with the measuring cup. Hold one hand loosely over the top of the cup and tilt the cup slightly over a sink to drain the beans, and then add the beans to the saucepan. 4. Bring the contents of the pan just to a boil. 5. Put the lid on the saucepan and turn the stove burner down to its lowest possible setting. The beans and their cooking liquid should be barely simmering. 6. Set the timer and simmer the beans and their cooking liquid for 15 minutes. 7. Turn off the stove, take the saucepan immediately off the burner, and pour the contents into a small bowl. Allow the beans to cool completely on a counter before touching them. Label the bowl with the name of the test substance, using a small sticky note, and set the bowl aside on the counter. 8. Wash and dry the pan. 9. Repeat steps 1–8 for all the bean-softening substances that you are testing. 10. Now repeat step 1, skip step 2, but repeat steps 3–8. The beans resulting from this cooking trial will be your controls. No test substance should be added to the cooking water for this batch. Preparing Your Testing Apparatus 1. With the scissors, cut a slot near the top of a small paper cup, just big enough so that the handle of the cheese slicer fits through it. Be careful with the scissors and ask an adult to help you if you are having trouble. See Figure 3, below. 2. Push the paper cup onto the handle of the cheese slicer through the slot in the paper cup. If the cup slides around too much, then you can use some tape to make it more secure. Observe where the cup is resting on the handle (for example, near the tip, or in the middle) and make note of that location in your lab notebook. As you perform the trials, the cup should always be positioned in the same place. 3. Place the cheese slicer with the paper cup attached on the edge of a table so that when the handle falls downward, the cup does not ever hit the table. Testing Your Cooked Beans 1. Set your cooked bowls of beans side by side on a table or counter and examine them with your eyes and hands. Are there any broken pieces? Have the seed coats fallen off some beans? Pick up one bean from each bowl and squeeze it over a sink between your thumb and forefinger. Does the bean feel soft or firm to you? Write down your observations in your lab notebook. After you squeeze each bean, throw the bean pieces away and wash your hands. 2. In this step, you will determine the best spot on your cheese slicer cutting board for testing your beans. Locations higher up on the cutting board need less pressure to cut through the beans, while locations lower down on the cutting board need more pressure to cut through the beans. You want a spot that is not too much pressure for the softest beans, but at the same time, not too little pressure for the hardest beans. To find the ideal spot, first remove three beans from the bowl that has some of the softest beans that you felt in step 1 of this section. Place one of the soft beans across the groove in the cutting board near the top of the cheese slicer. Let the wire rest against the bean. a. If the cheese slicer wire rests against the bean (without cutting through it), then mark this spot on your cheese slicer with a sticky note, as shown in Figure 3, and go on to step 3. b. If the weight of the handle causes the cheese slicer wire to cut through the bean, remove the bean pieces from the cheese slicer and try another of the same type of soft bean in a different spot on the cheese slicer cutting board. For example, this time place a bean across the groove in the middle of the cutting board on the cheese slicer. c. If the cheese slicer wire rests against the bean (without cutting through it), then mark this spot on your cheese slicer with a sticky note, as shown in Figure 3, and go on to step 3. d. If the weight of the handle still causes the cheese slicer to cut through the bean, remove the bean pieces from the cheese slicer and try yet another of the softest beans. This time, place the bean so that it straddles the groove near the bottom of the cutting board on the cheese slicer. Mark this spot on your cheese slicer with a sticky note, as shown in Figure 3, even if the weight of the handle still cuts through the bean. 3. Now clear your cheese slicer of any bean pieces, but leave the sticky note in place. Remove three beans from one bowl. Place one of the beans in the position indicated by the sticky note. Let the cutting wire rest gently against the seed coat. 4. Begin adding coins or other small weights slowly to the paper cup. Count the coins or weights as you add them. See Figure 4, below. When the wire cuts through the bean, stop adding coins or weights to the small cup and write down the number that you counted in your data table in your lab notebook. If you lost count or didn't keep track, you can dump out the contents of the cup and count the number of coins or weights inside. If the wire never cuts through the bean, then try a bigger paper cup that can hold more coins or weights. 5. Remove the paper cup from the handle and dump out all the coins or weights. Replace the paper cup on the handle. Position it so that it is in the same location on the handle that it was in previously. If the cup becomes torn while taking it off the handle, or putting it back on, then get a fresh paper cup and create a new slot with the scissors. 6. Repeat steps 3–5 for the other two beans so that you have a total of three trials for one bowl of beans. 7. Repeat steps 3–6 for all the bowls of cooked beans. 8. After you are finished testing, throw away and do not eat any of the beans, as they are only partially cooked, and are not safe to eat. Wash your hands after touching the beans. |
Showing posts with label other ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label other ideas. Show all posts
Friday, 27 July 2012
To determine which cooking liquids slow bean softening (other ideas)
The Effect of milk curdling (other ideas)
Abstract
Has a milk-based soup, sauce, or gravy ever curdled on you (formed lumps) as you were preparing it? Curdling is the process of coagulation that occurs where the proteins in the milk clump together. Sometimes curdling is desirable—for example, if you want to make a delicious cheese or yogurt—but if you are trying to make a milk-based soup or gratin, or if you're adding milk to a hot drink, curdling is very unwanted because you lose the smooth, creamy texture. Nobody likes clumps and lumps in their hot chocolate, unless they're marshmallows!
What influences the curdling of milk proteins? The primary factors are acids, such as those found in juices and vegetables; tannins, such as those found in potatoes, coffee, or tea; and bacteria, which are sometimes deliberately added (if you are making cheese or yogurt), but may also develop if the milk is no longer fresh and starts to sour. As the bacteria grow and multiply, they produce lactic acid, which causes the milk proteins to clump together.
In this cooking and food science fair project, you will investigate cow milks that have different percentages of milk fat, and discover which ones are less prone to curdling, and are therefore more desirable for milk-based soups, gravies, and gratins. You will first need to read about the structure of milk: the milk proteins (the caseins and the whey), themicelles, the calcium phosphate, and the fat globules. You will then test and compare the curdling properties of cow milks that have different percentages of milk fat, from skim milk on up to cream. For each trial, choose one type of milk and slowly warm and whisk it in a saucepan until it comes to a simmer. Add a small amount of an acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, and then remove the milk from the heat. Allow the milk to cool and then strain it. Measure the contents of the strainer (the curds) by weight or by volume. Be sure your milks are very fresh, use the same amount of milk for each trial, and cook each of the milks in the same fashion. As you compare your curd measurements, think about the relative protein content of each type of milk. Be sure to record all your data, amounts, and settings for your trials in your lab notebook.
When you finish this science fair project, you will be a milk-cooking master, and know how to avoid those dreadful lumps!
Science Buddies has compiled some suggestions for harder to find items in our Amazon store. The store does not include every item for every project, but it does include items that we feel work for the projects on our website. If you have comments or would like us to add items to the store, please contact us at scibuddy@sciencebuddies.org.
Variations
- At what pH do different cow milks curdle? In this variation, you will choose cow milks that have varying degrees of milk fat, and add different amounts of an acid to determine the acidity at which each of the milks first curdles. You will need a way to measure the acidity of the milk-acid mixture, and you will need to keep the temperature of the milks constant for each trial. Hint: Bring a large saucepan of milk up to a certain temperature, and then add equal amounts of the warmed milk to small bowls with differing amounts of an acid inside.
- Mammal milks contain different ratios of proteins, fat, and carbohydrates, depending on the needs of the infant mammal. Compare the curdling properties of different mammal milks, such as cow, goat, sheep, and buffalo. Do your results make sense when you think about the different amounts of protein that each contains?
- For more science project ideas in this area of science, see Cooking & Food Science Project Ideas.
To find out if the use of natural pesticides can replace chemically-made pesticides (other ideas)
| A | To find out if the use of natural pesticides like cinnamon oil can replace chemically made pesticides.Observations made |
| | Chemically-made pesticide is very effective, however, it harms the environment and may even kill many animals that feed on this pesticides and the entire eco-system might be affected. Finding another alternative is the only way to stop polluting our environment. Thus, the use of natural pesticide like cinnamon might be an alternative. |
| B | Research Question |
| | Is cinnamon oil is an effective natural pesticide? |
| C | Hypothesis statement |
| | Cinnamon oil is effective to a certain extent to deter pests. |
| D | A short summary of research done on the area of investigation |
| | Natural pesticides destroy or repel insects and pests that are present in our homes and gardens, and may also serve to prevent others from entering our premises. Some insects damage our property and spread diseases. Some are unhygienic and are capable of contaminating our food. Most pesticides that we purchased at the supermarket are synthesized from chemicals, which when inhaled, are harmful to our health. In addition, the use of pesticides in places such as farms may contaminate the food chain and drinking water, since the chemicals present in these pesticides may seep into the soil. Natural pesticides are an alternative to chemical pesticides. These pesticides are made from the natural extracts from plants, herbs, flowers, seeds or salt minerals. Hence, most natural pesticides are environment friendly and safe for us to use. However, there are exceptions - for example nicotine, which is more toxic then some of the more common chemical pesticides. Some common natural pesticides are cinnamon, lemon juice, cucumber peel or bay leaves to keep ants away. Borax, a salt crystal, is also particularly effective in repelling cockroaches and termites. Another common natural pesticide is honey, which can be used to attract and trap flies. Once these flies land on the honey, they are not capable of flying off again. |
If Garlic Can be Used to Kill Bacteria (other ideas)
| Name: | Shang Mengge ( 22 ) | Sec 2/10 |
|
| Topic of investigation : | |
| A | Observations made |
| | I realized that much medicine that we consume daily has side effect on us. The adults always encourage us to eat garlic, as they believed that garlic has the ability to kill bacteria and prevent us from being sick. A person who does eat garlic often has a lesser chance of catching flu. |
| B | Research Question |
| | Does the presence of garlic kill bacteria? |
| C | Hypothesis statement |
| | The more the garlic, the more effective it is in killing bacteria. |
| D | A short summary of research done on the area of investigation |
| | Herbs and spices have traditionally been used in cooking as they add flavor to our food. These herbs and spices have also been known to many cultures for their medicinal properties. The oils that are extracted from these spices and herbs are found to be effective in killing bacteria and viruses. Garlic is known to have the ability to fight bacteria and viruses. It is known to be affective against a wide range of bacteria and also has the ability to combat the common cold. The antimicrobial substance in garlic is called allicin. Allicin consists of approximately 0.3% - 0.5% of the garlic. To maintain the antibacterial properties of garlic, it must be consumed or applied as raw garlic because cooking will destroy the allicin. Frequent use of antibiotics causes the microbes to develop resistance against the drugs. Studies have shown that garlic has proven its ability to fight against bacteria that has developed resistance to antibiotics. The use of garlic along with other forms medication has been also known to enhance the effectiveness of these drugs. Research has shown that garlic helps prevent certain dieases such as heart disease, common cold, cancer. Garlic is known for being an antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, anti parasitic, anti protozoan, anti fungal, pantheistic, immune stimulating, hypotensive, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, among other qualities. |
| E | Bibliography (Please refer to RS Students’ Handbook in RS Folder on Inet regarding APA Style Format) |
| | HubPages- The Amazing Medicinal Properties Of Garlic- http://cedarcovefarm.hubpages.com/hub/The-Amazing-Medicinal-Properties-Of-Garlic |
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