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cover of episode The Chemistry of Food & Taste | Dr. Harold McGee

The Chemistry of Food & Taste | Dr. Harold McGee

2025/6/30
logo of podcast Huberman Lab

Huberman Lab

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A
Andrew Huberman
是一位专注于神经科学、学习和健康的斯坦福大学教授和播客主持人。
H
Harold McGee
Topics
Andrew Huberman: 我发现烹饪用具的材质会对食物的味道产生显著的影响,这改变了我对烹饪方式的看法。不同的金属材质会以深刻的方式影响食物的味道,这不仅仅是细微的差异,而是会带来显著不同的体验。 Harold McGee: 最初,我并不相信使用铜碗打发蛋白会更好,但实际测试后发现,铜碗打发的蛋白在颜色、质地和口感上都有显著差异。这让我意识到,即使是厨师的经验之谈,也可能蕴含着科学真理,需要亲自验证。此外,铜在果酱制作中能抑制蔗糖分解,保持口感,这使得铜锅成为制作果酱的理想选择。传统烹饪方法往往比科学家提出的改良方法更好,这体现了厨师们在实践中积累的智慧。

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Chapters
This chapter explores the surprising impact of copper cookware on food flavor, challenging conventional wisdom and highlighting the importance of testing culinary assumptions. Dr. McGee recounts a personal experience that changed his perspective on the topic, emphasizing the value of empirical evidence in culinary science. The discussion extends to other applications of copper in food preparation.
  • Using copper bowls for whipping egg whites creates a superior meringue or souffle.
  • Copper inhibits the breakdown of sucrose in jam and jelly making.
  • Traditional cooking methods often surpass modern scientific modifications.

Shownotes Transcript

Dr. Harold McGee, PhD), is a Stanford University professor and renowned author on the topics of food chemistry and culinary science. He explains how cooking methods, types of cookware and temperature can be used to transform food and drink flavors and presents simple but powerful ways to improve nutrient availability. We also discuss how our individual biology, genetic and cultural backgrounds shape our taste preferences. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or someone who simply loves to eat, our conversation will change how you think about food and cooking, give you actionable tools to try and deepen your appreciation of the experience of eating and drinking.

Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com).

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Harold McGee

00:02:21 Food Chemistry, Using Copper, Modern vs Traditional Techniques

00:09:59 Sponsors: Eight Sleep & Our Place

00:13:33 Cooking, Food & Heat, Taste & Smell

00:22:10 Umami, Savory Tastes, Braising & Meat

00:29:56 Chemistry of Cooking & Eating, Sugars & Conjugates; Slowly Enjoying Food

00:36:14 Savory Meal & Dessert; Food Course Order; Palate Cleansers

00:43:56 Salt, Baseline & Shifting Taste Preferences

00:47:18 Sponsors: AG1 & Mateina

00:50:07 Whole vs Processed Foods, Taste & Enjoyment

00:53:37 Brewing Coffee, Water Temperature, Grind Size

01:00:33 Tea & Tannins, Growing Tea Plants; Tea & Meals, Polyphenols

01:08:16 Food Combinations, Individual Tolerance; Is there an Optimal Diet?

01:11:34 Onions & Garlic, Histamines, Tool: Reduce Crying when Cutting Onions

01:13:55 Gut Sensitivities & Food, Capsaicin & Spicy Foods

01:17:21 Supertasters & Taste Buds, Bitter Taste, Chefs

01:21:57 Sponsor: Function

01:23:45 Salt & Bitter, Salting Fruit, Beer or Coffee, Warming Beer

01:26:11 Human History of Alcohol & Chocolate

01:29:25 Wine Expense vs Taste, Wine Knowledge

01:35:49 Cheese Making, Aged Cheese & Crystals, Tyrosine; Smoke Flavors, Distilling

01:44:30 Fermentation, “Stink Fish”, Caviar, Traditional & New Foods

01:50:42 Personal Journey, Astronomy, Poetry & Food

01:54:55 Beans & Gas, Tool: Soaking Beans

01:57:23 Gut Microbiome, Fermented Foods; Kids & Food Aversions

02:00:47 Cilantro & Divergent Tastes; Microwave Popcorn, Parmesan Cheese

02:04:46 John Keats Poetry, To Autumn; Acknowledgements

02:10:48 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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