Do you have more questions than answers when you cook, bake, prepare, or think about your food? If so, explore the Food Science project where you will learn the answers to all of these questions and more! Food science is a mixture of chemistry, biology and physics. Explore the building blocks of food science in your own kitchen “laboratory”. Beyond how to cook, you will learn why and how things happen in all kinds of foods like breads, muffins, eggs, fruit, vegetables, cheese, candy, beverages, and more.

Projects include: 

  • What’s On Your Plate, Exploring Food Science 1 "The Secrets of Baking" with activities to understand the science of baked goods—gluten, leavening, and proper mixing—and the best methods for making these foods.
  • What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science 2  “The Power of Protein Chemistry,” explores how eggs are used in foods and how milk turns into cheese.
  • What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science 3 “The Inner Mysteries of Fruits and Vegetables.” Activities investigate how to prepare fruits and vegetables so they taste and look appealing in color and texture.
  • What’s on Your Plate, Exploring Food Science 4 “Be a Food Scientist” lets learners look at a day in the life of a food scientist and practice being one as they create a new beverage and learn an essential food science skill--crystallization. 
  • Science Fun with Dairy Foods: The Case of the Missing Milk!   This project is designed for beginning-level youth interested in food science.  In this project, your kitchen will become a laboratory as you observe and experiment with dairy products. As a member of the Dairy Police Task Force, you will learn the science behind butter, cheese, and curds while solving the mystery of The Missing Milk.
  •  Science Fun with Kitchen Chemistry  Join the Terrestrial Alien Defense Academy and figure out how to outsmart the aliens by doing experiments in your kitchen. Learn about what matter is and how it changes form; explore the different properties of matter; find out about acids and bases; and discover how everyday items and kitchen ingredients can be used in fantastic tests! Designed for beginners but appropriate for all levels.

Links to project guides and resources can be found at the bottom of this page.

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Exploring 4-H

Food Science Spark Activity: Extra-Sweet Coffee Can Ice Cream
Food science is understanding how to put together the correct ingredients with the correct conditions to create a tasty new food, like ice cream.  Follow this simple recipe to make a sweet treat!
Materials:

  • 1/2 cup half and half or whipping cream
  • 1/2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 quart-sized zipper-lock bags
  • empty coffee can (or 1 gallon-size zipper-lock freezer bag)
  • ice
  • rock salt 

Experiment Instructions:

  1. Fill the coffee can about half full with crushed ice and add about 1/3 cup rock salt to the ice.  Put the lid on the coffee can and shake the ice and salt for about five minutes. You may need to wear your gloves or wrap the can in a towel because the temperature of the ice and salt will drop down to about 14º F.
  2. Use a 1-quart size, zipper-lock bag to mix the following ingredients: 1/2 cup of half & half, 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional for flavor).
  3. Seal the bag tightly, allowing as little air to remain in the bag as possible. Then double-bag into the second bag, again pressing out as much air as possible. Too much trapped air may cause a bag to break open and using two bags decreases the risk of salt and ice leaking into the ice cream.
  4. Place the two bags inside the coffee can with the ice and securely put the lid on top.
  5. Find a friend or family member and take turns shaking your can. The more energy you put into it, the sooner you’ll have ice cream. Your ice cream should be ready after about 15-20 minutes. Once mixed, remove the inner bags from the can and rinse them well with water. You don’t want any salt water accidentally getting into your ice cream. Enjoy!

Try this again, experimenting with a new ingredient like a different “milk,”  sweetener, or flavor extract.

4-H Project Levels and Goals
Beginner
  • Learn about leavening agents
  • Conduct food experiments
  • Explore mixing methods
  • Learn how to make soft pretzels and muffins
  • Learn about yeast 
  • Learn why and how holes develop in swiss cheese and compare swiss to cheddar
  • Learn about food spoilage
  • Learn parts of an egg
Intermediate
  • Learn about protein coagulation
  • Learn egg properties and functions
  • Prepare a chocolate soufflé
  • Make fresh cheese
  • Learn how to cook fruit
  • Prepare cut produce to delay browning
  • Learn about gluten development in baked goods
Advanced
  • Explore food science careers
  • Learn about flavor principles
  • Learn how to make a new beverage – from product formulation to labeling
  • Learn about sugar crystallization and caramelization 
  • Learn about fermented foods 
  • Learn about osmosis and diffusion in food preparation
Put Your Project Into Action

Show Your Skills

  • Create a display on how to cut fresh produce to prevent browning
  • Compare different types of leavening agents used in baking and why different types are used
  • Compare types of cheese and how they are made
  • Demonstrate various egg properties and the purpose of each in food preparation

Service and Leadership

  • Bake homemade muffins, then donate them to a homeless shelter
  • Volunteer for a free community meal site to prepare and serve fresh fruits and vegetables using your knowledge to prevent browning in freshly cut produce
  • Teach a food science technique or concept to fellow club members
  • Teach a county 4-H food science workshop

Entrepreneurship

  • Invent your own beverage, and name and market your new product

Technology Connection

  • Shadow a Quality Assurance professional at a local dairy, market or food production operation; ask what technology they use to do their job well
  • Learn more about the equipment used

Connecting with a Mentor

  • Local baker
  • Family or friend working in the field
  • Higher education facility that offers culinary arts
  • Professional associations and organizations like Registered Dietitians locally or Les Dames d’ Escoffier in Chicago

Events

  • 4-H general project show
  • Illini Summer Academies
  • Illinois 4-H Food Advocacy Team
  • Local / regional cooking or baking competitions
  • Tour a food factory 

Project Manuals & Exhibit Requirements

  • What's on Your Plate? 1
  • What's on Your Plate? 2
  • What's on Your Plate? 3
  • What's on Your Plate? 4

Purchase manuals on the Shop Illinois 4-H Store.

View exhibit requirements and scoresheets on the Illinois State Fair page.

Related Projects

Careers
Food scientist in front of microscope
  • Food Scientist
  • Research and Development Specialist
  • Director of Quality Assurance
  • Flavor Chemist
  • Food Inspector
  • Food Engineer
  • Public Health Official
  • Test Kitchen Manager
  • Recipe Developer
  • Product Developer
  • Food Product Entrepreneur
  • Brand Manager
Start a Conversation
  • What do you already know about preparing food safely?
  • What do you think will happen if we don’t use baking powder in our muffin recipe?
  • What’s the difference between using fresh produce versus frozen or canned produce for our recipe?
Credits

What’s on Your Plate? Exploring Food Science Unit 1 Project Book

National 4-H Curriculum Support

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension 4-H

University of Illinois Extension

4-H Spark Sheets are a collaborative effort of 4-H staff, volunteers, alumni and teens from across Illinois. A big thanks to the many contributors and reviewers!