Science Fair Projects with Kitchen Science

Linda Wakefield Kelley, MS. Ed, BS Business Administration
Experienced Author and Home School Expert

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Here are some tips from www.Christian-Parenting-Source.com for treating your family to a special breakfast and simultaneously cooking up a recipe for learning kitchen science principles.

First, find an adult to help you with these experiments. This could be Mom, Dad, an aunt/uncle, or an older sibling. Then gather the ingredients you will need. Kitchen Science shouldn’t be all work and no play, hence the riddles.

1. Let’s begin by making fried potatoes. Say, "Knives can be dangerous. I’m going to cut this potato with a straw instead." Pick up the straw keeping your finger over one end and thoroughly pierce the potato. How does a flimsy straw spear a tough potato?

   Now the potato can be sliced the conventional way and browned in a pan.

When is an Irish potato not Irish?
When it’s a French Fry
2. Next, let’s beat the eggs. I always knew cooks had a cruel streak, didn’t you? Carefully crack two eggs into a bowl, whip them, and pour them into your pan. Stir frequently until the eggs are completely scrambled.

   Now, ask, "Do you know how to make eggs disappear?"

   You will probably be met with a, "Duh, eat them." Actually there is another way to vaporize them. Take an egg and pierce it on both ends with a needle. Wiggle the needle enough to break the yolk inside. Don’t break the shell. Now, hold the egg over a bowl and blow through the hole.

   Put the empty shell in a glass of vinegar and leave it there for several days. What will you find upon return? Why?

What kind of eggs does an evil chicken lay?
Deviled eggs
3. Heard the saying, "Toast always lands buttered side up?" Is that true? Why not conduct your own experiment. Toast a loaf of bread (or two), butter each slice, drop them, and record your results. What did you conclude? Would peanut butter or jelly alter your findings? Save extra pieces (that haven’t hit the floor) for your family.
Why did the girl throw bread?
Because she wanted to see butterfly
4. Our family loves juice with several flavors blended together. You can save money and have some fun making your own. You’ll need to experiment to come up with the best-tasting flavors and proportions. Will it be ¼ cup orange juice, ¼ cup grape juice, and ½ cup apple juice? What combination wins the taste test for you?
   What kind of soda do trees prefer?
   Root Beer

5. Can you peel a banana without using your hands? Peel just enough to expose the tip. Take a bottle with a mouth about the same diameter as the banana. Ask the adult to light a small piece of paper and drop it into the bottle. Quickly place the top of the banana into the bottle’s mouth (with the peel on the outside). The banana will be stripped completely of its peel and forced into the bottle. Why? You won’t want to serve your family the blackened banana, so get fresh ones: peel it, slice it in half, and sprinkle some raisins or coconut over it.

   For Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or just as a surprise, place the prepared food on a tray, add a fresh flower, and Voila. . .you’ve got a beautiful breakfast to serve that special person in bed.

Any parent’s reading this? Print this article and drop it inconspicuously near your wife/husband. Who knows? The younguns might even learn some kitchen science in the process.

I haven’t provided explanations for any of the kitchen science experiments here. That’s because I want you to try to discover the science at work. Want to check your answers? http://christianhomeschoolteacherslounge.blogspot.com has them.

Linda Wakefield Kelley has a master’s degree in Elementary Education and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She has published over 200 articles in such publications as Christian Parenting Today¸ Discipleship Journal, and Brio. She taught public school for five years and is currently homeschooling her three children. Visit her web site at www.Christian-Parenting-Source.com

*Note: M-Zan Solutions and Super Science Fair Projects are not affiliated with the authors of this article or responsible for its content.

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