Jeff Potter's Blog, page 2

Two Fun DIY Projects: Vanilla Extract and Liquid Smoke

Last Friday, I was on Science Friday chatting with Ira Flatow about some fun do-it-yourself things you can do at home from the second edition of Cooking for Geeks. I already wrote up instructions for my DIY Bittersweet Chocolate Bar; in this post I’ll share details for how to make homemade vanilla extract as well as DIY liquid … Continue reading Two Fun DIY Projects: Vanilla Extract and Liquid Smoke

For more, see Jeff Potter's Cooking for Geeks.

DIY Bittersweet Chocolate Bar

Psst… I’ll be on Science Friday today to talk about this and more — tune in at 3:40 pm Eastern Time! -Jeff A bar of dark chocolate is amazing—but it wasn’t always this way. Back in 1879, a Swiss entrepreneur by the name of Rudolph Lindt invented a refining process call conching that took gritty, granular … Continue reading DIY Bittersweet Chocolate Bar

For more, see Jeff Potter's Cooking for Geeks.

Popcorn on a Cob

A cute video about popcorn, Pop On A Corn, has been exploding all over the internet this weekend, but it’s a hoax. But it’s so close to what can be done that… well, argggh! The hoax video inspired me to attempt my own version, using REAL popping corn. With a time limit of 2 hours for shooting and 2 … Continue reading Popcorn on a Cob

For more, see Jeff Potter's Cooking for Geeks.

Can You Cook an Egg in the Dishwasher?

I had a reader ask if you can poach an egg in a dishwasher. It’s an interesting cooking hack and the answer isn’t obvious. In theory, it should be possible. Eggs held at 140—144°F / 60—62.5°C for long enough will begin to set; this is the concept behind sous vide cooking. Here’s the chart for … Continue reading Can You Cook an Egg in the Dishwasher?

For more, see Jeff Potter's Cooking for Geeks.

Appleless Apple Pie

This may look like an Apple pie — and it sure tasted like one — but no apples were harmed in the making. Mock Apple Pie, as it’s traditionally called, dates back to at least the 1850s and is a great example of how expectations play into our perceptions. Mock apple pie relies on cream … Continue reading Appleless Apple Pie

For more, see Jeff Potter's Cooking for Geeks.

Beer Mile: Four Beers, Four Laps—Why?!

This last weekend, a friend of mine invited us to her friend’s “Beer Mile.” Four cans of beer, four laps, one mile—for one Why did I think that was a good idea? experience. I opted to watch instead, and used it as an opportunity to play with iMovie. I’m impressed at how much easier video work … Continue reading Beer Mile: Four Beers, Four Laps—Why?!

For more, see Jeff Potter's Cooking for Geeks.

Beer Mile, or What (Not?) to do This Thanksgiving

This last weekend, a friend of mine invited us to her friend’s “Beer Mile.” Four cans of beer, four laps, one mile—for one Why did I think that was a good idea? experience. I opted to watch instead, and used it as an opportunity to play with iMovie. I’m impressed at how much easier video work … Continue reading Beer Mile, or What (Not?) to do This Thanksgiving

For more, see Jeff Potter's Cooking for Geeks.

Popcorn and the Ideal Gas Law, PV = nRT — The Science of Popcorn!

Did you know popcorn pops at roughly nine times atmospheric pressure? The inside of a popcorn kernel is about ~13% water. When that water heats up—trapped inside the confined space of the kernel’s pericarp—the pressure goes up until the pericarp ruptures and the insides, now melted, spew out. You’ve probably never thought about the physics of popcorn, … Continue reading Popcorn and the Ideal Gas Law, PV = nRT — The Science of Popcorn!

For more, see Jeff Potter's Cooking for Geeks.

Popcorn and the Ideal Gas Law, PV = nRT

Did you know popcorn pops at roughly nine times atmospheric pressure? The inside of a popcorn kernel is about ~13% water. When that water heats up—trapped inside the confined space of the kernel’s pericarp—the pressure goes up until the pericarp ruptures and the insides, now melted, spew out. You’ve probably never thought about the physics of popcorn, … Continue reading Popcorn and the Ideal Gas Law, PV = nRT

For more, see Jeff Potter's Cooking for Geeks.

How They Printed Books in the 1940s

If you’re a book lover and a geek, spend ~10 minutes to watch this lovely video from the 1940s about how books were made. Here I am, ~70 years later, marveling at how things have changed. So that’s where the phrase “put to bed” comes from! Partway through the video, I wonder what book they’re printing. … Continue reading How They Printed Books in the 1940s