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On Food and Cooking
The Science and Lore of the Kitchen

Rating
15,965 Ratings by Goodreads |
Already own it? Write a review
Format
Hardback, 884 pages
Published
United States, 11 January 2016

A kitchen classic for over 35 years, and hailed by Time magazine as "a minor masterpiece" when it first appeared in 1984, On Food and Cooking is the bible which food lovers and professional chefs worldwide turn to for an understanding of where our foods come from, what exactly they're made of, and how cooking transforms them into something new and delicious.

For its twentieth anniversary, Harold McGee prepared a new, fully revised and updated edition of On Food and Cooking. He has rewritten the text almost completely, expanded it by two-thirds, and commissioned more than 100 new illustrations. As compulsively readable and engaging as ever, the new On Food and Cooking provides countless eye-opening insights into food, its preparation, and its enjoyment.

On Food and Cooking pioneered the translation of technical food science into cook-friendly kitchen science and helped birth the inventive culinary movement known as "molecular gastronomy." Though other books have been written about kitchen science, On Food and Cooking remains unmatched in the accuracy, clarity, and thoroughness of its explanations, and the intriguing way in which it blends science with the historical evolution of foods and cooking techniques.

Among the major themes addressed throughout the new edition are:
- Traditional and modern methods of food production and their influences on food quality
- The great diversity of methods by which people in different places and times have prepared the same ingredients
- Tips for selecting the best ingredients and preparing them successfully
- The particular substances that give foods their flavors, and that give us pleasure
- Our evolving knowledge of the health benefits and risks of foods

On Food and Cooking is an invaluable and monumental compendium of basic information about ingredients, cooking methods, and the pleasures of eating. It will delight and fascinate anyone who has ever cooked, savored, or wondered about food.

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Product Description

A kitchen classic for over 35 years, and hailed by Time magazine as "a minor masterpiece" when it first appeared in 1984, On Food and Cooking is the bible which food lovers and professional chefs worldwide turn to for an understanding of where our foods come from, what exactly they're made of, and how cooking transforms them into something new and delicious.

For its twentieth anniversary, Harold McGee prepared a new, fully revised and updated edition of On Food and Cooking. He has rewritten the text almost completely, expanded it by two-thirds, and commissioned more than 100 new illustrations. As compulsively readable and engaging as ever, the new On Food and Cooking provides countless eye-opening insights into food, its preparation, and its enjoyment.

On Food and Cooking pioneered the translation of technical food science into cook-friendly kitchen science and helped birth the inventive culinary movement known as "molecular gastronomy." Though other books have been written about kitchen science, On Food and Cooking remains unmatched in the accuracy, clarity, and thoroughness of its explanations, and the intriguing way in which it blends science with the historical evolution of foods and cooking techniques.

Among the major themes addressed throughout the new edition are:
- Traditional and modern methods of food production and their influences on food quality
- The great diversity of methods by which people in different places and times have prepared the same ingredients
- Tips for selecting the best ingredients and preparing them successfully
- The particular substances that give foods their flavors, and that give us pleasure
- Our evolving knowledge of the health benefits and risks of foods

On Food and Cooking is an invaluable and monumental compendium of basic information about ingredients, cooking methods, and the pleasures of eating. It will delight and fascinate anyone who has ever cooked, savored, or wondered about food.

Show more
Product Details
EAN
9780684800011
ISBN
0684800012
Publisher
Other Information
illustrations
Dimensions
23.6 x 17 x 4.6 centimetres (0.93 kg)

About the Author

Harold McGee is a world-renowned authority on the science of food and cooking. He studied science and literature at Caltech and Yale, and has written two prize-winning books, On Food and Cooking and The Curious Cook, as well as many articles and reviews. He has been named food writer of the year by Bon Appétit magazine and to the Time 100, an annual list of the world's most influential people. He lives in San Francisco.

Reviews

"This explains everything. Literally. I am so grateful to McGee for his tirelessness, his patience, and his commitment to answering the whys of the kitchen." --Samin Nosrat, author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat "I know of no chef worth his salt who doesn't keep a copy of Harold McGee's masterwork, On Food and Cooking... it is the Rosetta stone of the culinary world...McGee flipped on the science switch, and suddenly there was light. Whereas Julia Child taught how, McGee explains 'why.'" --Alton Brown, Time "I have used Harold McGee's On Food and Cooking whenever I've had questions on the chemistry of food or to understand some aspect of the cooking process." --Jacques Pépin "A must-have resource for any student of the stove, On Food and Cooking synthesizes details from a wide variety of scientific disciplines and gastronomic traditions, sparking the reader's culinary imagination with every turn of the page. Harold McGee possesses that most rare combination: a scientist's skill and a cook's heart." --Rick Bayless "On Food and Cooking continues to be the most accurate source of information for generations of chefs. A charismatic teacher, Harold is a veritable fountain of information and without peer in our industry." --Thomas Keller "I don't think that Harold McGee missed a single detail in this absolutely fascinating anthology of the hows, whys, and wherefores of cooking. This book is a treasure trove of useful facts and unusual information and a must for every cook who possesses an inquiring mind." --Daniel Boulud

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Customer Reviews
4.46 out of 5 | From 15,965 Goodreads Ratings

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By kate on October 8, 2008
Fabulous book! Readers without any science experience or knowledge should not be put off as it is not a "heavy" read. McGee writes in a very light & informative manner, sprinkled with annecdotal material, and some very interesting historical [word] pictures about our food, where it comes from, and whys & wherefores of how to get the best results from efforts in the kitchen. Being American in origin does not reduce the usefulness of his writing, as it can with some works on food & cooking, because it is the principles, not the local methods, he is interested in. In otherwords, the information is universal, not culturally specific. I have had an interest & experience in the kitchen since very young, and spanning some 60 years from wartime England [WWII]. This book has helped me to fill in many gaps in my knowledge of food & cooking, and why I sometimes have unexpected disasters. I also have found out why I do so well with some of my regular successes. This is important to me as I am very much an 'instinctive' cook - if such a person exists - & I also like to understand the things I do. It is not a 'coffee table' book, but I keep mine there to browse & pick-at as the fancy takes me; an excellent way to use this book.
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By Andrew on November 1, 2007
This is an amazing book. It told me all the reasons for why things worked like they do in the kitchen, and taught me much, much, more!! It is not a recipie book, but if you want to know all about the different methods to do something, and the benefits or drawbacks of each method. If you buy this for someone who loves to be in the kitchen, you will be remembered fondly by them forever!
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By Alice on April 11, 2009
This is a great book on the 'science' of cooking, but one that's easy to read and understand. It's clearly organised into chapters (such as meat, dairy, baked goods) and subchapters. It goes into quite a lot of detail covering some history, uses etc. for each item. This is also good for cooks, as it explains the different chemical components and reactions in food.
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By Leanne on August 5, 2009
I've been a keen home cook for over 20 years now and my interest has developed to the point that, instead of just blindly following a recipe, I want to know why I have to follow certain procedures. Knowing what reactions and processes take place during cooking gives you the freedom to change a recipe and know what the end result will be. This is science written in easy-to-understand language and is a fascinating read. I now know why this book is a classic and regarded as a "must have" by all great chefs and foodies. If in doubt, buy it!
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