Breakfast Hacks: The Science of Common Food Reactions
In Breakfast Hacks: The Science of Common Food Reactions, host Harith Iskander presents some simple science behind everyday breakfast tips. Among these great tips: Why drinking orange juice right after brushing your teeth tastes awful, how to remedy bitter coffee, and even how to tell if an egg is fresh or rotten. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Got Science?, a science magazine series that explores and explains science in everyday life.
Lesson Express
Q: Why does orange juice taste bad after brushing my teeth?
A: Orange juice tastes bad after brushing your teeth because toothpaste has a chemical called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which can confuse your taste buds. It makes it harder to taste sweetness, so when you drink orange juice, it tastes much more sour and bitter than usual.
Q: Why would you add salt to coffee?
A: Adding a small amount of salt to coffee can help reduce its bitterness. The sodium ions in salt can block some of the bitter flavors.
Q: How can you tell if an egg is fresh or rotten, and why does this happen?
A: A fresh egg sinks and lays flat in water, while a rotten egg floats due to gases inside the egg as it breaks down.