High altitude cooking

High altitude cooking

High altitude cooking is the opposite of pressure cooking in that the boiling point of water will be lower at higher altitudes due to the decreased air pressure. This lower temperature results in a lowered boiling point of water and may require an increase in cooking times or temperature and alterations of recipe ingredients. For home cooking, this effect becomes relevant at altitudes above approximately 2000 feet (600 meters). At that altitude, water boils at approximately 208ºF (98ºC) and adjustments sometimes need to be made to compensate for the reduced air pressure/water boiling point.

Contents

Boiling

This method of cooking at high altitude can be compensated for by increasing cooking times.

Baking

Breads and cakes will usually require additional adjustments such as increased dry ingredients and higher oven temperature at elevations above approximately 3500 feet (1000 meters).

Methods used at high altitudes

From pressure cooking: A pressure cooker is often used to compensate for the low atmospheric pressure at a very high elevation. Under these circumstances water boils at temperatures significantly below 100 °C (212 °F) and, without the use of a pressure cooker, may leave boiled foods undercooked, as described in Charles Darwin's The Voyage of the Beagle (chapter XV, March 20, 1835):

Having crossed the Peuquenes [Piuquenes], we descended into a mountainous country, intermediate between the two main ranges, and then took up our quarters for the night. We were now in the republic of Mendoza. The elevation was probably not under 11,000 feet [...]. At the place where we slept water necessarily boiled, from the diminished pressure of the atmosphere, at a lower temperature than it does in a less lofty country; the case being the converse of that of a Papin's digester. Hence the potatoes, after remaining for some hours in the boiling water, were nearly as hard as ever. The pot was left on the fire all night, and next morning it was boiled again, but yet the potatoes were not cooked.

Lightweight pressure cookers as small as 1.5 litre weighing 1.28 kg are available for mountain climbers. Sherpas often use pressure cookers in base camp.

Boiling point of pure water at elevated altitudes

Based on the standard sea-level atmospheric pressure of 101.3 kPa:

Altitude, m Boiling point of water, °C
0 (0ft) 100 (212°F)
300 (984.25ft) 99.1 (210.3°F)
600 (1968.5ft) 98.1 (208.5°F)
1000 (3280.8ft) 96.8 (206.2°F)
2000 (6561.68ft) 93.3 (199.9°F)
4000 (13123.36ft) 87.3 (189.1°F)
6000 (19685.04ft) 81.3 (178.3°F)
8000 (26246.72ft) 75.5 (167.9°F)

With the addition of salt and other dissolved substances, the boiling temperature will increase.

See also

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cooking — This article is about the preparation of food by heating. For food preparation generally, see Food preparation. Modern fruit salad and a Russian cigarette pastry stuffed with cottage cheese Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat …   Wikipedia

  • Atmospheric pressure — Air pressure redirects here. For the pressure of air in other systems, see pressure. Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the Earth s atmosphere. In most… …   Wikipedia

  • Baking — is the technique of prolonged cooking of food by dry heat acting by conduction, and not by radiation, normally in an oven, but also in hot ashes, or on hot stones. [Oxford English Dictionary] It is primarily used for the preparation of bread,… …   Wikipedia

  • Solar energy — is the light and radiant heat from the Sun that powers Earth s climate and weather and sustains life. Since ancient times it has been harnessed for human use through a range of technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources… …   Wikipedia

  • Italy — /it l ee/, n. a republic in S Europe, comprising a peninsula S of the Alps, and Sicily, Sardinia, Elba, and other smaller islands: a kingdom 1870 1946. 57,534,088; 116,294 sq. mi. (301,200 sq. km). Cap.: Rome. Italian, Italia. * * * Italy… …   Universalium

  • climate — /kluy mit/, n. 1. the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years. 2. a region or… …   Universalium

  • pre-Columbian civilizations — Introduction       the aboriginal American Indian (Mesoamerican Indian) cultures that evolved in Meso America (part of Mexico and Central America) and the Andean region (western South America) prior to Spanish exploration and conquest in the 16th …   Universalium

  • Nitrous oxide — N2O redirects here. For other uses, see N2O (disambiguation). Laughing gas redirects here. For other uses, see Laughing gas (disambiguation). Not to be confused with nitric oxide (formula NO) or nitrogen dioxide (formula NO2). For other uses, see …   Wikipedia

  • Mountain ration — The Mountain Ration (or M Ration ) was a United States military ration developed for use by U.S. troops operating in high altitude or mountainous regions of the European theater of operations (ETO) during World War 2. Contents 1 Origin,… …   Wikipedia

  • china — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. a translucent ceramic material, biscuit fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature. 2. any porcelain ware. 3. plates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively. 4. figurines made of porcelain or ceramic material …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”