Fun and Easy Food Science
Labs For the Busy Ag Teacher
Why Food Science?
Expanding value added products industry
Ties into multiple subject area standards
Ties concepts into things students relate to
Adds excitement to your lessons
Labs can be easily adapted to basic or
complex curriculum
DNA Extraction Lab - Materials
Material with DNA
Detergent (ie. Dish soap)
Enzymes (Meat Tenderizer, Pineapple
Juice or Contact Lens Solution)
Isopropyl Alcohol (70 or 95%)
Cold Water
DNA Extraction Lab - Materials
Ziploc Bags
Test tubes
Wooden Sticks
Pipettes or eyedroppers
Measuring cups/spoons
Coffee filters and cups
Salt
DNA Extraction - Procedure
Step 1 – Measure out a ¼ cup of your
chosen material
Step 2 – Place material in ziploc bag and
completely crush
Step 3 – Add up to a ½ cup cold water
DNA Extraction - Procedure
Step 4 – Mix thoroughly
Step 5 – Strain through coffee filter into a
cup
Step 6 – Add about 2 T of detergent and a
pinch of salt (swirl gently)– let sit for a
minimum of 10 min
Gum Drop Lab - Materials
Jello
Sugar
Water
Pipettes or eyedroppers
Plates
Spoons
Gum Drop Lab - Procedure
Step 1 – Measure out a portion of Jello
powder on your spoon – Place on plate
Step 2 – Using pipetter add a few drops of
water while mixing it into your jello
Step 3 – Add more water or Jello mix as
needed
Gum Drop Lab - Procedure
Step 4 - Form gum drop into desired
shape
Step 5 – Roll in sugar
Step 6 – Enjoy!
DNA Extraction Procedure
Step 7 – Add a pinch of meat tenderizer
into test tube
Step 8 - Fill test tube 1/3 full of
DNA/Detergent solution – (mix gently)
Step 9 – Hold test tube at a 45° angle
DNA Extraction Procedure
Step 10 – Slowly fill test tube with an equal
amount of alcohol
Step 11 – After the DNA has begun
clumping harvest it with your wooden stick
DNA can be preserved in an alcohol
solution for long term storage
Sensory Lab #1 - Procedure
Step 1 – Obtain a small sample of each
Kool Aid in a small cup for sampling
Step 2 – With your lab partner taste your
first sample and try to determine what
flavor it is. Record your observations and
flavor guess
Sensory Lab #1 - Procedure
Step 3 – Cleanse your tasting palette with
water
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each sample of
Kool Aid
Plastic From Corn Lab - Materials
Corn Starch
Water
Cups
Spoons
Optional – corn oil and microwave
Plastic From Corn Lab - Procedure
Step 1 - Add a spoonful of cornstarch to
your cup
Step 2 – Add an equal amount of water to
your cornstarch and mix
Plastic should be the consistency of thick
glue
Step 3 – Add more water or cornstarch as
needed
Plastic From Corn - Procedure
Step 4 – Check the surface tension of the
mixture
Step 5 – Pour mixture into your hand and
try to form it into a ball – Once formed
observe how it reacts to the heat of your
hand
Step 6 – Have fun with your plastic
carefully observing how it moves between
a liquid and a solid
Sensory Lab # 2 - Materials
Glass or Plastic Vials
Various samples of food extracts and
spices taken from the Food Science and
Technology CDE list
Sensory Lab #2 - Procedure
Step 1 – Obtain a sensory sample set for
your group
Step 2 – Take sample #1 and record its
color, texture and what you think the
sample is made of
Step 3 – Continue until all samples are
observed
Possibilities
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Cinnamon
Maple
Lemon
Vanilla
Cherry
Butter
Garlic
Nutmeg
Lilac
Licorice (anise)
Molasses
Strawberry
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Oregano
Lime
Almond
Menthol
Peppermint
Ginger
Banana
Basil
Orange
Onion
Clove
Pine