Poll: Cooking: Science or Art?

[El Taco the Rogue]

In episode 45 of fullmetal alchemist, an interesting question is raised,
Is cooking an exact science, where you must have everything exact, or is it an art, where you must add a little of yourself and use creativity?

 

[Mezrev]

When I'm cooking I treat it like a science, everything has to be exactly as it's on the instructions. Though I do tend to get tired of it when I cook the same food for the tenth time, that's when it turns from science to art!

 

[fenrizz]

A bit of both, but mostly it's art in my opinion.

 

[Iampringles]

Both.

But mainly, it is food.

 

[Danzaivar]

Generally, I'd say it's a science for less confident cooks and an art for more confident ones. When you start out you typically follow everything to the letter, but as you cook more you start to experiment by throwing in extra things or adding variations to the cooking process and create your own recipes through a bit of guesswork.

So both overall, I suppose.

 

[cprs_]

Generally, I'd say it's a science for less confident cooks and an art for more confident ones. When you start out you typically follow everything to the letter, but as you cook more you start to experiment by throwing in extra things or adding variations to the cooking process and create your own recipes through a bit of guesswork.

So both overall, I suppose.

Well said, that's how it has been for me and I guess how it will be when I start again as I haven't had a chance to cook for a good year or so.

 

[Mad Maniac with axe-firing chainsaw]

As both a physical process, the chemical transformation of one batch of chemicals into a tastier batch, it is a science. It is subjective, however, as the opinions of people come into play on the flavour and desirability of the different combinations is important. Ironically this one might come under social sciences, and not science or art at all (damn, this makes me wish I'd voted neither instead of both...)

 

[Andalusa]

Both, you need a recipe to follow but there's room to change and adapt things.

 

[speedcoreXdandy]

Both, see Heston Blumenthal.

http://www.fatduck.co.uk/ Just take a look at the A La Carte menu, amazing.

 

[Arntor]

Science can be an art and an art can be a science. Experimentation is usually what ties both of those things together and blurs the line.

 

[megalomania]

Its quite funny that you are all suggesting that 'Science' is so exact and 'Art' is quite so arbitrary! I've just about finished my chemistry degree (Yay) and cooking and chemistry are a lot a like; the recipe is a good guide but if you know what you are doing you can make some modifications according to personal taste.

 

[Hitman 43]

Science I suppose.

 

[NimbleJack3]

Science. I always feel I MUST follow the directions on the packet. Creative cooking has never been fun with me. I just end up making a mess.

 

[Cliff_m85]

Cooking: Science
Plating: Art



/thread

 

[chefassassin2]

It's both, but depends on what exactly you're cooking. If it's a savory dish, it's more both, since you need to understand the science to be able to add and create with the dish. If it's baking, it's more science because the window of how much you can improvise is limited more in my opinion.

Cooking: Science
Plating: Art

Also, this.