Food Quote by Michael Pollan
![“[...] one of the packages warned that we would not get optimal results in the microwave. The various stages that made up the frozen brown rocket of onion soup would meld together pointlessly in the microwave. If we wanted the gratinée effect promised on the package, then we had to bake it in the…” quote by Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a24/michael-pollan-408_quote_one-of-the-packages-warned-that-we-would_348870.jpg)
““[...] one of the packages warned that we would not get optimal results in the microwave. The various stages that made up the frozen brown rocket of onion soup would meld together pointlessly in the microwave. If we wanted the gratinée effect promised on the package, then we had to bake it in the oven (at 350°F) for forty minutes. I could make onion soup from scratch in forty minutes!" (p.198-199)””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Omnivore’s Dilemma, 2006, Chapter on cooking practices
Explains that microwave cooking fails to achieve the desired texture of onion soup, recommending oven baking for proper caramelization.
In simple terms: Microwave won’t give the right texture; bake instead.
Key Takeaway
Use oven for better flavor and texture.
Themes
cooking
food science
technique
Mood
practical
informative
Type
culinary
educational
When to use this quote
- home cooking
- restaurant kitchens
- food blogs
- culinary classes
Key Concepts
heat transfer
caramelization
flavor development
Questions to Reflect On
- When is convenience more important than taste?
- Can microwave technology improve for such dishes?
A Different Perspective
Microwaves are convenient but may compromise quality.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
