Bacalhau

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bacalhau

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific designation?Dried and salted codfish, often from species like Gadus morhua
2. What is the preservation mechanism?Osmotic dehydration via high salt concentration, inhibiting microbial and enzymatic spoilage
3. What is bacalhau and how is it made?Bacalhau is codfish that has been dried and salted. First, the fish is salted to pull out water, then it is dried until it has very little moisture.
4. Why do people keep bacalhau for a long time?The salt and drying stop bacteria from growing. This means bacalhau can be stored for months or even years without a fridge.

Osmotic Agent: A substance that draws water out of cells through a semipermeable membrane.
Umami: A savory taste often described as the fifth basic taste, distinct from sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.
Gastronomic: Relating to the art or science of good eating.