Which kitchen process is an example of osmosis?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is:(a) Placing raw mango in a concentrated salt solution

Explanation:
Osmosis is the process through which water molecules move from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration across a semi-permeable membrane. In the case of placing raw mango in a concentrated salt solution, the water from inside the mango moves out into the salt solution (which has a higher concentration of salt), resulting in the mango becoming soft and dehydrated. This is an example of osmosis because the water moves through the mango's cell membranes to balance the concentration of salt inside and outside the mango cells.

Information Booster:

• Osmosis typically occurs in foods like fruits or vegetables when they are placed in solutions of varying concentrations.
• This principle is used in pickling, where salt or sugar draws water out of fruits or vegetables, preserving them.
• Osmosis helps in understanding various food preparation processes, including marinating and dehydrating foods.
• The process of osmosis is also fundamental in biological systems, including the movement of water in plant roots.

Additional Information:

• (b) Grinding spices together: This is a mechanical process and does not involve osmosis.
• (c) Flushing food items with nitrogen: This is used for preserving food by freezing or oxygen deprivation, not osmosis.
• (d) Boiling pasta in milk: This involves heat transfer and absorption of liquid by the pasta, but not osmosis.