What Happens When You Cook Protein? The Science Behind Your Meal
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                An egg white visibly transforms from translucent liquid to an opaque solid when heated—a perfect illustration of what happens when you cook protein, which is a process known as denaturation. Cooking alters the molecular structure of protein-rich foods, making them safer and often easier to digest.