"Cooking Up the Optimal Baking Algorithm" by Tony Burand, Michael Tetzlaff et al.

Colloquy Undergraduate Research Journal

Article Title

Authors

Tony Burand, Bethel UniversityFollow
Michael Tetzlaff, Bethel UniversityFollow
Jacob Smith, Bethel UniversityFollow

Abstract

Many conventional rectangular baking pans have a problem in that they bake the corners of the batter faster than the rest of the pan. Circular baking pans eliminate this problem, but take up more space in the oven. We propose a solution that given weights for baking consistency and space efficiency based on the importance of each will provide the optimal baking pan shape. We have come up with an algorithm for sorting the pans of area A effectively and formed a model that describes the heat flow into the pan as well as the baking mix itself. The model we developed was based off real-life data that we gathered by baking brownies using careful measurement. We determined several physical properties, such as specific heat, density, and heat transfer coefficients for brownies directly through experimentation. We compared our results with previous studies on the properties of cake-like foods and found that they were similar. Then we ran the model using these coefficients and a variety of different plausible baking parameters, including temperature and baking time.

Recommended Citation

Burand, Tony; Tetzlaff, Michael; and Smith, Jacob (2013) "Cooking Up the Optimal Baking Algorithm," Colloquy Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://spark.bethel.edu/colloquy/vol1/iss1/6

COMAP_Colloquy appendix.pdf (326 kB)
Source Code for Baking Algorithm

Download

Included in

Applied Mathematics Commons, Computational Engineering Commons

COinS