eli5: what’s the difference between raw and cooked powders?

Question

I sometimes hear chefs on tv complain about raw flour in a dish for example, or someone mentioning the cocoa powder in the brownies getting cooked. How can powders be cooked or raw?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

This is mostly in regards that uncooked flour isn’t palatable. It offers a grainy texture and blandness. When you cook or bake flour it brings out a toasted quality. However flour is actually considered a source of potential food-borne illness.