Why do things taste better when they are roasted? The Maillard reaction.

The Maillard reaction is responsible for the browned, complex flavors that make bread taste toasty and malty, burgers taste charred, and coffee taste dark and robust. It also makes roasted vegetables taste delicious!

The Maillard reaction is so complex that it's only in the last few years that scientists have begun to figure out what it actually is. We still don’t fully understand it, but we do know that the Maillard reaction is many small, simultaneous chemical reactions that occur when proteins and sugars in and on your food are transformed by heat, producing new flavors, aromas, and colors.

Check out this great video below that explains the Maillard reaction: