The organelle responsible for releasing energy stored in food is the mitochondrion.
Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell. They carry out a process called cellular respiration, where the energy stored in food molecules is converted into a usable form, called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This process involves the breakdown of glucose in the presence of oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.
In essence, when cells need energy to perform various functions, they rely on mitochondria to extract it from the nutrients they consume. Without these organelles, cells would struggle to grow, divide, and carry out their necessary activities, highlighting the crucial role mitochondria play in energy metabolism.