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Food Thickeners Functions and Applications
Food Thickeners Functions and Applications
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1. Food Thickeners Functions
Food thickeners are a class of food additives, the main function is to increase the viscosity of the product and improve its performance.
The main function is to thicken, stabilize, suspend, gelling, emulsify, improve the tissue state, improve the tissue structure and so on.
The most important and basic function is to thicken the aqueous phase, or to make the aqueous phase into a gel,
This important function has been widely used in food processing and other industrial production.
By using the three-dimensional network structure formed by some thickeners, the aqueous phase can be converted from a liquid to a solid state,
Common gel foods include jellies, puddings, gelatinized soft drinks, gelatinized juices, jams, jellies, gummies and so on.
In meat products, they can improve texture and increase yield.
In dairy beverages and general beverages, they can increase the smoothness of beverages and prevent whey precipitation and water-emulsion delamination.
When used in beverages or foods with high starch content, they can prevent starch aging.
Moreover, in the homogenization process of dairy beverage, if there is no suitable stabilization system, it is easy to cause the coagulation and precipitation of egg mass in the process of acidification, which is a crucial link in the production of dairy beverage and the most problematic stage in the production of dairy beverage.
If the right amount of thickener is added to the system, it can obviously reduce the aggregation of protein particles, reduce the chance of protein denaturation, and enhance the stability of the system.
In addition, some thickeners can also mask the odor of some products, enhance the aroma of the product, stabilize the fat layer, etc.
2. Food Thickeners Applications
The following table lists the main physical and chemical properties of edible colloids in food applications,
It helps food processors to select and use the right hydrocolloid for their products.
Main Physicochemical Properties of Hydrocolloids | |||||||
Colloid name | Processing conditions (temperature °C, pH, etc.) | viscosity | Amount used in food / % | Percentage in compounded gum/% | Solubility in ethanol/% | pH range in food applications | Interaction with milk (protein) |
Gelatine | 40-60 | lower | 0.3 - 10 | 0-80 | <20 | 4-10 | no |
Xanthan gum | low temperature | high | 0.02-0.3 | 0-80 | <50 | 1-13 | pH < isoelectric point: precipitation |
>100 | lower | 0.05-0.5 | 0-80 | <20 | 2.5-10 | no | |
Depends on cation and pH | pH > 5.5, low. pH < 5.5, high. | 0.005-1 | 0.80 | <40 | 2.8-10 | insoluble | |
>70 | lower | 0.01-3 | 0-40 | <20 | 4-10 | pH 6-7: high gel strength, pH < isoelectric point: precipitation | |
Low temperature (if no Ca2+) | medium | 0.1-1 | 0-20 | <20 | 4-1 | pH 6-7: higher viscosity, pH < isoelectric point: precipitation | |
Lambda Carrageenan | low temperature | high | 0.1 - 0.8 | 0-80 | <60 | 2-10 | no |
Acacia gum | low temperature | lower | 10-90 | 0-80 | <60 | 2-10 | no |
low temperature | high | 0.1 - 0.8 | 0-80 | <30 | 3-10 | pH 6-7: precipitation, pH < isoelectric point: higher viscosity | |
Guar gum | low temperature | high | 0.1 - 0.7 | 0-80 | <20 | 4-10 | pH 6-7: precipitation, pH < isoelectric point: none |
Locust bean gum | >82 | high | 0.1 - 0.7 | 0-80 | <20 | 4-10 | no |
Aqueous solution to obtain viscosity, gel at pH 9 | high | 0.05-5 | 0-80 | <20 | 4-10 | no | |
Microcrystalline cellulose | Absorbs water and swells, insoluble in water | lower | 0.5-5 | 0-80 | <10 | 3.5-8 | no |
low temperature | lower | 0.01-1 | 55-80 | <20 | 2.5-4 | pH 6-7: precipitation, pH < isoelectric point: higher viscosity | |
Low temperature (in water) | lower | 0.5 - 2.5 | 30-80 | <20 | 2.5-5.5 | pH 6-7: gel, pH < isoelectric point: none | |
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About Gino Biotech
We are a biotech company specialized in the research, development and commercialization of innovative and technological food additives hydrocolloids Agar Agar, Carrageenan and Tailor-Made Stabilizer Solutions.
With the extended know-how and experience in the research, application and use of Hydrocolloids, we could provide one-stop-shop customized solutions perfectly matched to the needs of our customers.
Our products cover the needs of the Meat, Dairy, Bakery, Confectionery and other industrial sectors.
