Emulsifiers

Emulsifiers play an important role in the manufacture of food products, enhancing their appearance, taste, texture, and shelf life. Nowadays, many of the foods we consume, such as margarine, mayonnaise, creamy sauces, candy, packaged processed foods, confections, and a range of bakery products, will not have the same properties without the addition of an emulsifier.

Bread

It is possible to make bread without emulsifiers but the result is often dry, low in volume and easily stales. As little as 0.5% emulsifier added to the dough is enough to achieve an enhanced volume, a softer crumb structure and a longer shelf-life. There are two types of emulsifiers used in bread: dough strengtheners (e.g., diacetyl tartaric acid esters (E472e) and sodium or calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate (E481, E482)) and dough softeners (e.g., mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E471)). Dough-strengthening agents make the dough stronger and result in bread with an improved texture and volume. Dough-softening agents allow obtaining a softer crumb structure and increased shelf-life.

Chocolate

All chocolate products contain 0.5% of lecithin (E322) or ammonium phosphatide (E442). These emulsifiers are added to provide the right consistency of the chocolate. As a result, the chocolate can be molded into plates of chocolate, chocolate bars etc. If the chocolate has been stored at too high temperatures, its surface may appear dull or white. This is called ‘bloom’ which makes the product less attractive to the customer. Sorbitan tristearate (E492) can delay the development of bloom.

Skincare

There are 2 types of emulsifiers – water-in-oil (w/o) and oil-in-water (o/w). The later keep oil drops packed in water, while water-in-oil (w/o) emulsifiers keep water drops packed in oil. W/O emulsifiers are used for a fatty feel (e.g night & sun protection creams). O/W emulsifiers are used more in moisturizing products (e.g. body lotions, day creams and often preferred by formulators.

× How can I help you?

Emulsifiers

Emulsifiers

Bread

Chocolate

Skincare

Newsletter

Plasteam General Trading

Office Hours

Highlights