Thickening and gelling agents are invaluable for providing high quality foods with consistent properties, shelf stability and good consumer appeal and acceptance. Modern lifestyles and consumer demands are expected to increase the requirements for these products. Traditionally, starch and gelatin have been used to provide the desired textural properties in foods. Large-scale processing technology places greater demands on the thickeners and gelling agents employed. Modified starches and specific qualities of gelatin are required, together with exudate and seed gums, seaweed extracts and, most recently, microbial polysaccharides, to improve product mouthfeel properties, handling, and stability characteristics. These hydrocolloids have been established as valuable food additives as a result of extensive practical experience with different products. Nevertheless, the last few years have produced much additional research data from sophisticated new analytical methods. Information on the fine structure of these complex molecules has given a tremendous insight into the three-dimensional conformation of hydro colloids and their behaviour in solution. Critical components within the biopolymer have been identified which provide particular thickening, suspending, stabilising, emulsifying and gelling properties. Contributions for this book have been provided by senior development managers and scientists from the major hydrocolloid suppliers in the US and Europe. The wealth of practical experience within this industry, together with chemical, structural and functional data, has been collated to provide an authoritative and balanced view of the commercially significant thickening and gelling agents in major existing and potential food applications.

Stabilisers, thickeners and gelling agents are extracted from a variety of natural raw materials and incorporated into foods to give the structure, flow, stability and eating qualities desired by consumers. These additives include traditional materials such as starch, a thickener obtained from many land plants; gelatine, an animal by-product giving characteristic melt-in-the-mouth gels; and cellulose, the most abundant structuring polymer in land plants. Seed gums and other materials derived from sea plants extend the range of polymers. Recently-approved additives include the microbial polysaccharides of xanthan, gellan and pullulan. This book is a highly practical guide to the use of polymers in food technology to stabilise, thicken and gel foods, resulting in consistent, high quality products. The information is designed to be easy to read and assimilate. New students will find chapters presented in a standard format, enabling key points to be located quickly. Those with more experience will be able to compare and contrast different materials and gain a greater understanding of the interactions that take place during food production. This concise, modern review of hydrocolloid developments will be a valuable teaching resource and reference text for all academic and practical workers involved in hydrocolloids in particular, and food development and production in general.

The use of food texturizing agents, such as gels, thickeners, and emulsifiers, has been steadily increasing in the culinary industry. Understanding how to use these texturizing agents is important for chefs of all levels, from professionals to culinary students and amateur cooks. From Alícia Foundation, the culinary research center driven by famed chef Ferran Adrià, A Chef's Guide to Gelling, Thickening, and Emulsifying Agents provides a clear and practical guide for any chef who wants to work with these texturing agents. Collaboration between scientists, technicians, and chefs has resulted in unique and creative culinary uses for many commonly available food texturizing agents. The information in this book is a collection of years of culinary scientific research and the experiences of a diverse group of chefs who are eager to share their practical knowledge and recipes. The book discusses more than 20 carefully tested gelling, thickening, foaming, and emulsifying agents. This book presents each texturizing agent in a simple and practical format. For each agent, the book includes a description of its principal characteristics, easy-to-follow instructions for use, helpful handling tips, and a sample recipe. The Annex includes tables listing all of the texturizing agents, summarizing the relative effectiveness of their gelling, thickening, emulsifying, or foaming properties. These tables can be used to compare the agents by category and functionality.

The sucess of the first edition of Thickening and Gelling Agents for Food underlined the keen interest in functional food ingredients. In this second edition, the text has been completely revised and updated to reflect the current market trends. New chapters have been included to broaden the scope of materials used by the food technologist. Agar and konjac gum (flour), probably the most traditional gelling and thickening agents, but most widely utilised in the Far East, have been given greater prominence. Microcrystalline cellulose, a relatively new food stabiliser used widely in the USA, has been included. The preparation of traditional products using formulations suited to bulk food processings is described while new areas focus on low fat and low calorie foods where there is an even greater demand for controlling the stability, viscosity, gelation and mouthfeel using a broad range of thickening and gelling agents. Recent legislative changes in the USA and EC impact the use of additives including gellan gum, konjac flour, carrageenan, tara gum and microcrystal line cellulose: some changes have increased the number of additives ap proved for foods, while others allow a broader range of materials to be used in foods. The detailed information on products, properties and applications given in this second edition will enable these highly functional thickening and gelling agents to be used to full advantage.

While hydrocolloids have been used for centuries, it took molecular gastronomy to bring them to the forefront of modern cuisine. They are among the most commonly used ingredients in the food industry, functioning as thickeners, gelling agents, texturizers, stabilizers, and emulsifiers. They also have applications in the areas of edible coatings and flavor release. Although there are many books describing hydrocolloids and their industrial uses, Cooking Innovations: Using Hydrocolloids for Thickening, Gelling, and Emulsification is the first scientific book devoted to the unique applications of hydrocolloids in the kitchen, covering both past uses and future innovations. Each chapter addresses a particular hydrocolloid, protein hydrocolloid, or protein–polysaccharide complex. Starting with a brief description of the chemical and physical nature of the hydrocolloid, its manufacture, and its biological/toxicological properties, the emphasis is on practical information for both the professional chef and amateur cook. Each chapter includes recipes demonstrating the particular hydrocolloid’s unique abilities in cooking. Several formulations were chosen specifically for food technologists, who will be able to manipulate them for large-scale use or as a starting point for novel industrial formulations. The book covers the most commonly used hydrocolloids, namely, agar–agar, alginates, carrageenan and furcellaran, cellulose derivatives, curdlan, egg proteins, galactomannans, gelatin, gellan gum, gum arabic, konjac mannan, pectin, starch, and xanthan gum. It also discusses combining multiple hydrocolloids to obtain novel characteristics. This volume serves to inspire cooking students and introduce food technologists to the many uses of hydrocolloids. It is written so that chefs, food engineers, food science students, and other professionals will be able to cull ideas from the recipes and gain an understanding of the capabilities of each hydrocolloid.

Cellulose and its derivatives can be found in many forms in nature and is a valuable material for all manner of applications in industry. This book is authored by an expert with many years of experience as an application engineer at renowned cellulose processing companies in the food industry. All the conventional and latest knowledge available on cellulose and its derivatives is presented. The necessary details are elucidated from a theoretical and practical viewpoint, while retaining the focus on food applications. This book is an essential source of information and includes recommendations and instructions of a general nature to assist readers in the exploration of possible applications of cellulose and its derivatives, as well as providing food for thought for the generation of new ideas for product development. Topics include gelling and rheological properties, synergistic effects with other hydrocolloids, as well as nutritional and legal aspects. The resulting compilation covers all the information and advice needed for the successful development, implementation, and handling of cellulose-containing products.