With the development of the food and beverage industry, the demand for processed foods has also increased substantially. And many of these processed food items require acids and acidulants for a variety of reasons. In some items, they are used as preservatives, whereas, in some, they are used as flavor enhancers.
Let us have a look at 7 of the most commonly used acids and acidulants in the food and beverage industry.
- Citric Acid
Citric acid is the most abundantly used acid in the food and beverage industry. While this acid was extracted from limes and lemons in the past, it can now be produced commercially with the help of fermentation process. Right from adding a sharp taste to sweets and cold drinks, to generating an optimum condition for forming desserts, jellies, and jams, citric acid has a widespread application.
2. Acetic Acid
Food grade acetic acid is known for its pungent smell and is found in vinegar. It is very commonly used in pickling industry as the vinegar that is fermented naturally has variable pH and thus, Food grade acetic acid is used for creating pickling liquor that has a specified acidity. It is also used in flavorings and confectionary items.
3. Fumaric Acid
This is a food acidulant that has a very strong taste. As it is not highly soluble, it only has some limited applications in the food and beverage industry. It is usually used in cheesecake mixes, dessert powders that contain gelatin, and powdered drinks. The strong flavor and reasonable price of fumaric acid make it an excellent choice for making feeds for animals.
4. Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is commonly used for producing boiled sweets and pickled foods. It is also used in the form of raw material for manufacturing emulsifiers for the baking industry. While it can be produced synthetically as well as by fermentation, the latter is usually used by most chemical manufacturing companies.
5. Phosphoric Acid
After citric acid, the second most commonly used acidulant in the food and beverage industry is phosphoric acid as it is used in producing cola drinks which are sold massively all over the world. This acid is known for its biting, harsh taste that perfectly complements the flavor of cola.
6. Malic Acid
Malic acid is naturally found in tomatoes, apples, bananas, cherries, etc. Its applications are similar to that of citric acid and are generally used for making beverages that have a low-calorie count. However, it is little expensive as compared to citric acid.
7. Tartaric Acid
Tartaric acid was very commonly used in the past. However, the majority of its applications are now replaced with citric acid. Its most common application is its use as raw material to manufacture bread improver emulsifiers. It can be manufactured synthetically as well as naturally.
These are 7 of the acids and acidulants that are very commonly used in the food and beverage industry. If you are looking to buy them, make sure that you choose a reputable supplier to get high-quality products.
