Here's What You Need To Know About the Use of Iota Carrageenan

 

Carrageenan stabilizers are naturally extracted from the specific species of red seaweeds that are farmed and processed. It functions as an emulsifying thickener, binder, stabilizer, immersing, and gelling agent.

Many common Western foods, like processed meats, almond milk, soymilk, and mayonnaise are thickened, stabilized, and emulsified by carrageenan. Dairy products such as chocolate milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream, and yogurt are also similarly emulsified.

There are numerous kinds of these natural hydrocolloids, the most popular one is iota carrageenan.

What are these iota types of carrageenan?

It is extracted from the red seaweed Eucheuma dentilculatum and is a vegetarian substitute for gelatin. These work best as a thickening and stabilizing agents in dairy products or various other liquids.

The texture of the gels formed by this compound depends on the amount of the agent used in certain liquids. The more you use the substance, the firmer gel you will obtain. The gel you get when iota carrageenan is mixed with water is very soft, whereas, when mixed with calcium it tends to thicken faster. Any product thickened or stabilized with this agent gives the feeling of “melt-in-mouth.”

Generally, a percentage of 0.75 percent to 1.5 percent iota carrageenan is used to yield gels, and 0.4 percent to 1.5 percent for dairy items.

Iota carrageenan – What it is used for?

The most simple and commonly known application of the substance is the thickening of dairy items or sauces. Using it improves the feeling of a mouthful of these food items.

You need to first disperse the carrageenan to thicken a dairy liquid. This process is completed using a standing blender or an immersion. After that, the dispersed cold liquid must be heated to 70 degrees Celsius for it to hydrate. Now, when the liquid cools down, it will thicken.

You need to add the amount of carrageenan based on the thickness you want for your liquid. Usually, you need to use around 0.02 percent to 0.04 percent of the thickener. But, if you want a gel form of your liquid, use a higher amount of carrageenan. 

Iota carrageenan is not a typical ingredient to be used in the home kitchen. But if you are interested in making homemade ice cream, you can add it to custard powder to get the texture.

Now, you must be wondering, where to get these carrageenan emulsifiers. Well, don’t worry! The top place to buy the iota type of carrageenan is Cape Crystal Brands (https://www.capecrystalbrands.com/). We provide high-quality iota carrageenan thickener products that are efficient for factory use as well as for fancy home dishes. For more details on our carrageenan items, dial 1-908-273-5600 or email us at info@capecrystalbrands.com.