What Is The Role of Food Ingredients Maltodextrin

Maltodextrin (MD), a polysaccharide food raw material, is a low conversion product between starch and starch sugar. White or slightly light yellow amorphous powder in appearance, without visible impurities, with special smell, not sweet or slightly sweet taste.

The composition of maltodextrin is closely related to its hydrolysis process, starch type and the presence of other components (such as protein, fat, etc.) in starch. Maltodextrins with different DE values have different functions and properties: such as thickening, gelling, reducing product sweetness, changing the freezing point of the system, inhibiting the growth of ice crystals, replacing fat, reducing heat energy, improving texture, and being used as a spray or drying carrier etc. The following describes the effects of maltodextrin:

1. Increase the viscosity

Enhance product dispersibility and solubility, maltodextrin has better emulsification and thickening effect. It is used in soy milk, instant oatmeal, and malted milk to thicken, absorb odor, improve taste, and extend shelf life. In milk tea, fruit crystals, instant tea, solid tea, non-dairy milk, and coffee mate, it is used to increase the mellow, delicate, and rich taste and reduce costs. In lactic acid drinks, the emulsifying power is enhanced to make the product stable and not easy to precipitate. In various cans or soups, it is used to thicken, improve structure, appearance and flavor.

2. Inhibit browning reaction

When there is a large amount of reducing sugar and protein in the food system, high temperature treatment will easily cause mutagenesis. Maltodextrin can be used as an inert embedding material due to its low DE value and a small degree of mutagenesis. Used for microencapsulation of sensitive chemical substances, such as flavors, spices, drugs, etc.

3. As a carrier and coating film to keep fresh

Maltodextrin aqueous solution has no taste, strong binding and adhesive effect. It can be used as an excellent carrier for various sweenteners, flavoring agents, fillers and pigments, ensuring the pure flavor of the carried substances. Maltodextrin with a lower DE value has strong film-forming or spreading properties, and can be used for fruit fresh-keeping.

4. Used to prepare functional food

Maltodextrin is easily absorbed by the human body and can be used in functional milk powder for athletes, patients, infants and young children, such as sugar-free milk powder and sports drinks. It can also make the product expand in volume, not easy to agglomerate, instant, easy to prepare, and improve nutritional value.

5. Lower the freezing point

In ice cream, ice cream, and popsicles, the freezing point of the product can be changed without changing the soluble solid content of the system. Thereby inhibiting the growth of ice crystals, making the ice particles expand delicately, with good viscous performance, mild sweetness, refreshing and clean mouthfeel, and good taste.

6. Used to reduce the sweetness of the system

Adding maltodextrin to candy can reduce the sweetness of the system. It can also increase the toughness of candy, prevent sand return and melting, improve the flavor of the system, and extend the shelf life. This also has positive significance to the prevention of dental caries, high blood pressure and diabetes.

7. Fat Replacement

Maltodextrin can form a gel structure, retain water, and is often used as a texture modifier. When the DE value is 3~5, it can produce a fat-like texture and taste, and it is a high-quality fat substitute. Often used as a fat substitute in salads, ice cream, sausages, etc. It can also function as a substitute for oil in powdered oil.

8. Improve the structure and appearance of food

In biscuits or other convenience foods, the product entrance does not stick to the teeth, does not leave residue, and the shape and appearance are clear, smooth and full. Thereby reducing defective products and extending product shelf life.

Maltodextrin is widely used in food production, and its market prospect is very broad. How to use maltodextrin is one of the topics of interest to food production technicians. If you want to know more food ingredients, please contact Polifar.