Culturally Speaking: How to Incorporate Stabilizers
If properly incorporated, hydrocolloid stabilizers can provide excellent functional attributes to cultured dairy products. Stabilizers are high molecular-weight hydrophilic (water-loving) hydrocolloids that are added to food products to control water. Many stabilizing compounds are polysaccharides, often derived from plant sources. Examples include seed gums (guar gum, locust bean gum), those isolated from seaweeds (carrageenan, agar), microbially-derived polysaccharides (xanthan gum), as well as pectins, food starch and modified-food starch. In addition, protein-based stabilizer gelatin may be used in certain cultured dairy product applications.
If properly incorporated, hydrocolloid stabilizers can provide excellent functional attributes to cultured dairy products. Stabilizers are high molecular-weight hydrophilic (water-loving) hydrocolloids that are added to food products to control water. Many stabilizing compounds are polysaccharides, often derived from plant sources. Examples include seed gums (guar gum, locust bean gum), those isolated from seaweeds (carrageenan, agar), microbially-derived polysaccharides (xanthan gum), as well as pectins, food starch and modified-food starch. In addition, protein-based stabilizer gelatin may be used in certain cultured dairy product applications. Each individual hydrocolloid molecule controls and interacts with water, other stabilizer molecules and various mix components through specific mechanisms. Control of water, in most cases, is accomplished by hydrating the polymer, that is, molecules of stabilizer associate with a large quantity of water. However, in some cases, the polymer may actually form a network or gel within the product, such as in the case of gelatin.
While sometimes possible to stabilize a cultured product using only a single type of stabilizing molecule, more common tactics take advantage of synergies between various gums and use blends of stabilizers that provide finished product with the desired sensory and quality attributes. In fact, many suppliers offer complete packages to achieve specific product attributes.