WHAT IS STARCH? Starch is a complex carbohydrate stored in plants Cereal grains contain plant...
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Transcript of WHAT IS STARCH? Starch is a complex carbohydrate stored in plants Cereal grains contain plant...
WHAT IS STARCH? Starch is a complex carbohydrate
stored in plants Cereal grains contain plant cells that
are source of starch
Common starches used in cooking: wheat flour cornstarch tapioca
How is starch used? Starch is primarily used as a thickening
agent Mixtures thickened with tapioca and
cornstarch are translucent (light passes through, but not clear)
Mixtures thickened with flour are opaque (cannot see through)
FOOD SCIENCE AND STARCH Sauces usually must be thickened Most thickening agents are forms of
starch Starch granules will absorb moisture
when placed in a liquid That process is called gelatinization
Characteristics of Sauces No lumps Flavor that is not starchy or pasty Sticks to the back of a spoon Will not break apart when cooked
MOIST HEAT Mixing starch with water and heating
them causes the starch to become soluble
Starch granules absorb water and swell or get bigger
The swelling causes the mixture to thicken
As starch mixture becomes thicker it reaches maximum thickness known as gelatinization
COOLING PROCESS During cooling, bonds form between
the starch molecules The starch mixture forms gels which
hold water If your product stands too long, the gel
breaks and water may leak out. This is called syneresis
What food products are thickened with starch? Gravy Cooked Pudding Pie Filling Sauces – sweet and savory
Thick Chocolate Sauce1 T. cornstarch 1 C. boiling
water¼ cup cocoa ½ tsp. vanilla½ cup sugar 1/8 tsp. saltMix dry ingredientsAdd water to dry mix slowlyBoil slowly about 5 minutes, stirring
constantly. Do Not Scorch (burn)Add vanilla and serve.