Potassium Sorbate
Also known as sorbic acid potassium salt
What is Potassium Sorbate?
Potassium sorbate (K-sorbate) is a food preservative commonly used in the baking industry to prevent mold, yeast, and microbes. It is often used in cakes and icings, beverage syrups, cheese, dried fruits, margarine, pie fillings, wine, etc. at concentrations dependent on the specific application.
It is a water soluble ingredient with molecular formula, C6H7KO2. K-sorbate is commercially available in the form of powder or pellets. It is effective at pH up to 6 but drops rapidly at higher levels.
Origin
Potassium sorbate is produced by combining potassium hydroxide and sorbic acid to create a potassium salt. Sorbic acid is naturally present in the lactone form in berries such as rowan berries, Sorbus aucuparia L,1 which it was first isolated from. Some fruits such as cranberries, currants, strawberries naturally contain sorbic acid.
Commercial production
Sorbic acid is commercially produced using the ketene–crotonaldehyde condensation method. It is purified by treating sorbic acid with sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and activated carbon. The potassium salt can be produced from batch or sorbic acid production streams prior to drying. It is further granulated by extrusion and palletization.1
Function
Similar to other sorbates, K-sorbate can:
- Inhibit microbial growth by changing the cell membrane morphology and integrity.
- Disrupt the transport functions and metabolic activity.2
- Be more effective than other preservatives, such as calcium propionate and sodium benzoate in inhibiting mold growth in bakery products.3
- Increase the product shelf life with limited impact on food quality. If used at very high concentration, it can have an undesirable effect on taste and flavor.
Application
K-sorbate is typically used in chemically-leavened products (dry blended with the flour) at a level of 0.03% to 0.4% of the batter weight. Because of its deteriorative effect on yeast cells, K-sorbate can reduce loaf volume and generate a sticky dough that is difficult to process, therefore, it is not suitable for bread baking. K-sorbate can also be sprayed onto product surfaces after baking such as the case with tortillas.
FDA Regulation
In the United States, sorbic acid and potassium sorbate are considered GRAS (generally recognized as safe) (21 CFR 182.3089; 21 CFR 182.3225; 21 CFR 182.3640; and 21 CFR 182.3795).
References
- Additives, E.P.o.F. and N.S.a.t. Food, Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of sorbic acid (E 200), potassium sorbate (E 202) and calcium sorbate (E 203) as food additives. EFSA Journal, 2015. 13(6): p. 4144.
- Sofos, J.N., Sorbate food preservatives. 1989: CRC Press.
- Saranraj, P. and M. Geetha, Microbial spoilage of bakery products and its control by preservatives. International Journal of Pharmaceutical & biological archives, 2012. 3(1): p. 38-48.
Can i use it (potassium sorbate) in yeast doughnuts. At the mixing stage of flour by adding it may it distrub the dough rising level and timings?
Temperature between 35 degree centigrade to 45 degree centigrade how many days it can preserve the Doughnuts at room temperature.
Hi Aaleen, we are addressing all questions in the forum, so others can participate and contribute. Please post your questions here: https://bakerpedia.com/forums/ Thank you!
Hi
Can I use potassium sorbate for date bars aka date squares?
I’d like to extend the shelf life for up to 2 months in ambient room temperature. Product will be packaged in an air tight metallize pouch.
*Should I add the preservative for both pastry dough as well as for the dates filling? And %?
Thanks
Hi Afeez, great question. Do you mind posting it in our forum, so our team and others can share advice? https://bakerpedia.com/forums/ Thanks!
What would be the best preservative for Indian sweets, such at barfi, gulab jamun, chumchum, kalakund and jelebi?
Also, what would be the best preservative for items such as, Sev, gathiya, namaak parey?
Please advise.
Hi Sunny, we are addressing questions in our forum, so others can participate and contribute. Please post your questions here: https://bakerpedia.com/forums/ Thank you!
Hi, I don’t understand the %, could you help me with grams ie, 2kg go for 5g of sorbate
Hi Namire, the % is for baker’s percent, which based on the total weight of flour. We explain it on this page: https://bakerpedia.com/processes/bakers-percent/
Hi..i just want to know if i can use it in cream puff filling where i add in fresh milk…whenever i made it i always have to chill it coz im afraid it goes bad easily….if i can add in my filling how % is allowed. Do i still hv to chill it. and what us d duration period tq
Hi Ela, great question. If you post your question on our Baking Industry Professionals group, our team and community may be able to help.
Hi
How to use potassium sorbate in my cake batter?
can I use direct potassium sorbate powder in to the cake batter or i have to mix with water and add ?
Hi Ela, that’s a great question. If you post it in our forum, our team and community may be able to help you: https://bakerpedia.com/forums/ Thanks!
Hi, which preservative can I add to steamed buns to prolong its shelf life?I do use baking powder and yeast as leavening agents
Hi Felix, that’s a great question! If you post it on our Baking Industry Professionals group, our team and community may be able to help with an answer.
What percentage should I use for cake for a shelf life of atleast 30days
Hi Pompi, that’s a great question! If you post it on our Baking Industry Professionals group, our team and community may be able to help with an answer.
Hello. I was researching about potassium
Sorbate and landed on this page. Hope you can help
me with some questions. I am making Gumpaste and planning to sell them. For a 200g of egg whites and 1,720 g of powdered sugar,
A. Where should i base the amount of KSorbate, by the weight of the egg whites? By the weight of the sugar or by the total combined weight of egg whites and sugar?
B. How long would it extend the shelf life of the gumpaste packed in an airtight plastic bucket and stored on room temperature?
Thanks in advance!
Hi AJ, if you post your question on our Baking Industry Professionals group, our team and community may be able to help.
Hi I need assistance. I prepare tortillas on a daily basis . What can I use to increase shelf life and softness .
Hi Ismaeel, if you post your question on our Baking Industry Professionals group, our team and community may be able to help. Also, check out our shelf life resources here.
can it be use in crepes ? and about how much time last the crepes life?
Hi Luis, great question. If you post your question on our Baking Industry Professionals group, our team and community may be able to help.
I`m making a mixture filling of chocolate cream with peanuts and plums, can I use this? is it soluble in chocolate? is it effective for plums?
Hello Prasanna, great question. If you post your question on our Baking Industry Professionals group, our team and community may be able to help.
How do you calculate how much potassium sorbate to use in fudge?
Hi Sally, great question. If you post your question on our Baking Industry Professionals group, our team and community may be able to help.
can we use additional p/sorbate in Bread while already we are using 0.4% Calcium Propnate . If it is okay then what should be the doze ?
Hi there, great question. If you post your question in the BAKERpedia Baking Industry Professionals group, our team and community can share some suggestions.
I use to make tea time cakes but they doesn’t last for more then 5 days can u help me to make it 15 days so I can run my business
Hello Shaikh, good question! If you post in BAKERpedia’s Baking Industry Professionals Facebook Group, our team and community can offer advice.
can i use in patties filling nd how much in 5 kg filling
Hi Somnath, good question! If you post in BAKERpedia’s Baking Industry Professionals Facebook Group, our team and community can offer advice.
How many days potassium sorbate will preserve cakes??
Hi Joseph, good question! If you post in BAKERpedia’s Baking Industry Professionals Facebook Group, our team and community can offer advice.