Calcium propionate, or cal pro, is a highly popular preservative that gives an impressive shelf life to bread products. Since the 1930s, bakeries have been using it to stop outbreaks of ropy bacteria. Here are a few tips for baking with it: Works best at a pH below 5.5. If higher, add in salts of benzoic [...]
Do you have issues trying to prevent mold on your product? Or maybe some of your baked products later have a small amount of water gathered? Water activity is one of the biggest reasons why breads and pastries have fast mold growth. So on today’s podcast Richard Charpentier and Dr. Lin answer your mold [...]
Lactic Acid What is Lactic Acid? Lactic acid is one of the most widely distributed acids in nature. It is a natural, weak, organic acid associated with milk. The acid is odorless and has a mild taste which does not compromise or mask other flavors. In fact, it enhances them. It is [...]
Every day we get questions on the BAKERpedia website. With over a thousand visits a day from people all over the world, it’s no surprise! When it comes to the commercial baking industry, there’s a lot of processes and ingredients that have to be just right so the product comes out perfect and delicious—and [...]
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 [...]
Cultured Wheat What is Cultured Wheat? Cultured wheat is a natural, clean label mold inhibitor and antimicrobial agent. It can be used in yeasted and chemically-leavened products such as breads, buns and cakes. It lowers dough or batter pH It does this by the inhibitory bacteriocin peptides produced by bacteria present in [...]
Sodium Benzoate Also known as benzoate of soda What is Sodium Benzoate? Sodium benzoate is a common food preservative and a mold inhibitor. It is most effective in low acid foods and beverages and baked goods such as breads, cakes, pies, tortillas and many others.1 Benefits of sodium benzoate include its activity [...]
