Uses of Citric Acid in Food

Chemically known as 2- hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3- tricarboxylic acid, citric acid in food is an organic chemical that has white-ranging applications within the food industry. Within this sector the chemical contributes in multiple ways due to its unique properties of enhancing taste, boosting the quality of the food, and preserving it from the growth of harmful microorganisms. Citric acid e330 is a very prominently used food additive and it typically exists in two forms divided based on the water content in the acid. The two forms include citric acid monohydrate and citric acid anhydrate.

Wide-spanning Use of Citric Acid

Within the food industry citric acid additive plays a vital role and has such power reaching users that it contributes to over 75% of the total food production at the manufacturing level. However, if the monohydrate is heated to a temperature of 78 degrees, it then decomposes and forms anhydrous citric acid.

The uses for citric acid are based on the natural chemical properties that the acid possesses. For instance, when citric acid is stored at room temperature it appears as colorless and translucent crystals which can also be termed as white granules or a white crystalline powdered citric acid which is also odorless. In this condition citric acid is relatively sour and at room temperature can also have the property of being slightly liquid-like, particularly in humid conditions.

How to Use Citric Acid in Food

The uses of citric acid are derived from its ability to act as an acidifier for food as an antioxidant additive as the pH regulator and more. The function of the chemical as a solubilizer, buffering agent, acidulant, gelling chemical, as well as deodorant further enhances its value and applicability range. Citric acid use cases also leverage the acid’s ability to protect the color of the foods to which they are added, hindering the growth of bacteria in those foods, and supporting the conversion of sucrose. The chemical additive can also have a chelating effect in certain uses, while it can also effectively prevent things from getting oxidized due to enzyme action.

As such due to these capabilities the edible organic food-grade citric acid is used in diverse food products most prominently in soft drinks, candies, canned fruit, cakes, and jams, to name a few. Let’s explore the diverse uses of this additive in detail.

Further reading： Common Uses of Citric Acid

Uses of Citric Acid as an Acidulant

The key role that this organic edible acid performs is that it is a prominent acidulant that is used widely for adding a distinctive sourness to foods with citric acid. Because of the tart flavor it adds, the use of citric acid in drink varieties like sodas, energy drinks, and fruit juices is widely known. It adds the freshness and fruity flavor which these types of beverages are known for and helps in creating a balanced flavor profile for the drinks.

Since packaged fruit juices are used with some quantity of real fruit, they automatically contain some amount of natural citric acid which can be found in fruits, particularly citrus fruits. The acidulant feature of citric acid also comes in handy in the production of jams, jellies, as well as canned fruits, as this helps not only boost the fruity flavor but also acts as a preservative. This happens because the acid can create an unwelcoming atmosphere for bacteria by balancing out the pH levels.

Uses of Citric Acid as a Sucrose Conversion Agent

In certain types of foods, citric acid benefits for sucrose conversion make it the ideal choice. When it functions as a conversion agent, citric acid transforms sucrose into sugar (when added in the required amount), which leads to enhancing the saturation as well as the viscosity of the sucrose. In addition to these, it also boosts the osmotic pressure in sucrose, which in turn impacts and improves the texture of the foods to which it is added. For instance, when added to jams, candies, and jellies, citric acid imparts its properties as a conversion agent, thereby preventing the emergence and growth of microorganisms. Through this, it also helps in boosting the shelf life of the products to which it is added since the osmotic pressure does not allow microbes to spoil the foods.

Uses of Citric Acid as pH Adjusting Agent

Citric acid is renowned prominently as a highly effective pH regulating agent which is used widely in the food manufacturing industry, especially for the production of a diverse range of processed foods such as jams, candies, beverages, jellies, and canned products. The ability to balance the pH levels offers several benefits including the ability to inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, thereby using foods high in citric acid to prevent spoilage. This happens because citric acid creates an environment with a pH level lower than 5.5, which is ideal for preventing the growth of microbes.

Additionally, it also helps in impacting and enhancing the flavor of the foods to which it is added. This happens because citric acid lends an acidic flavor to certain foods, such as wines, which when created without citric acid, would lack the flavor they provide simply because the grapes which are used to make the wines are not nearly as acidic as they need to be.

Uses of Citric Acid as a Leavening Agent

In the production of foods like pasta, a leavening agent, such as baking soda is commonly used to facilitate the leavening process. However, when only baking soda is added, it increases the alkalinity of the pasta, which in turn, gives the pasta quite a bad flavor, making it very challenging to consume. However, the use of citric acid in food items such as this leads to the occurrence of a chemical reaction between the baking soda and citric acid that produces carbon dioxide gas. This gas helps the dough to rise effectively, while at the same time, the reaction neutralizes the alkalinity level, thereby improving the flavor of the pasta, as well as baked food items. In addition to the flavor, it also helps boost the texture of the products and provides consistency across all kinds of baked goods including pastries, breads, cakes, and more.

Uses of Citric Acid as a Preservative for Fruits and Vegetables

Yet another use for citric acid in foods comes in the preparation of fruits and vegetables particularly those that are frozen or canned. For this purpose, this is essential because whenever fruits and vegetables are cut or peeled before they undergo industrial processing, they tend to start browning because of an enzymatic action. This enzymatic action harmfully impacts not just the appearance but also the flavor of the fruits and vegetables making them unappealing to consume. To prevent the citric acid is used as a mixture of 1 to 2% salt and 0.1% citric acid. When this combination is applied to the fruits and vegetables it helps in effectively preventing the discoloration or alteration of the taste of the products.

Within the food industry, this is used extensively when fruits such as apples, avocados, and pears or any others that are highly susceptible to browning very quickly when exposed to air are utilized. The ability of citric acid in food to act as an antioxidant in safeguarding the freshness as well as the natural color of the fruits and vegetables that are to be processed helps keep them fresh throughout the processing phase as well as during the storage period ensuring that their taste, appearance, as well as nutritional content are preserved.

Uses of Citric Acid as an Emulsifier

When used along with glyceryl monostearate, citric acid forms a combination that acts as an emulsifier, highly useful in a wide range of products such as ice cream as well as margarine. Glyceryl monostearate is a fatty acid that helps enable citric acid to form emulsifiers that can be used for the coagulation of fats as well as for their demulsification. When this happens, the texture of the ice cream or margarine is improved and made much more creamy and smooth. In this capacity, citric acid helps not only improve the texture of the products, but also helps in preventing the separation of the oils, while also enhancing the flavor of the product, and the overall quality.

Conclusion

Citric acid in the food industry is a key ingredient that performs a myriad of functions. To purchase citric acid, manufacturers should ensure they find a reliable source of the product. The market is flooded with companies manufacturing citric acid additives, however, one of the leading citric acid suppliers- Mondstar is the only way to go, to ensure that the product meets your requirements. Mondstar is a global supplier of high-quality food additives, trustworthy from China.

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