Looking for Food Thickeners? Here are 4 types of Food thickeners
Food thickeners are often used by people who have trouble swallowing; this could be for a number of different reasons, with the main being dysphagia. This is a disorder that causes difficulty with swallowing food – but thickeners can help by making food much easier to swallow, which can also help keep sufferers’ weight up and keep them fuller for longer. Here are 4 types of food thickeners
Flour
All-purpose flour can be an excellent way to thicken food without adding extra flavour or colouring. The best thing about flour is that you will almost always have it in your home since it is a daily food staple.
The worst quality of flour is that it can be quite volatile and may take some time to thicken and achieve the right thickness you need. It can also be prone to getting lumpy, so you will have to whisk it if you want a nice, smooth consistency.
Corn Starch and Potato Starch
These ingredients both have similar qualities, and it’s often said that they’re better than flour as it takes much less of their powder to thicken up food. However, they are less likely to be hanging around in your cupboards since they’re not generally considered daily food staples.
On the other hand, corn starch can easily be over-whisked or heated, which will make it lose its thickening qualities, rendering it useless in such a case. Potato starch is similar in terms of cons, but it can withstand much higher temperatures – so you won’t have to worry about losing thickness as much as you would with cornstarch.
Thickening Agents
There are also various thickening agents available that are specifically designed to thicken food. On the whole, they are easy to use and deliver great results in no time at all.
And it’s not just about thickening food for culinary consistency; there are many thickening agents out there on the market that are purpose-made for people who suffer from dysphagia. This special kind of food thickener offers an effortless way for sufferers of this condition to thicken their food easily and eat their meals with comfort. Have a look online for recipes using liquid thickener for ideas on how to best use this type of aid.
Eggs
Eggs are another fantastic way to thicken up food – especially if the food in question is in liquid form. In fact, eggs are one of the most common food binders used all over the world and work wonders when cooking and baking. They are usually used to combine ingredients, glue them together, and create a thicker consistency. Plus, they’re usually cheap and readily available everywhere, which is a win!
Of course, eggs can’t be used to thicken everything as they do add a specific flavour, not to mention the fact that they have to be cooked to eliminate the risk of food poisoning. However, they are still an excellent choice in the kitchen when looking for quick and easy methods of thickening up certain foods.
Overall, there are many types of food thickeners out there. No matter how many there are, it’s always best to do your search in order to find the perfect thickener for whatever culinary creation you’re crafting. Should there come a time you need something to thicken up your grub, consider the items on this list. In doing so, you’ll be well on your way to conjuring up decadently thickened cuisine faster than you can say ‘flour!’
