Chapter 9 – The Complex

CarbohydratesStarches, Cellulose, Gums

and Pectins

Starches – most abundant complex carbohydrate in diet.

◦Composed of glucose

◦Main dietary source in U.S. is wheat flour

◦Nature’s reserve carbohydrate supply

Types of Complex Carbohydrates

Cellulose - known as fiber in the diet

◦Provides bulk in food – good for digestive functioning

◦Cannot be a food source for humans like it is for cows or termites since humans lack the digestive enzymes needed to digest

◦Forms rigid structure of plants – strings in celery and membranes surrounding kernels of corn are largely made up of cellulose.

Types of Complex Carbohydrates

Gums – available commercially for

◦Thickeners

◦Stabilizers

◦Trapping color and flavor

◦Example: gum arabic used in salad dressings and gummy candies

Types of Complex Carbohydrates

Pectins – occurs naturally in fruit; sugar acid that causes hydrogen bonding between negatively charged molecules resulting in thickened structure.

◦Key component in jams and jellies◦Basic recipe for jams and jellies 1%

pectin, 60-65% sugar, and 34-39%crushed fruit or fruit juice.

Types of Complex Carbohydrates

Provide structure – the starch’s ability to thicken when heated and gel when cooled enables foods containing starch to take and hold many shapes.

Functions of Complex Carbohydrates in Food Prep

Bind – as a binding agent, complex carbohydrates tend to hold two other substances together◦Amylose or amylopectin molecules hold batters to vegetables and meats during deep-frying. If allowed to set 20 minutes before frying, binding is increased due to chemical reactions that take place.

Functions of Complex Carbohydrates in Food Prep

Thicken – starch can thicken liquids. This function is possible because of

◦Starch’s chemical structure

◦The size of its molecules

◦The way it reacts to heat

Functions of Complex Carbohydrates in Food Prep

Gelatinization Term used by food scientists to describe

thickening a liquid with starch.

As the temperature increases, so does the swelling of the granule structure.

The temperature at which maximum swelling occurs is the gelatinization point. This is the point at which starch will hold the most water and the greatest thickening power.

Gelatinization Applying heat to a starch-water mixture

causes it to thicken (gelatinization).

As heat is added, starch opens up or stretches which allows water molecules to slip in the much larger starch molecules.

Heat increases the amount of water that can be trapped which will make the mixture become thicker.

GelatinizationSalt and sugar can interfere with thickening process by decreasing the strength and viscosity of the gel.

Physical Properties of Starch and Liquid Mixtures Each starch has different physical properties Food scientists must determine which type

of starch is best for a given food product. Five properties are evaluated:

Retrogradation Viscosity Stability Opacity vs. translucency Texture

Physical Properties of Starch and Liquid MixturesStarch and liquid combinations can be 4 types:

◦Slurries – uncooked mixtures of water and starch

◦Sols – thickened liquids – they are pourable. Examples: pancake, waffle and muffin batter. Cooked sols include white sauce and gravy.

Physical Properties of Starch and Liquid Mixtures

◦Pastes – thickened mixtures of starch and liquid that have very little flow, but thin enough to be spread easily. Example: the start of making a gravy

◦Gels – starch mixtures that are rigid. The stability is controlled by controlling the linear amylose starches and the branched amylopectins

Physical Properties of Starch and Liquid Mixtures Retrogradation – the firming of a gel

during cooling and standing.◦Occurs because starch granules are trying

to return to the structure they had before cooking.

◦Desirable when it causes a gel to thicken during cooling.

◦Undesirable if it continues to the point that cracks form in the gel. Ex. Gravy uncovered in refrigerator several days will develop these.

Physical Properties of Starch and Liquid Mixtures Retrogradation (continued)

◦ An important factor is serving temperature. If serving a sauce immediately, then cook to

desired thickness. If served at room temperature, finish cooking

while it is still thinner as it will thicken as it cools.

Physical Properties of Starch and Liquid Mixtures Viscosity – is the resistance of a mixture to flow.◦Food scientists run viscosity tests to measure how foods such as ketchup will flow.

Physical Properties of Starch and Liquid Mixtures Stability – is the ability of a thickened mixture to remain constant over time and temperature changes.◦Waxy maize starch – example of a stable starch when frozen or heated. It is a clear, soft paste that is as thick hot as cold.

◦Cornstarch – has more thickening power than flour; smoother in texture; makes appetizing mushroom gravy. But it does not reheat well

Physical Properties of Starch and Liquid Mixtures Opacity vs. Translucency – refers to how much an object blocks light.◦Cornstarch, potato starch, and arrowroot produce gels that are more translucent. Good to use in fruit sauces, fruit pie fillings, and glazes that are translucent.

◦Wheat flour is best used in chowders and white sauce.

Physical Properties of Starch and Liquid Mixtures Texture – in this context has mostly to do with mouth feel.

◦Example: most people would not care for whole wheat flour being used to make a sauce or gravy because the texture would not be very smooth.

Thickening Sauces With Starch Starch can be added to liquid to make a

thickened sauce three basic ways. In each method, starch granules are separated to prevent lumping.

Cold water paste

Starch and fat

Starch and sugar

Thickening Sauces With Starch Cold Water Paste – a method used to

prevent lumps when thickening a sauce:

◦Quickly stir an equal amount of cold water and starch.

◦Continue stirring until a smooth paste is formed.

◦Then more liquid such as broth can be added to make a gravy.

Thickening Sauces With Starch Starch and Fat – separate the starch granule with melted fat:◦An equal amount of starch is added to

heated fat.◦Once starch is stirred into the fat, the

liquid can be added SLOWLY, stirring constantly to keep the sauce smooth.

◦This method is used in making white sauce and gravy from meat drippings.

Thickening Sauces With Starch Starch and Fat (continued) – Professional chefs often thicken soups and sauces using:◦Buerre manie – is a ball of equal

amounts of solid fat and starch mixed together. These balls can be added to hot soups to

thicken the broth. The balls can be prepared ahead of time

and refrigerated for several days or frozen for several months.

Thickening Sauces With Starch Starch and Fat (continued) –Cajun cooks commonly use a roux to thicken sauces or gravy:◦Roux is a gravy that has had the starch heated

in fat until it turns a rich red-brown. Toasting the flour adds a distinctive flavor. Needs low heat and constant stirring while

browning the starch to prevent burning or uneven browning.

Thickening Sauces With Starch Starch and Sugar – to avoid lumps with this method:◦ First thoroughly combine the starch and sugar.

◦ Then gradually add the liquid with constant stirring.

◦ Used most often in sweet sauces and puddings.

◦ Presence of sugar also reduces the viscosity of the liquid and the resulting gel will be tender and smooth rather than rigid.

Nutritional Impact of Complex Carbohydrates Starches divided into two categories:

digestible starches and indigestible fiber. Starches like sugar provide 4 calories/gram Most abundant and economical source of

calories available to people. Carbohydrates should provide over 50% of

your daily caloric intake. Carbohydrates in the form of glucose is the

only energy source your brain can use.

Nutritional Impact of Complex Carbohydrates Excess carbohydrates are stored as glycogen.

The liver stores about 33% of total glycogen.

The muscles store the other 66.99% glycogen.

Fiber provides bulk – contributes to feeling full, aids digestion and elimination.

Fiber sources include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Nutritional Impact of Complex Carbohydrates Nutritional Functions of Starches – in

addition to providing energy, carbohydrates:

◦Provide bulk for digestive process

◦Tie up bile acids, decreasing their re-absorption

◦Lower cholesterol levels in the blood, retarding atherosclerosis

◦Promote the utilization of fat