C1 - Emulsions Flashcards
What is an emulsion?
A mix of oil and water where one is suspended inside the other
What is the problem with mixing oil and water?
Oil doesn’t dissolve in water
What are the 2 types of emulsion?
Oil-in-water emulsion
Water-in-oil emulsion
What are the 2 useful properties of emulsions?
Thicker than oil or water
The more oil in an emulsion, the thicker it is
What are the 3 main everyday emulsions?
Mayonnaise
Milk
Whipped cream (contains air too)
What do we do when oil and water won’t mix?
Mix them with an emulsifier that holds them together
Describe an emulsifier molecule
One end is hydrophilic and joins to water and not oil
The other end is hydrophobic and joins to oil and not water
What are the 2 advantages of emulsifiers?
Stop emulsions from separating out giving them a longer shelf-life
Allows production of food that is low in fat and still has a good texture
What is the disadvantage of emulsifiers?
Some people are strongly allergic to emulsifiers
