Carbohydrates Flashcards
Formation of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are formed in plants by a process known as photosynthesis
Carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air through the leaves
Water is absorbed from soil through the roots
Energy is absorbed from sunlight by chlorophyll (green pigment)
This energy is used to create glucose from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O)
Oxygen is released into the air
Elemental composition of carbohydrates
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Classification of carbohydrates
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Polysaccharides
Monosaccharides
Monosaccharides are simple sugar units. They are the basic units of all carbohydrates
Monosaccharide Formula
C6H12O6
Examples of monosaccharides
Glucose - fruit
Fructose - fruit, honey
Galactose - cheese
Disaccharides
Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides join together with the elimination of water (condensation reaction)
Disaccharides formula
C12 H22 O11
Examples of disaccharides
Sucrose (glucose, fructose) - sugar
Lactose (glucose, galactose) - milk
Maltose (glucose, glucose) - barley
Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are formed when many monosaccharides join together with the loss of a water molecule each time (condensation reaction).
They may be in straight or branched chains.
Examples include starch, pectin, cellulose and glycogen.
Pectin, cellulose and glycogen are referred to as non-starch polysaccharides
Polysaccharide formula
(C6 H10 O5 )N
N - number of monosaccharides present
Examples of polysaccharides
Starch - potatoes, cereals
Cellulose - fruit, vegetables, whole grain
cereals
Glycogen - meat (stored animal starch)
Pectin - fruit
Sources of SUGAR Carbohydrates
Sugar
Biscuit
Cake
Honey
Sweets
Fruit
Sources of STARCH Carbohydrates
Breakfast cereals (Eg:) fruit and fibre
Potatoes
Rice
Pasta
Flour: bread and cakes
Sources of CELLULOSE Carbohydrates
Fruit and vegetables (skin on)
Whole grain breakfast cereal (Eg:) fruit and fibre
Whole meal bread and pasta
Brown rice
Nuts
Properties of SUGAR Carbohydrates
List
Solubility
Flavour
Maillard Reaction
Foam formation
Caramelisation
Crystallisation
Hydrolysis
Inversion
MIFFCCHS
Sugar - solubility
Sugars are white crystalline compounds that are soluble in water.
Solubility is increased when you heat the water.
Culinary Application
Combining sugar and water to form a syrup served with pancakes
Used as a preservative in canned foods (eg:) peaches
Sugar - flavour
Sugars vary in sweetness. For example sucrose is much sweeter than lactose. Sucrose has a relative sweetness of 170, lactose is 15
Culinary Application
Adding sugar to sweeten desserts and cakes
Sugar - Maillard reaction
Non-enzymic browning that occurs when sugars and amino acids react in dry heat, giving the food an attractive appearance and flavour.
Culinary Application
Crust forming on bread as it bakes in the oven
Roast potatoes
Shortbread biscuits
Sugar - assists aeration/foam formation
Sugar helps to denature egg protein. When eggs are whisked the heat produced by the friction coagulates the protein around the air bubbles, allowing aeration to occur.
Cooking further coagulates the protein forming a permanent foam.
Culinary Application
Aeration of meringues and sponge cakes