How to use thickeners for a senior food? Food thickener for elderly is a topic that we intend to talk about in this article from the humanhealthmag. In the science of nutrition and food production, the use of additives to improve the characteristics of products has been highly considered. One of these additives is thickening powder, which is used in the food industry as an important factor to improve the structure, appearance and quality.
What is Food Thickener?
Sometimes, during the cooking of a food, the ingredients of a product that we combine together, the produced product does not have the appropriate and sufficient concentration. In such cases, we have to use a series of concentrates to give our food more concentration. In fact, adding food thickener increases food viscosity.
For example, most sauces, soups, soft desserts for elderly and other foods are thickened with some kind of thickener. Starch materials are the most common and useful thickeners for preparing sauces. Thickening agents increase the viscosity of the liquid mixture without affecting its other properties. Each thickener has properties that are suitable for different foods.
Best Food Thickener for Elderly
Soup is one of the best foods for the cold season of the year, which brings many nutrients to the body. Many of us like our soup to have a high concentration, but it must have happened to you that despite spending enough time and stirring it, your soup does not become thick enough, and you definitely want to know what to do in such cases.
Food thickener for elderly have different types according to their use. In the following, we will introduce the most important and widely used food thickeners that can be added to the food of the elderly so that their food has more consistency. In addition, we will provide brief information about each of them.
- Starch
Starch is one of the most common carbohydrates in the human diet and is naturally present in many staple foods such as potatoes, rice, etc. In fact, starch is a white powder that does not have a specific taste or smell and can be dissolved in cold water. By mixing water and starch, a paste is obtained that can be used as a thickener, stiffener, or even adhesive. The starch in this dough can be decomposed; Therefore, this concentrator is a safe and authorized additive.
- Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum is able to dissolve in water, but cannot dissolve in non-polar solvents such as alcohol. This substance is actually a polysaccharide that is produced by a specific type of bacteria. The use of this substance in food industry is to increase the concentration of compounds and stabilize it. Among the other uses of this concentrator, we can mention its use in home use or workshops for the production of dairy sauces and ice creams.
One of the advantages of this Food thickener for elderly is the absence of cholesterol and fat in its texture, which makes it suitable for people who are on a diet. In fact, the use of this oral thickener is not harmful for people with high fat and cholesterol. Because it has a low sugar content, it will not be a risk for people with diabetes.
- Tomato paste
To thicken the tomato sauce, the best choice is to use tomato paste. You can also use tomato paste for thickening in other types of sauce that have tomato taste.
- Flour and Butter
Leave some butter at room temperature until it softens and add the same amount of flour to the butter until you get a doughy and thick state like bread dough. Add a small amount of this mixture to your boiling hot soup and stir. After a few minutes, if you have not reached your desired consistency, add another amount of flour and butter mixture to the soup. Be careful not to add all the ingredients at once as your soup will likely be too thick.
- Corn flour
Corn flour is usually used to thicken sauces. Mix some corn starch with a little cold water and stir until it dissolves completely and add it to the sauce little by little. Allow to simmer for a few minutes each time until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Egg yolk
Egg yolk is the most efficient Food thickener for elderly. Egg yolk is usually used to thicken custard or pudding, but it can also be used in creamy sauces. For this, stir the egg yolks, add some sauce little by little to the yolks and stir frequently. Add a little sauce to the egg at a time so that the sudden heat of the sauce does not harden the egg. When you have added about a glass of the sauce to the egg yolk in this way, you can add the mixture to the main sauce container and continue stirring until the sauce thickens.
- Fried flour and butter
How to thicken puree food for elderly? Using fried flour and butter is a traditional way to thicken sauces and purees. To prepare it, you need equal amount of flour and butter. Melt the butter on the heat, then add the flour and stir until they are completely mixed. You can remove the mixture immediately or continue roasting for a few minutes according to your taste until the aroma of the flour rises, then add it to the sauce little by little.
- Dairy products
It is interesting to know that yogurt is often used in Eastern Europe and the Middle East to thicken soups. Cream, sour cream or yogurt are a suitable thickening option for soups and sauces, but you have to be careful not to boil them because they will curdle.
- Cooked vegetables
Vegetable puree is also a great option to thicken soup, especially starchy vegetables such as potatoes or turnips. Cauliflower is also a good option if steamed. So do beans and lentils.
Concluding Remarks
One of the popular cooking techniques is simple methods that you can use to thicken your soup or food. Remember that your food will thicken after cooling, and of course, any ingredient you add to it will certainly change its taste. So, use ingredients that match the taste of your soup, stew, or sauce. In this article, we have introduced some food thickener for elderly, which we hope will be useful to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Good Thickener for Elderly Soup?
Cornstarch is a very effective food thickeners for the elderly. Small amount of it can have a big effect. Add cornstarch to a small amount of cold water or other liquid and stir to form a thick slurry. Then add the slurry to the boiling soup and stir until the final consistency is achieved.
What Are the Best Food Thickeners for Elderly?
Polysaccharides (starch, vegetable gums and pectin), proteins (eggs, collagen, gelatin) and fats (butter and oil) are among the best food thickeners for elderly.
What is the Best Water Thickener for Elderly?
The most common natural based thickener is xanthan gum. Xanthan has excellent salinity, low/high pH tolerance, good suspending properties and ensures product stability by maintaining its high temperature viscosity profile.