A compound thickener is a blend of multiple thickening agents designed to enhance viscosity, stability, and texture in food products. Unlike single thickeners (like CMC, xanthan gum or cornstarch), compound thickeners combine different hydrocolloids to achieve better performance in specific applications.
Common Components:
- Natural gums (e.g., xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum)
- Starches (modified tapioca, cornstarch, potato starch)
- Cellulose derivatives (e.g., carboxymethyl cellulose - CMC)
- Alginates (e.g., sodium alginate)
Customized Stabilizer
A customized stabilizer is a tailor-made blend of stabilizers, emulsifiers, and thickeners designed for specific food formulations. These are developed based on the product's pH, processing conditions, and desired texture.
Common Ingredients:
- Emulsifiers (lecithin, mono- and diglycerides)
- Gelling agents (carrageenan, pectin, gelatin)
- Thickeners (as in compound thickeners listed above)
- Anti-caking agents (silicon dioxide)