Pectin

Pectin Powder (Apple & Citrus Pectin Powder), 100% Pure Ingredient, Thickener Emulsifier, Food Grade High Methoxyl Pectin

 

What is Pectin?

Pectin is a soluble fibre (polysaccharide) found in fruits.  It is used as a thickener and a stabilizer in cooking and baking, helping jams, jellies, and fruit preserves set. It is also sometimes used to make medicine.

Pectin is a naturally occurring thickener and stabilizer and is found in the cell walls of most fruits and vegetables.  When heated with sugar and acid (citric acid), Pectin forms a kind of mesh that traps liquid, and as it cools, it sets into a firm gel or jelly like consistency.

Certain fruits like apples, quince, currants, cranberries, grapes, and citrus, naturally contain high levels of Pectin.  That’s why marmalade gets so glossy and cranberries transform into that wobbly semisolid texture.  Other fruits like strawberries, peaches, sour cherries, rhubarb, tomatoes, and pears, have much lower Pectin levels.  Instead of firming up when exposed to heat, these fruits are more likely to turn soft.  To make them into jam, you’ll typically need to add more sugar and / or an extra thickening agent, like commercial Pectin powder.

Commercial Pectin powders are usually made from apple and / or citrus rinds.  It is sold as a dry powder and in liquid form making it a simple to us ingredient at home or commercially.

There are two main types of Pectin powders:  High Methoxyl (HM) and Low Methoxyl (LM).  High Methoxyl Pectin is the most common type and is often labelled “fast- or rapid-set” or “slow-set”.  This is best used for chunky jams and marmalades.  We supply the High Methoxyl Pectin.

 

Use & Benefits:

Pectin is used to thicken recipes that include Low-Pectin fruits.  Some fruits, especially very ripe ones, have relatively little Pectin.  For these fruits that are Low-Pectin, you will need to add Pectin Powder, when making jelly or jam so they can properly set.  Without Pectin, it may require adding lots of sugar, cooking for excessively long times, or both, which results in a jam or jelly that tastes less like the fruit.

To find out how much pectin is in the fruit, combine 1 tablespoon of grain alcohol or 95% alcohol or ethanol and 1 teaspoon of the fruit’s juice.  If it sets up firm, it’s high in Pectin.  If the mixture becomes a loose, gelatinous mass, it’s medium on the Pectin scale.  If it doesn’t set at all or forms slivers of gel, it’s low in Pectin.

Pectin can also be used in other dishes that require food to gel or thicken and as a fat substitute in some baked goods.  Powdered pectin traditionally should be added to the fruit pre-boiling stage.

If you’re just starting to cook with Pectin, try an easy jam recipe, like this favourite strawberry jam.  Since strawberries are a Low-Pectin fruit, adding Pectin powder will help to thicken the fruit in minutes.  Cherry jam and blueberry jam also benefit from added Pectin powder.

 

Some Health Benefits:

Apple Pectin is a prebiotic, promoting gut health by feeding the beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract.  Pectin may help you feel full for longer, which could aid weight loss.  However, results are mixed, and further studies are necessary.

Apple Pectin may aid blood sugar control, heart health, relieve diarrhea and constipation, enhance iron absorption, improve acid reflux, however, but more studies are needed.

 

Some key benefits are:

– Highly concentrated

– Natural Ingredient

– Thickening agent

– Stabilizes & emulsifies ingredients

– Preserves & Improves shelf life of baked goods, jellies & jams

– Contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives

– Food Grade

– Non GMO – Non Genetically Modified

– Vegan friendly

 

Specifications:

Appearance:  White / off-white to light brown small granular powder, no characteristic odour, tasteless.

Odour:  Slightly odourless, to characteristic odour

Taste:  Tasteless to characteristic taste

Solubility:  Soluble in water at high temperature.

Food Grade:  Suitable for food, drug or medicinal use.  Ideal for baked goods.

CAS Number:    9000-69-5

Chemical Formula:  C6H10O7

 

Suggested Use:

Add 2% to 4% of Pectin Powder to your recipe of Jam, Jelly or baked goods.

Strawberry Jam recipe.  (Suggestion)

Ingredients:

1 kilo of strawberries

1 kilo of sugar

2 teaspoons of Pectin Powder

Use this as a guide to most recipes, and adjust amounts accordingly for different fruits and recipes, and Have Fun!

 

Product may vary in colour, taste and consistency which can occur from batch to batch.  This does not affect potency or quality.

Clumping may occur and is a natural occurrence.  Simply break up with a spoon to create free flowing powder.

Packed in Australia from Local and Imported Ingredients.