Fillings
Fillings have a broad definition: it comes
down to a certain consistency we would like to put in, on top or between our
product(s). Think of a layer between 2 wafer sheets, a filling in a muffin, a
decorative filling on top of a celebration cake a filling in a croissant or puff
pastry. Gradually we can already recognise that there are basically 2 moments
we use a filling: before or after baking. Then as we see products with high
temperatures and baking times (such as puff pastries) as well as short(er)
baking times (e.g. cookies with encrusted or open fillings) the demand for how
stable our filling should be requires a look at the application and conditions
we want to use it in. Lastly we need to understand what the desired shelf life
is: both before us, as well as in relation to our final product.
All in all this is already quite complex,
but of course there are also other factors that we need to incorporate, such as
declarational desires (preventing the use of certain ingredients), mostly
defining our choice of stabilisation:
- Which hydrocolloids can we use?
- Which humectant and other
Aw-lowering ingredients can be selected?
- Choice of acidifiers and
stabilisers?
- Requirements of sequestrants?