Chocolate has no water, so you would wonder what kind of emulsifier is good for confections. Chocolate is considered more of a suspension than an emulsion. So, if lecithin does not function as an emulsifier, it may work to prolong the chocolate confections’ shelf life.
Soy lecithin is preferred when manufacturing confections compared to other types of lecithin, such as sunflower lecithin.
Soy lecithin is available in two forms: powder lecithin and liquid lecithin. Liquid soy lecithin is essential in the manufacture of chocolate confections.
This article will discuss soy lecithin, the two forms of soy lecithin, and what type is preferred to manufacture confections.
Soy Lecithin Explained
It’s no secret that soy lecithin is a major ingredient in food industries. Soy lecithin is a product of raw soybeans where the oil is extracted, mixed with water until the lecithin can be separated from the water.
As mentioned, soy lecithin is used in several food products, which means you might have consumed it unknowingly.
Soy lecithin is available in two main forms, which are powder soy lecithin and liquid soy lecithin. You can use any form of this emulsifier depending on the food you are making.
In this case, the manufacture of chocolate confections highly depends on liquid soy lecithin as an emulsifier. Below are reasons why liquid soy lecithin is used in confectionery manufacture.
What makes Soy Lecithin Perfect For Confections?
The significant question here is, why liquid soy lecithin and why not powdered soy lecithin. Now, the two forms of soy lecithin have different HLB (Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance).
The HLB is a 14-point scale that determines if an emulsifier is oil-loving or not. In this case, powdered soy lecithin is at seven while Liquid Soy Lecithin is at four.
The lower the Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance value, the more oil-loving the lecithin is. So, in this case, liquid soy lecithin is definitely more oil loving.
Liquid Soy Lecithin is at a point that makes it the best lecithin for making confections. The lecithin can also attach itself to water and other water-based ingredients. Liquid soy lecithin perfectly attaches itself to milk, solids, and sugar, resulting in a smoother chocolate confection.
Therefore, it would be safe to say that liquid soy lecithin is best even when making chocolate confections in bulk.
Confectionery-making companies, need to use liquid soy lecithin in their manufacturing process, and buying the liquid soy lecithin in bulk can be a great step in ensuring there is enough even when demand for the final product is high.
Buying in bulk, however, requires sourcing from a genuine and trustworthy supplier.
When you source from a reputable supplier, you’ll be assured of quality at an affordable price. You don’t want to buy a product that messes up your confectioneries just when your clients need them the most.
Unique in Chocolate Making
In the manufacture of chocolate, liquid soy lecithin helps to create a uniform, slow-flow chocolate mass.
The chocolate mass is subsequently easy to work with and also makes the conching process easier. Making confections can be frustrating, especially when conching chocolate, but liquid soy lecithin makes the work easier.
Among the many uses of lecithin in foods is the ability to prolong the food’s shelf life. In the manufacture of confections, liquid soy lecithin can also help confections stay fresh for longer.
Liquid soy lecithin minimizes the fat bloom in chocolate, thus making the chocolate or chocolate products have a longer shelf life.
In addition, if a company needs to reduce the amount of cocoa butter used to make chocolate confections, then liquid soy lecithin is their best bet.
Liquid soy lecithin helps to slash the amount of cocoa butter needed by 8 percent. Therefore, apart from saving money when buying bulk liquid soy lecithin, manufacturers also save more money from the cocoa butter needed to make confections.
Potential Health Benefits of Liquid Soy Lecithin
In addition to the many benefits of using liquid soy lecithin in confectionery manufacture, there are health benefits of consuming confections with liquid soy lecithin. Below are some of these benefits:
- Improves Cholesterol Levels: Properties in soy lecithin can reduce the amounts of HDL Cholesterol in the liver. In addition, liquid soy lecithin in chocolate confections also improves HDL Cholesterol synthesis.
- Aids the Body in Dealing With Mental and Physical Stress: Of course, chocolate confections are delicious, but eating confections with liquid soy lecithin is an added advantage. The lecithin helps the body deal with any present physical stress and emotional stress.
- May Help in Boosting the Immunity: According to research, soy lecithin supplements have been shown to improve the immunity of rats. It is the same for humans; soy lecithin, whether powdered or liquid, may help in enhancing the body’s immunity.
- A Source of Choline: Choline is essential for the body. The macronutrient plays a major role in muscle movement, brain development, metabolism, nerve function, and liver function.
- May Help Prevent Cancer: A 2011 cancer study published in epidemiology suggests that there may be a reduced risk of cancer of the breast in soy lecithin supplements. Therefore, lecithin in the liquid soy lecithin can help reduce the risk of breath cancer in women.
Helps to Relieve Menopause Symptoms: Menopause may be natural and biological, but the symptoms such as hot flashes, chills, night sweats, and sleep problems, among other symptoms, may make you uncomfortable. Soy Lecithin, whether in confections, chocolate or supplements, helps reduce these symptoms.
Final Thoughts
Soy Lecithin is a name to designate a group of fatty compounds occurring in raw soybeans. Soy Lecithin is available in both powdered form and liquid form. Both of these can be used in food production, but liquid soy lecithin is the most preferred for confections.
Whether you are using it on a small or large scale, buying Soy Lecithin in bulk is the best way of saving money and ensuring that you only source genuine liquid soy lecithin. It doesn’t matter the amount of lecithin you need. The most reputable lecithin suppliers like National Lecithin can supply in bulk, and you can be assured of quality.
