Do you know what liquid glucose is? I’m sure you do if you’ve ever used a glucose test strip in the past. But what actually is it? And why should you care?
Liquid Glucose is a ready-to-use solution of glucose (sugar) made from the hydrolysis of starch. It has a high solubility in water or other liquids. This makes it suitable for making solutions for testing blood sugar levels and other uses.
It can be seen under the names pure fructose and sucrose (in natural form). You might have also heard of this sweetener as maltose or dextrose. In this article, I will discuss all you need to know about liquid glucose, including general information and uses.
What is Liquid Glucose?
Liquid glucose solution is a simple, non-toxic liquid sweetener that can be used in commercial foods to improve their taste. It’s also safe for use as a home treatment and has been used safely by millions of people worldwide. It contains no additives, preservatives, or artificial colors. It is also gluten-free and Kosher-approved.
Liquid glucose is not to be confused with blood glucose, which is the main source of fuel for the body. Blood glucose is made up of a combination of sugars: glucose, fructose, and galactose. These three sugars are found in many foods and beverages such as fruit, milk, and baked goods.
Furthermore, Liquid glucose is not the same as powdered sugar. It has a different consistency and taste. It’s also called “high-fructose corn syrup” because it contains about half as much fructose as regular sugar does.
What are the Uses of Liquid Glucose?
1. It is used as a sweetener for foods and beverages
Liquid Glucose is a type of sweetener that is used in the food industry. When it is added to food items it will change the taste of the product by adding sweetness without adding calories or fat while also improving the texture of the food item by increasing water absorption and making it softer.
2. It is used as an additive for making candies, soft drinks, and ice cream
Liquid glucose is not just for sweetening foods. It can also be used as a food additive to improve the taste or texture of products such as bread and cereals, pasta, soups, sauces, gravies, and dressings. It is also used to add color to foods like chocolate bars and confectioneries.
3. It helps shape the frozen desserts
Liquid glucose can be used in the production of frozen desserts and confectioneries. It helps to shape the frozen desserts, which is a very important part of this type of product. For example, if you want to make a mousse cake, you need to add something that will help it hold its shape when it’s frozen. It does this job perfectly.
SEE: Easy Guide to Help You Freeze Cream Cheese Frosting
5. Serves as an ingredient in many products
Apart from being a sweetener, this glucose also has many other uses in the food industry. It can be used as an ingredient in many products such as baked goods, dairy products, and even drinks. For example, it can be added to milk or water to make it more appealing and moisturizing for people who don’t like the taste of milk or water on their own.
6. It is a good vegan alternative to honey
Liquid glucose is also an excellent vegan alternative to honey because it has a similar flavor profile to honey but without any animal products involved in its production process. Liquid glucose texture and viscosity are also similar to honey, making it an ideal substitute for honey in beverages, salad dressings, and other recipes.
SEE: Is Honey Gluten-Free – What You Need to Know
Where Can You Use Liquid Glucose?
- In Confectionery
- Bakery products
- In Ice creams
- Pharmaceuticals
- In tobacco
- In leather products
- Other uses
is Glucose Syrup Bad?
Glucose syrup is a liquid sweetener often used in commercial foods to improve taste and shelf life. However, taking glucose syrup regularly is unhealthy, because it’s highly processed and contains a lot of calories and sugar. Therefore, you may want to avoid it and look for foods that contain healthier sweeteners instead.
SEE: Is it Bad to Eat Rice Every Day?
Liquid Glucose Vs Corn Syrup
You might be wondering what the difference is between corn syrup and liquid glucose. The one difference you need to know about is that corn syrup is easier to find in supermarkets has higher water content and is slightly more sweet than liquid glucose.
It can be substituted for glucose but you need to adjust your recipe for the extra water content in corn syrup. In general, corn syrup is used when you need something that’s lower in calories than regular table sugar, or when you want a product that doesn’t crystallize as easily.
Corn syrup also contains more fructose than table sugar does, which means it will cause your blood sugar levels to spike quicker after eating it than regular table sugar would.
However, since most people can have their blood sugar levels controlled by eating only small amounts of food with high fructose corn syrup in them, this isn’t such a big deal for most people.
Both products are excellent for baking because they add sweetness without adding calories or flavorings like vanilla extract or butter flavorings.
Liquid glucose and corn syrup also have high solubility in water, making them ideal for making meringues and other desserts that rely on whipping air into stiff peaks instead of using whipped cream (which is why whipped cream is more often used for frosting cakes).
SEE: Beet vs Radish: How Are They Different?
What are the Available Liquid Glucose Substitutes?
- Corn Syrup
- Honey
- Treacle
- Agave Nectar
- Maple Syrup
- Birch
- Brown Rice
- Butter (Or Cream)
- Lemon Juice
- Sugar
SEE: List of Recipes Substitutes
FAQs
Should you use liquid glucose instead of sugar?
You can use any of the two depending on what you want to use it for. However, liquid glucose is mostly used as a sweetener for foods and beverages,
Is liquid glucose healthy?
No, eating too much of the glucose is not healthy, as it contains calories and sugar.
Is glucose the same thing as sugar?
No, glucose is a type of sugar you get from foods you eat, and your body uses it for energy. As it travels through your bloodstream to your cells, it’s called blood glucose or blood sugar.
Conclusion
Liquid glucose is one of the most preferred options because it is highly versatile and can be used in different applications. It can be added to a variety of food products and recipes while still conserving your overall costs. Such flexibility and line of use will surely encourage customers to try this sweetener for themselves.
By referring to liquid glucose as corn syrup, many people have had their first taste of it. Undoubtedly, some people are still unsure if it’s the same sweetener that recently made the news for all the wrong reasons. Liquid glucose stands on its own and certainly has many beneficial uses for a variety of products.
As a dietary supplement, many individuals use it because it is easier to ingest. Liquid glucose is favored by those individuals who do not like the taste of sugar or artificial sweeteners in their food.
I hope you found this article helpful. You should also check out these recommended honey alternatives that are healthy.
Thank you for reading.