Sodium citrate

5.50€

Sodium citrate is a salt of citric acid obtained by natural fermentation. It’s a premium food quality powder made of white crystals.

Properties

Sodium citrate is quite a small molecule like table sugar (sucrose).

• Slows down the spherification reaction : used as a calcium sequestrant, it will bind calcium and reduce the forming of an immediate alginate –calcium gel when alginate is added and dispersed into a solution already containing calcium salts (also true for gellan and some carrageenans). Some solutions used to dissolve alginate may indeed already contain significant quantities of calcium such as in certain vegetables (cabbage...), spices (paprika, peppers) or simply hard tap water. Reduces gel strength and allows longer processing before gel is totally set.
• Doesn’t yield any viscosity. Has a salty taste that yields sour flavours when concentrated
• In ice cream it modifies the affinity of protein and lipids and the overrun changes : the ice cream appears more wet.
• Fluidity : citrate ions can chelate metallic ions and enhance blood fluidity and risks of bleeding. Sodium citrate is used purposely to improve blood transfusions.
• Regulator of pH and acidity corrector. Sodium citrate can also be used to impart a sour flavour : this may modify (accelerate or reduce) ion sensitive reactions particularly using polysaccharides and influence texture.

Applications

Recipes using alginate, gellan or certain kinds of carrageenan in salt induced gelling reactions
Acidic beverages

Indications for use

Recommended dose: 0,5 to 2g/L. Less than 1% on end weight of finished food servings.
Do not use for applications other than those described in food above.
Abusive intake of citrates (self-medication, food supplements) can interfere with prescription drugs.
Source of sodium (like “table salt”)
Not suitable for people on low sodium (hyposodic) diets or with high blood pressure.

Regulatory data

Sodium citrate is a permitted food additive in Europe under code E 331.
The use of this product is not re¬commended for infants and babies.
Store in a dry cool place away from direct light. Shelf life once open: 6 months. Best before: refer to packaging.