Edible film – create amazing “see-through’ recipes

Photo as shown on MolecularRecipes.com

In a recent blog post we highlighted that the market for edible films was yet to be tapped.  

Edible packaging has now definitely entered the playing field and is available for purchase online. So if you’re looking to create beautiful disappearing ravioli, clear canapés and edible cocktails then you’re going to love working with edible film.  

A favourite product of such great modernist chefs as Ferran Adria, these durable yet ultra-thin films are so versatile that food technologists will want to spend time just finding new ways to use them.  

What is Edible Film?
According to the Molecular Recipes store, Edible Film is made from potato starch and soy lecithin. It has a neutral flavour, is paper-thin and although it’s clear and dissolves almost instantly in water-based environments, it does NOT dissolve in oil or in bases that have low water content. It holds both liquid and solid ingredients. It can be cut into any shape or layered to add durability or crunch. It seals simply with a heat sealer!
 

Photo as shown on
MolecularRecipes.com

These films offer new opportunities in creativity and as a great vehicle for showcasing crèmes, honey, dried fruits, oil suspensions and just about any other oil-based or dry ingredient that you’d like to present in clear melt-in-the-mouth packaging.

Some of the greatest chefs in the world are already using it as a platform for showcasing ingredients in a tortilla-like or taco shell-like manner. Others use it to make paper cocktails, canapés, edible wrappers, and even a mini edible bouquet cone!

Looking even further ahead into edible film packing
It is predicted that a whole range of new mainstream applications for edible films will become apparent in the coming months and years as a result of their versatility and potential to offer technical solutions to difficult processing and packaging food challenges. It is only a matter of time before food manufacturers find a way to use these innovative and creative films to present an array of modernist culinary delights.  

Stable Micro Systems works closely with the food industry to develop a wide range of innovative equipment to test every physical aspect of these edible films, opening up new and exciting applications in an industry where consumers have such high expectations of consistent performance. 

What’s the testing solution?

Above left: Film Support Rig; Right: Tensile grips film test

Using a texture analyser, a range of measurements including tensile, shear and compression figures can be recorded. In addition to measuring stress and strain in a material, coating characteristics such as adhesiveness may be critical.

The product may have to stick to a food, fix a coating or give a glossy finish, or indeed the function of the film may be to reduce adhesion.

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For more information on how to measure texture, please visit the Texture Analysis Properties section on our website.

The TA.XTplus texture analyser is part of a family of texture analysis instruments and equipment from Stable Micro Systems. An extensive portfolio of specialist attachments is available to measure and analyse the textural properties of a huge range of food products. Our technical experts can also custom design instrument fixtures according to individual specifications.

No-one understands texture analysis like we do!

To discuss your specific test requirements click here...