Tips for Incorporating Sodium Bicarbonate and Proteases into Biscuit Dough?
Hello, I would like to know what is the most appropriate way to incorporate sodium bicarbonate and ammonium or proteases into a biscuit dough ( in this moment these are solved in water and incorporate in the first faze of mixing).
Hi Georgi
Ammonium Bicarbonate is often quite granular (large particle size) and is normally dissolved in water and added in the first stage of mixing to prevent blisters in the biscuit. Enzymes like Protease are added to the dough in extremely small dosages so would also need to be pre - dissolved in water and added to the dough during the 1st mixing phase to ensure good dispersion.
Sodium Bicarbonate is very soluble and usually available as a fine powder so it doesn’t need to be added into the water phase and can be added with the flour in the 2nd or 3rd stage of mixing. If acids are added to the dough some reaction with the Sodium Bicarbonate will occur during mixing which may result in loss of some CO2 prior to baking and as mentioned previously by Jaap this pre reaction can be averted by using coated material. One of the more common acids used in biscuits and crackers is Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate ( SAPP ) which is available in a range of reaction rates with SAPP 10 having the slowest rate of reaction prior to baking so using this would reduce CO2 loss from both Ammonium and Sodium Bicarbonates prior to baking
Andrew Hughes
Hi Georgi!
Completely agree with what Jaap and Andrew told you regarding the moment of adding them.
But besides that you should always control the pH of the biscuits either by a pH meter or using a solution of phenol red, as the pH of the biscuits in general should not be higher than 7, except in the case of Digestive biscuits whereas is around 8. The pH in the finished biscuit is the result of the reactions mentioned, but if the pH is higher you should add more acid, be it the phosphates or tartaric or citric acid. If the pH is less than 6.5 you can add more Sodium Bicarbonate.
The addition of Ammonium Bicarbonate does not influence the pH and you should regulate the quantity looking at the thickness desired of the biscuits.
Georgi, i can definitely advise the use of an encapsulated sodium bicarbonate. This will prevent any premature reactions during mixing and dough phase (providing manufacturing flexibility) and will activate in the baking phase. This way you will get the maximum out of your leaving system.
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