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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grades the quality of commercial fruit jam based on consistency, color, and flavor (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1980). Although a commercial fruit jam may receive a high grade, this does not indicate the product will be in high demand by consumers. Current food trends by consumers show an increase request for simple, natural and preservative-free ingredients, (Sloan, 2011). Making homemade fruit jams allows more control over the list of ingredients and maybe an alternative solution to a commercial fruit jam. The perception of color, flavor and consistency are some of the characteristics consumers may use to judge quality of a food product. These characteristics are important in perception and acceptability of food choices, because consumers drive the demand and impact the quality of food produced in the United States (McWilliams, 2012, p.45).
When making fruit jam the ingredients which influence consistency, color and flavor include corn derived or sucrose sweeteners, type of pectin, pH, temperature, agitation, and soluble solids, quality of fruit (USDA, 1980, p.4). The sweetener chosen for commercial fruit jams is influenced by price (USDA, 1980, p.3). Typical “trade” brands use corn derived sweeteners as the majority sweetener solution and only add sucrose to control the consistency, flavor and color (USDA, 1980, p.4). The use of sucrose influence on consistency effects the gelling properties of the final product. Sucrose is also important for preservation of the fruit jelly for stabilization of shelf life and the taste and the texture (Javanmard & Endan, 2010).
The use of lemon juice as an added acid in fruit jam recipe influences the gelling process when combine with pec...

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...ure and Natural Resources publication 8256. Pg 1-15.

Javanmard, M., & Endan, Johari. (2010). A survey on rheological properties of fruit jams. International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications, 1, (1) 31-37.

McWilliam, M. (2012) Foods Experimental Perspectives 7thed. Prentice Hall.

Sloan, A., E. (2011, April). Top 10 food trends. Food Technology, 65 (4). 24-40. Retrieved from http://www.ift.org/food-technology/pastissues/2011/april/features/foodtrends.aspx?page=viewall

Sloan, A., E. (2011, July). Navigating the natural marketplace. Food Technology, 65 (7). 10-20. Retrieved from http://www.ift.org/food-technology/past-issues/2011/july/features/navigating-the-natural-marketplace.aspx?page=viewall

University of Georgia, College of Consumer and Family Sciences National Center for Home Food Preservation http://nchfp.uga.edu/questions/FAQ_jellied.html

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