Premixed gravy powders offer both convenience and consistency in food preparation. Food consultants can create the bespoke, scaled, clean-label recipes. Their input provides additional value to the recipe, on taste, texture and shelf-life.
Introduction
As the food industry continues to evolve at lightning speed, premix gravy powders will be integral for consistency, convenience, and controllability. As food consultants who understand the science and strategy behind gravy premix formulations, it can offer best-in-practice advice to restaurants, food manufacturers and QSR brands.
What is Premix Gravy Powder?
Gravy premix powder is a dry mixture of ingredients that, when formulated into a wet mixture, provides a uniform texture and flavor. Gravy premix is widely used in commercial food service and packaged foods where the company has decided they can save preparation time and produce a uniform flavor.
Key Components of a Gravy Premix:
- Base Ingredients: these ingredients give the characteristic viscosity to the final product. Thickening ingredients are wheat flour, corn starch, maltodextrin, etc.
- Flavorings: The basic flavor components used in such formulations are dehydrated onion, garlic, tomato powder, and meat extracts.
- Spices & Seasonings: It is all a collection of spices and herbs, plus salt, pepper, and umami in the form of monosodium glutamate (MSG) or yeast extract.
- Stabilizers & Emulsifiers: These are the ingredients that assist in texture and mouthfeel maintenance during reconstitution.
- Preservatives: Citric acid or sodium benzoate are additives that enhance shelf life without posing any risk to food safety
Role of Food Consultants:
- Customization is key. Spice blends should be customized to sampling region. North Indian gravy may not suit a South Indian palate.
- Clean-label demand is growing. Recommend natural thickeners and preservatives to address clean-label trends.
- Focus on solubility and consistency. Powder should dissolve in water and not form lumps.
- Shelf-life testing is essential. Moisture resistance and microbial stability will give a longer shelf way.
Conclusion:
Food consultants can help with gravy powder formulation to provide creativity in food service and product development. By helping brands with knowledge to create gravy solutions for consumers that are consistent, scalable, and enjoyable for consumers.
