Isomalt

Isomalt is a sugar substitute. It is considered natural and harmless, suitable for anyone who wants to limit their intake of sugar.

Isomalt belongs to the group of natural sweeteners that are easily absorbed by the body and like regular sugar, provide energy to the human body.

For comparison, many of the synthetic substitutes like saccharin, aspartame and others have no energy value and are not absorbed by the body.

Isomalt is a product extracted entirely from sugar beet, with the components processed by a special 2-step method.

The resulting product possesses the natural taste and appearance of sugar, substituting it in a 1:1 ratio, in this way differing from other sweeteners. The advantages of isomalt definitely deserve a mention.

Isomalt was discovered in 1956, a byproduct resulting from making saccharose from dextran. The wide usage of isomalt in the food industry began in 1990. After it was found to be safe, isomalt was given the green light for usage in the US.

Choosing and Storing Isomalt

Specialized stores offer tempered isomalt. All you need to do is melt it in the microwave and it will be ready for making beautiful decorations. It is sold in different colors - golden, white, purple, green, orange.

Cooking with Isomalt

Isomalt is suitable for making decorations from pulled sugar, for shaping figurines from sugar, cake decorations and truly breathtaking dessert adornments.

Isomalt comes in granule form. Add 10% water and dissolve the granules to attain the right consistency for creating decorations from pulled sugar. Isomalt can be used with silicone molds as well.

Anything left over from isomalt can be used again and re-melted.

It finds use in confectioneries, soft and hard bonbons, ice cream, chocolate, jellied products, gums, jams and others.

Isomalt provides the necessary structure and sweetness. All sweets containing isomalt have 2 key advantages - they don't stick to your hands and do not soften during an increase in temperature. The melting point of isomalt is 290°F (145 °C). In the food industry, isomalt is known as Е953.

Benefits of Isomalt

Isomalt possesses the natural taste of pure sugar. It helps improve taste. Isomalt protects the teeth from damage because it has a stable molecular structure and is an unsuitable environment for the development of microorganisms in the mouth.

Bacteria cannot use isomalt for food and are unable to produce acids that are harmful to our teeth. At the same time, isomalt reduces tartar buildup and helps form tooth enamel.

Isomalt breaks up much slower and to a lesser degree than regular sugar. Because of this, the levels of glucose and insulin in the blood rise slower and at a weaker rate, thus not burdening the body. This is a very crucial plus to isomalt, especially for diabetics.

Isomalt contains half the amount of calories of sugar. The human body uses only 50% of its calories for energy. This makes isomalt appropriate for people who want to control or lower their weight.

Curiously, isomalt stimulates stomach function and peristalsis. And last but not least, it highlights the natural taste of the products it is in.