You must have seen liquid citric acid listed on the ingredient label of a package of snacks or soda can. Unfortunately, this name would be a typical substance that belongs to a chemistry lab instead of a kitchen to most of you. Based on several facts, this citrus-derived substance is used as a major emulsifier and preservative, but cooking at home with a food-grade liquid citric acid is a great idea. Yes, you read it right!
For beginners who are still wondering where to buy liquid citric acid, they need to find a great source that offers high quality food-grade citric acid. All in all, this substance has numerous useful applications outside cooking too. Finally, we have to mention that it is a source of deliciousness. After all, it is straight-up acid, mainly having all the core flavor elements – salty, sweet, umami, and bitter. That gives you another obvious reason why it is necessary for every dish. Hold on! Did you know that citric acid in any form can make your meals look better, too?
If not, then here are a few ways to know before you literally order your first pack of liquid citric acid:
Preparing Fresh Cheese With It!
By all means, you need half a teaspoon of this element diluted in two tablespoons of water. Normally, people substitute vinegar or lemon juice with citric acid, especially when you are preparing paneer or ricotta at home. However, you need to know that its high pH consistency compared to lemon juice creates a perfect acidic balance without too much vinegar or lemony flavor. So before you see citric acid (food grade), aka sour salt getting out of stock at your favorite supermarket, grab yours! Or else, the most convenient way is to place an order online, especially if you own a food restaurant or dairy business.
An Everlasting, Fresh Look To The Food
Many cut fruits like avocado or apples tend to oxidize in no time and turn brown. Well, that is pretty much common. With tutorials or blogs online, you most likely have heard of squeezing lime or lemon onto cut friends to prevent oxidation. But did you know that liquid citric acid is the next big thing highly admired by food connoisseurs and Michelin star chefs around the world? So if you own a YouTube food channel or a daily Instagram health feed, then you can use some of it to keep those pears, apples, and avocados looking super fresh for the camera.
Being a chef at a classic restaurant or cafe comes with many responsibilities. And one is when you share that you are making guacamole for your guests. You definitely would not wish it to turn brown while your guests wait to dig in. So instead, you can drench your guac meal in food-grade liquid citric acid and see them enjoying it happily.
Add A Punch To Rich Dishes
Many chefs and food connoisseurs worldwide are big fans of cooking with citric acid. However, you would love to know that you can also amp up your rich dishes with it, especially when you are preparing some spice mixes or dry rubs. Across the internet, you can find hundreds of recipes that chef-driven restaurants globally prepare with this star formula. For example, the borscht, cabbage rolls, tomato soup, and those sourdough bread recipes and extra puckery margaritas that we all enjoy at restaurants; they all are amped up with a pinch of citric acid.
You would be more than happy to know that citric acid is the perfect element to keep your foods, pre-cut fruits, gelatin, cider, beers, and desserts fresh for longer periods. Even when it is not 100% natural, it is probably one of the safest to consume. And guess what? Liquid citric acid is in almost everything in the food industry. What more could one ask for?