Charcoal has been used in various avenues of food and medicine for centuries. Its characteristic properties set it apart and the unusual kitchen item also aids digestion. The use of charcoal in the preparation of baked products is a recent trend which has made itself at home in both high-end and home kitchens as it lends a gothic appeal to food. Being tasteless, charcoal doesnt distort the palate of the food but adds to its aesthetic value by giving it a rich, black colour. The additive has been well-received by people around the world and has come to signify experimental food. For bakers, it presents various opportunities to incorporate the ingredient in different dishes to give baked goods an inky undertone.
From bread to ice-creams, charcoal has been used in popular creations extensively and people still find innovative ways to experiment with it. Want some black macaroons without adding the synthetic dye? Charcoal to the rescue!
Experts have written whole books, blogs and made videos on how to use charcoal while baking. However, there remains a lot more to be explored. While the debate around the healthful benefits of including charcoal in food still rages with apprehensions about how it may even be harmful, it seems like this trend is here to stay. There is no denying that a charcoal bread sandwich beats a regular sandwich based on looks and visual appeal. We also can’t refute the fact that a charcoal cake is the perfect birthday gift for your goth-loving friend and that it succeeds in adding another dimension of appreciation of black to their life.
The type of charcoal used in bakeries is vastly different from the charcoal which is used regularly in barbeques, grills, etc. The biggest difference is that it is almost always used in powdered form. In fact, there is not a lot of variety when it comes to different types of charcoal used in baking, with three varieties dominating the market. These include activated, bamboo and vegetable charcoal with activated charcoal being the most popular. It has often been praised as a healthy addition to any food item due to its apparent detoxifying properties and is also known to be used for filtering water. Some even believe that it can cancel out the fattening properties of certain foods. Guilt-free waffles, anyone?
This story is from the September - October 2018 edition of foodService India.
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This story is from the September - October 2018 edition of foodService India.
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