What kind of mixture(colloid) is a roux?
One of my coworkers had a curious question the other day: what kind of mixture or colloid is a roux? For example, whipped cream is a foam, mayonnaise is an emulsion, and gelatin is a gel.
I know part of creating a roux is the gelatinization of the starch in the flour, but does that make a roux a gel? Or is it something else?
Best Answer
I would suggest that a roux is a hydrocolloid.
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What makes up a roux?
A roux is a cooked mixture of equal parts flour and fat. When flour is cooked in fat, the fat coats the flour's starch granules. This helps keep lumps from forming when the roux is combined with liquid such as milk or stock, yielding a silky-smooth, uniform sauce.What are types of roux?
The 4 Types of Roux- White Roux: Has a neutral flavor and is primarily used to thicken sauces, soups, and chowders.
- Blond Roux: Has a nuttier flavor than white roux and can be used for sauces and soups.
- Brown Roux: Has a nutty flavor, with less thickening power than lighter rouxs.
What is a roux chemically?
Roux (/\u02c8ru\u02d0/) is flour and fat cooked together and used to thicken sauces. Roux is typically made from equal parts of flour and fat by weight.What uses a roux?
When used in soups, sauces, and casseroles a roux provides creaminess and density, helps incorporate other fatty ingredients like cream or cheese, and generally binds things together into a cohesive finished product. And gravy, this season's MVP, is made by adding stock and/or meat drippings to a roux.Types of Colloids and Their Properties
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Answer 2
I agree with @moscafj that roux falls in the category of hydrocolloids. But to further answer your question, I think it would be an emulsion.
From Bonding With Food:
(The article title is: In Class Experiment – Emulsions (Roux, Mayonnaise, and Hollandaise))
A roux is a mixture of heated flour and fat that is then used to thicken sauces, soups, and stews. In a roux, the starch granules (from flour) are coated and separated by the fat from butter and dispersed throughout the mixture.
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