Why do commercial chocolate/cocoa products often contain fat-reduced cocoa?
I've noticed that many 'chocolate' or 'cocoa' products, such as chocolate cake, chocolate milk and cocoa cereal contain fat-reduced cocoa powder rather than normal full-fat cocoa powder.
Often the products also contain added fat, so in these cases presumably fat-reduced cocoa powder isn't used in order to reduce the product's overall fat content.
Is fat reduced cocoa powder cheaper than full-fat cocoa powder? Or perhaps the fat in cocoa powder behaves differently from other fat, necessitating its replacement?
Best Answer
Without getting arrested for loitering in the baking aisle of my local supermarket comparing weights, ingredients and prices, to me it is all down to price and processing method. The low starch, natural fat product performs better according to Cooks Illustrated.
Higher natural fat = premium product = better taste.
References:
Alice Medrich: https://food52.com/blog/9521-how-to-identify-good-cocoa-powder-and-not-so-good
Cooks illustrated: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/articles/663-which-cocoa-powder-should-you-buy
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What is low fat cocoa?
Low fat cocoa powder with less than 1% cocoa butter. It is ideal for low calorie applications and aerated bakery recipes such as macarons and meringues. Thanks to the very low cocoa butter content the risk of fat blooming is reduced in coatings and spreads.Which type of chocolate has the most cocoa butter?
Bittersweet Chocolate: The darkest of eating chocolate, bittersweet has the highest percentage of chocolate liquor and may contain extra cocoa butter.What is defatted cocoa powder?
Defatted Cocoa is a low fat cocoa powder with less than 1% cocoa butter. It has a naturally dark, brown colored powder that balances cocoa and dark chocolate flavor with a strong aroma. It is used as a substitute to regular cocoa powder, ideal for low-calorie applications and fitness diets.What percentage of fat is contained in high quality cocoa powder?
The fat percentage refers to the amount of cocoa butter remaining in the powder. Low fat cocoa typically falls around 10-12% fat and high fat cocoa is typically 20-22% or 22-24% fat. In product formulations that contain other fats, a lower fat content cocoa powder can be used.COCOA POWDER EVERY DAY - Cocoa Powder and Dark Chocolate Health Benefits and Why You Should Have It
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