Using Food Grade Ethanol in Baking
What is Food Grade Ethanol?
Food grade ethanol, commonly known as ethyl alcohol, is a type of alcohol that is safe for human consumption. This is because there are no added chemicals to ethyl alcohol, as opposed to denatured alcohol which contains Bitrex and other additives. Other terms used in the industry include 190 proof grain, food grade ETOH, and anhydrous ethanol just to name a few. Food Grade Ethanol meets the specification requirements of the Food Chemical Codex (FCC). The FCC is a standard used to verify the characteristics and purity of food ingredients and was assumed by USP, a nonprofit science-based organization with a purpose of setting public standards for safety and quality of undenatured food grade ethanol.
Uses for Food Grade Ethyl Alcohol in Baking
Although there are a variety of utilizations for food grade ethanol as a solvent, it is incredibly diverse in the baking industry. Bakers want a food grade solvent that will evaporate quickly and cleanly, leaving behind a safe and nontoxic product that is without residue or unintentional flavoring. This is especially useful when it comes to decorating cakes, cookies, and other baked goods via airbrushing. Ethanol is also used as a preservative in baking due to its antimicrobial properties.
Food Grade Ethanol vs. Denatured Ethanol
Denatured alcohol and food grade ethanol are used in various ways since chemically they are different. Denatured alcohols are great when manufacturing cleaning solutions since the products evaporate quickly. Conversely, food grade ethanol is used in products that need to be safe for human contact or ingestion such as food processing and extraction.
Lab Alley brand food grade ethanol is pure, organic, FCC grade. Food grade undenatured ethanol is used as a culinary solvent for food processing. This high purity, specially formulated product is used by professionals and hobbyists alike for extraction of flavors or as a solvent in baking. Additionally, ethyl alcohol 190 proof is sourced from sugar cane and is certified as FCC grade, USDA organic, Kosher, vegan, and cruelty free.
