Thickener: meaning, definitions and examples

Usually used in cooking or food production to increase the viscosity of a liquid or mixture without changing its other properties.

• Cornstarch is often used as a thickener in soups and sauces to make them more viscous

Often used in food and industrial products to bind ingredients together so they hold their shape.

• Eggs are commonly used as a binder in meatloaf recipes to keep the ingredients packed together

Employed in food processing to help maintain consistency, texture, and general stability over a period of time.

• Carrageenan is a stabilizer often added to ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming

Used in cooking and food production to give a gel-like consistency to products such as jellies, desserts, or sauces.

• Gelatin is a common gelling agent used in making jelly and other similar desserts

Used in culinary or chemical contexts to make a liquid more dense.

• To make the sauce thicker, add a thickener such as cornstarch or flour

Commonly used in industrial, scientific, or technical contexts to describe a substance that increases the thickness or stickiness of a liquid.

• In the production of paint, a viscosity enhancer is added to achieve the desired texture and flow

Primarily used in healthcare settings to help individuals with difficulty swallowing, often in reference to a substance that makes it easier to swallow food or medicine.

• The nurse provided a swallowing aid to help the patient take their medication