Lambda carrageenan ✦

Carraghénane lambda

What it is

Lambda is the fraction that never sets: its molecule lacks the kink needed to zip into a helix, so all it can do is thicken. That makes it the odd one out and the useful one — it dissolves cold and gives cream body without turning it to jelly, which is what holds the cocoa in suspension in a bottle of chocolate milk.

In the kitchen

It hydrates cold, so whisk it into cream straight from the fridge, 0.1 to 0.3 % by weight. Past that the texture goes slimy rather than rich — this is a body-builder, not a setting agent, and no dose will make it hold a shape.

Goes with

Cream Dutch-process cocoa powder White sugar Yogurt Mascarpone Coffee Vanilla

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