Cooking & Packing
Honey good for salad dressings
By Sue Mueller
Dec 9, 2008 - 9:51:12 AM

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Tuesday Dec 9, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Honey is a good substitute for EDTA and high fructose corn syrup used in salad dressings, according to a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The University of Illinois study showed the antioxidants in honey protected the quality of salad dressings for up to nine months.

EDTA and HFCS are commonly used in salad dressings, but consumers would prefer something natural, prompting Nicki Engeseth and colleagues to seek alternatives.

In the study, 19 clover and blueberry honeys were tested and the researchers found blueberry honey was slightly better than clover honey.

When honey is used, the salad dressing formula needs to be modified.    Starch commonly used to maintain emulsions in salad dressings should be replaced with other types of polysaccharides such as xantham gum because enzymes in honey can decompose starch and lead to loss of the thickening function of the ingredient.