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New Technology is expensive

By Sudhir On Technology Category

New Technology is expensive



Dated: 5/16/2008

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By A P Singh On Finance And Credit Category

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Dated: 4/19/2008

How to prepare tomato ketchup ?

By V.V.Karnik On Product Development Category

Tomato ketchup is one of the most popular food accompaniments across the world and is produced with different variations in the recipes. The main ingredients of tomato ketchup are Tomatoes, Spices, Sugar, Salt and Vinegar. The recipe varies with the region and in India sugar is a preferred ingredient as most Indians like sweet version.

Raw materials
Fresh Tomatoes are converted into juice (4-5 degree Brix) and used as a base or the ketchup can be made from Tomato paste which has 36-38 degree Brix. Small and medium enterprises use fresh tomatoes and most large operators use paste as it is easier to handle the large volume.

Juice is extracted using ripe tomatoes, ensuring uniformity of colour and seeds and skin are separated using a sieve/pulper.

Depending upon the solids in tomatoes, the juice needs to be standardized per batch and ingredients added accordingly.

Typical Receipe for Ketchup using Fresh Juice.

Tomato Juice    120 kg
Sugar    8 kg
Salt   1 kg
Freshly chopped onions    1 kg
Acetic Acid (glacial)   400 ml.
Red chilli powder    60 gms
Cloves (headless)    40 gms
Cinnamon   40 gms
Cardamom   40 gms
Cumin    40 gms
Black pepper   40 gms
Sodium Benzoate at 750 ppm of ketchup    30 gms

It is to be noted that this is an indicative recipe and there is a lot to this simple product in terms colour, flavour, texture and mouth feel which comes with perfection and standardization of ingredients, recipe or process. Spice combination varies with the region.

Process

The typical process includes concentration of juice, mixing of ingredients (directly or tying in muslin bag and boiling) and bringing the whole mass to boil before filling in the bottles. Each commercial establishment has its own recipe and process which makes their product unique. Bottling and labelling

The product is hot filled at minimum 85 degree centigrade and the end product must have solids of not less than 25 degree Brix, as per FPO requirement. Most commercial products in the market have solids at 30 38 degree Brix for a good mouth feel. Rules conforming to labeling must be followed.



Dated: 4/1/2008