Sugars & Sweeteners
Maltodextrin DE18 in gelato
Maltodextrin DE18 is a spray-dried, low-sweetness starch hydrolysate (dextrose equivalent 18) used in gelato and sorbet as a bulking solid that raises total solids and body without adding meaningful sweetness or freezing-point depression.
Balancing parameters
Per 100 g of product, verified against independent food-science sources (listed below).
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Solids | 95% |
| Water | 5% |
| Sugars | 95% |
| Fat | 0% |
| MSNF | 0% |
| Protein | 0% |
| POD (sweetening power) | 9.5 |
| PAC (anti-freezing power) | 20.9 |
Typical use: 1-5% of the mix (commonly 2-4%)
Balance maltodextrin de18 in a real recipe
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Open the balancerHow to use it in gelato
Maltodextrin DE18 is a low-POD, low-PAC solid: roughly POD 10 and PAC 22 per 100 g of dry saccharide (about POD 9.5 / PAC 20.9 for the ~95%-solids powder). Use it to add total solids, structure and a fuller mouthfeel while spending very little sweetness and very little anti-freezing power, which is the opposite of dextrose or fructose. It is especially useful in sorbets and low-fat or sugar-reduced gelato where you need body and reduced iciness but cannot afford the softness that high-PAC sugars cause. Because DE18 has more reducing groups than very low-DE grades, avoid overdosing in recipes that undergo browning or long holding.
Origin & background
Maltodextrins are produced by controlled partial hydrolysis of food starch (corn, wheat, tapioca or potato). By regulatory definition (US FDA 21 CFR 184.1444 and Codex), a maltodextrin is a purified starch hydrolysate with a dextrose equivalent below 20; products at DE 20 or above are classified as glucose (corn) syrup solids. DE18 sits at the sweeter, more soluble end of that maltodextrin range.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- https://www.melbournefooddepot.com/buy/maltodextrin-powder-de18-7kg/F00871
- https://www.ahabiochem.com/showroom/food-grade-maltodextrin-powder-de-18-20.html
- https://biollachemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/biolla-MaltodextrinDE19-Spezification.pdf
- https://www.nutrientsreview.com/carbs/polysaccharides-maltodextrins.html
- https://www.iceicedaddy.com/en/sugar_expert.php
- https://icecreamcalc.com/2023/08/22/how-is-pac-and-pod-calculated/