How Crystalline Fructose is Made

While high fructose corn syrup is either loved or despised across the world, the facts concerning crystalline fructose are not as well known. Bell Chem, your food ingredient distributor, stocks crystalline fructose because of its many benefits in both baking and consumption of quality foods.

Crystalline fructose is a monosaccharide naturally derived from a number of sources: corn and other vegetables, fruits, and honey all contain crystalline fructose. When compared with standard table sugar, crystalline fructose is approximately 1.5 times sweeter — it rates as the highest form of sweetness in natural sugars — which means consumption of sugar is diminished while maintaining the same level of flavor. The reaction of crystalline fructose in specific temperature ranges increases its flavor: the lower the temperature, the sweeter the flavor.

The manufacture of crystalline fructose depends on many factors, including the raw ingredient. When derived from sugarcane, glucose and fructose are condensed as water is removed, which breaks the chemical bond between glucose and fructose to create a crystal: crystalline fructose. The opposite reaction occurs when water is added as glucose and sucrose form from crystalline fructose.

Cornstarch is the second base for crystalline fructose. Starch is a carbohydrate formed of many individual glucose molecules. When it is separated into its individual elements (in this case, corn kernels), the result is corn syrup. Additional enzymes then convert the glucose molecules into fructose. At this point the result is high fructose corn syrup, which usually contains 42% fructose/58% glucose or 55% fructose/45% glucose. 

With both manufacturing processes, the final steps are basically identical: the end product is crystallized and dried, which greatly increases the purity of the sugar to at least 98% fructose. The final product is then milled to form different granulation sizes. By this stage, crystalline fructose is purified to its more familiar blindingly white form. These processes seem commonplace today, but have only been available for the past 35 years.  

Bell Chem is a food ingredient distributor based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including crystalline fructose. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.