Modified tapioca starch is used for several purposes; however, its food applications and industrial applications have grown significantly over the years. A majority of the people tends to use tapioca starch as sugar replacement and it contributes to the following applications in food preparation and industrial purposes respectively:
Food Applications
Tapioca starch is equipped with the properties similar to rice scratch; however, it could be used for a wider scope of applications. A majority of the bakers and chefs tend to use modified tapioca starch as a thickener in soups, puddings, sauces, and meat products. It is primarily used for adding stability or thickness to viscous edibles. Also, its addition in meals is guaranteed to improve the cooking times of meals without breaking down the composition of the starch.
One of the outstanding food applications of modified tapioca starch is that the edibles prepared using such ingredient do not lose its flavor or quality, it is frozen for prolonged periods. Tapioca is more likely to retain a gel-like composition on heat, and it is more likely to dissolve into a concoction if it is used as a thickener.
Food manufacturing companies prefer using tapioca starch over rice starch for manufacturing biscuits, cakes, vermicelli, and chocolates due to its long-term applications and highly durable thickening properties.
However, when using tapioca starch, one should remember that it does not add flavor to a meal nor, it changes the flavor of any meal. However, if the scratch is not completely dissolved then, it could add a starchy flavor to the meal. If you are concerned that rice starch or any other sugar replacement would change the flavor of your meal then, you should resort to using tapioca starch as an alternative.
Industrial Applications
The use of tapioca starch has grown significantly in commercial applications, and it is primarily used as a finishing product in the following products:
Adhesive:
Tapioca starch is used as a thickener for adding thickness and stability to adhesives or glue. It improves the viscosity of adhesives, and it attributes to its binding and pasting properties significantly.
When used for manufacturing adhesives, tapioca starch imparts stickiness to the adhesives, when it is prepared in combination with water or other chemicals used for preparing glue. The finishes product stayed sticky for a longer time period, when stored properly. Manufacturers tend to use such ingredient for preparing industrial glues.
Plywood:
As mentioned previously, tapioca starch plays an imperative role in the preparation of industrial glue, which is used by plywood manufacturers on a large-scale level. It makes high quality glue with excellent binding properties, and it adds strength to the strength of the plywood extensively.
Conversion Industry:
Tapioca starch is largely used in conversion industries due to its pure and crude composition. It makes a suitable contender for hydrolysis in comparison to cornstarch and sorghum starch, and it is used for manufacturing liquid glucose on an industrial-scale level.
Pharmaceutical Productions:
When preparing pharmaceutical drugs, a majority of the manufacturers tend to use modified tapioca starch as a filler agent for manufacturing tablets.
Textile:
A majority of the textile manufacturers tend to use modified tapioca starch for miscellaneous textile applications. It is used as a finishing element in cotton and polyester fabrics. It is also vastly used for mixing and printing the fabrics.
It also works as a sizing agent for stiffening and strengthening the thread, which make it capable for an extended weaving efficiency. Its role as a finishing agent adds smoothness to a fabric, and it also imparts a stronger and vibrant color to fabrics.