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Nagging Question
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What Is Nondairy Creamer?It makes coffee so creamy, yet it’s not cream |
What is nondairy creamer?
Liquid nondairy creamers are formulated to add body, flavor, and color to coffee. We wondered how all the ingredients manage to mimic real cream, so we asked Dennis R. Heldman, PhD, a professor emeritus at the University of Missouri and the principal of Heldman Associates, a consulting company that specializes in food processes.
He looked at the common ingredients of two popular nondairy liquid creamers from the Coffee-mate and International Delight brands, and explained what role he believes they play.
The Ingredients
Partially Hydrogenated Soybean/Cottonseed Oil; Palm Oil: Heldman says that these oils are used in place of milk fat. They deliver the creamy texture and some of the rich, fatty flavor of cream.
Sugar; Corn Syrup; Sodium Stearyl Lactylate∗: “Any sweetness that you pick up in dairy products is from the lactose,” explains Heldman; these ingredients are used to mimic this naturally occurring flavor.
Sodium Caseinate: This is a milk protein, to give “flavor and texture,” says Heldman.
Mono- and Diglycerides: Additional fats to help give the product texture.
Dipotassium Phosphate: “I’m making an assumption that this is an ingredient used in lieu of a natural salt that would be in cream,” says Heldman. “I don’t believe there is any preservative aspect.”
Carrageenan∗: Often referred to on ingredients lists as a “stabilizer,” Heldman explains that this is an emulsifier that prevents the creamer from separating.
Natural and Artificial Flavors: Heldman says these final ingredients “fine-tune the flavor profile to make it palatable.”
∗These ingredients only found in International Delight.
CHOW’s Nagging Question column appears every Friday.
eew. I'll stick to the real stuff, thanks.
Why does nondairy creamer exist?
Perhaps for those who are lactose intolerant. I have some friends that use the powdered kind if they don't have a fridge.. also lasts longer (ie: work office).
I can think of some reasons:
It's cheaper than half and half
It's shelf stable when individually wrapped
It mutes the bitterness / acidity of crappy coffee
Mad scientists in the food industry have too much time on their hands
Don't forget that it can be made parve and therefore can be used in your coffee even if you eating a meat meal. .
I've been recently avoiding dairy to determine if it has something to do with my heartburn. giving up half-n-half is difficult but I'd rather buy good quality coffee and drink it black than use some oversweet artificial creamer
Don't forget how long this stuff has been around. When it first came out I bet people thought it was amazing stuff. No refrigeration required, it made your coffee good (tolerable) and it was cheap what more could you ask for.
Sounds like it will kill you faster than cream
I just used some a few minutes ago. This article made me stop in mid-sip just to make sure there wasn't anything horrible in the creamer. Luckily, it doesn't seem too bad.
I call this crap "plastic cream". First of all, the majority of these do contain some dairy but not enough not to be able to call it "non-dairy". Which means if you observe Kosher dietary laws it can not be eaten with meat. Secondly, if I can't use half and half I'll drink it black. So there.
Of course whole milk is good, too!
mmmm, ClassicWinesGuy... doesn't seem too bad?
"Partially Hydrogenated Soybean/Cottonseed Oil" =
AKA trans-fat !!!
Sodium Caseinate, the primary ingredient in elmers glue
My dad is on the renal/diabetic diet and one of the things he has to look out for is phosphates. His body cannot process phosphates easily now that his kidneys are starting to fail. Dairy contains phosphates and he has been advised to use a non-dairy substitutes for milk and cream. I guess that is why nondairy milk products were created. To aid those who cannot process dairy anymore. (Maybe this is just one of the reasons.) I am certain that if he could, he would select milk or cream over the nondairy stuff like everyone else.
I must say, I'm hooked on the stuff. I was hoping for the finger of God pointing out the definite yes (or no).... I liked Interference's comment. "Makes mediocre coffee taste pretty good." Did you ever taste bad coffee with instant non-fat powdered milk?? I know, I know, from the ridiculous to the even more ridiculous.....
I must say, I'm hooked on the stuff. I was hoping for the finger of God pointing out the definite yes (or no).... I liked Interference's comment. "Makes mediocre coffee taste pretty good." Did you ever taste bad coffee with instant non-fat powdered milk?? I know, I know, from the ridiculous to the even more ridiculous.....
How did that happen? Sorry!