Method for measuring the sugar content of food

Method for measuring the sugar content of food

‌Food Brix Measurement Methods‌

The measurement of sugar content in food primarily relies on professional instruments and standardized operational procedures. Below are common methods and precautions:

‌Common Measuring Instruments‌

Handheld Refractometer‌

Measures liquid refractive index to calculate sugar content, suitable for transparent liquids like juices and beverages.

‌Operation Steps‌:

Calibrate the instrument with distilled water.

Apply the sample to the prism and wipe off residue.

Read the value (e.g., orange juice: 11.0%, cola: 10.5%).

‌Carbonated Beverage Tester‌

Requires piercing the bottle cap for direct measurement to avoid gas interference (e.g., ATAGO brand instruments).

‌Key Steps‌: Secure sample → Pierce → Measure → Drain and clean.

‌Digital Brix Meter‌

Some models automatically eliminate gloss effects and support 30+ parameters (e.g., whiteness, yellowness).

‌Operational Precautions‌

‌Calibration‌: Always calibrate with distilled water or standard solutions before use to prevent errors.

‌Sample Handling‌:

Filter turbid liquids before measurement.

Thoroughly clean the prism after use to avoid cross-contamination.

‌Environmental Control‌: Avoid exposing the instrument to high temperatures or direct sunlight to ensure accuracy.

‌3. Practical Applications‌

Some "sugar-free" beverages may contain measurable sugar (e.g., 3.2% in certain sparkling water brands), requiring repeated tests to verify instrument stability.

For fruit sweetness (e.g., watermelon, grapes), juice extraction is recommended; direct measurement of pulp may cause data deviation.

ST-12 automatic sugar detector is an instrument for determining the optical rotation of substances. The concentration, purity, Brix or content of the sample can be determined by determining the optical rotation of the sample.

Widely used in sugar, pharmaceutical, drug testing, food, spices, monosodium glutamate, chemical, petroleum and other industrial production, scientific research, teaching departments, for laboratory analysis or process quality control.