Cooking can be an engaging experience and baking is even more enjoyable. That’s because you get to experiment with different ingredients and make new flavors. If you are fond of baking, we are sure you have baked with a variety of flavorings and essences because they are the ultimate way of adding fruity flavors to the frostings and desserts. One such essence is watermelon essence. Truth be told, watermelon essence is not very popular and isn’t widely used. So, let’s see what it is all about!
What Is Watermelon Essence?
Understanding The Watermelon Essence
Watermelon essence is one of the most underrated essences out there, and as the name suggests, it bursts with watermelon flavor. It can be used for flavoring the baking recipes or you can add watermelon flavor to the chocolate. In addition, you can add a few drops of watermelon essence to cocktails to bring out the fruity and refreshing flavors. The watermelon essence is available in strong as well as regular versions, so you can purchase the version that suits your flavor.
The regular strength version is perfect for everyday use and you can add five to six drops of the essence to compensate for one teaspoon of the fresh watermelon juice. On the other hand, the strong version tends to be three times stronger as compared to the regular version, which means it has a deeper and bolder flavor.
Using The Watermelon Essence
When it comes down to watermelon essence, it’s needless to say that there is a fruity flavor, which is why it goes well in desserts and beverages because its fruity flavor doesn’t go well with savory recipes. So, let’s see how you can use the watermelon essence;
- Desserts & Baking – the watermelon essence can be used in the preparation of desserts and baking recipes, such as biscuits and cakes. In addition, you can prepare macaroons, cream, ice cream, and frostings. Moreover, it tastes extremely delicious with icing. Keep in mind that the watermelon essence is not used as a sweetener, which means you have to add more sugar to the desserts to create the right flavor. As far as the essence is concerned, it will only add the watermelon flavor and aroma – it won’t sweeten
- Chocolate – it’s common for people to prepare chocolate filling on their own for biscuits and other sweet delicacies. Having said that, watermelon essence can be used to create a soft and flavored chocolate filling. For this purpose, you can half a teaspoon of watermelon essence to the chocolate and mix it up
We have mentioned two common uses of watermelon essence but you’ve to be extremely careful about how much you add. For this reason, you can use a dropper to ensure the correct dosage. The culinary experts recommend 0.1% to 0.2% of the total ingredients to add the essence. In addition, when you purchase and open the bottle of watermelon essence, you need to store it in a cool and dry place – it should be away from heat and direct exposure to sunlight. For the most part, watermelon essence has a shelf life of around two years if you follow the correct storage techniques.
Is It Safe To Consume Watermelon Essence?
Yes, the watermelon essence is safe to consume as it’s just like other flavorings and essences available in the market. On the other hand, if you have some special dietary requirements, it’s recommended that you read the ingredients but the majority of them have natural flavor. Also, they tend to be suitable for people following vegan, vegetarian, and kosher lifestyles.
Tips To Use Watermelon Essence
Now that we have shared the uses, flavor, and potential ingredients of the watermelon essence, it’s important to follow some tips to ensure the correct usage of the essence, such as;
- If you have to use the essence for baking, it’s recommended that you opt for fat-compatible essence because it will be able to retain the flavor
- Make sure you add the essence to the wet ingredients of the recipe to ensure even and consistent mixing. Also, you should use a dropper to ensure you don’t add too much
So, are you ready to flavor your desserts and cocktails with watermelon essence now?