Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Measuring the Color of Candy

Before someone tastes candy, they see its color and make assumptions about its flavor, freshness, and quality. Color matters in sweets because they come in vibrant hues, and consumers tend to reach for the product that most matches their ideal of a desirable color. Color can also indicate issues in product development or processing steps, making it an effective indicator of quality control. Additionally, measuring color enables consistency across batches. All underscore the importance of knowing how to quantify it accurately.

1. Size and Shape

Size, shape, and texture vary among candies and can create a measurement challenge. Advanced color and spectral data measurement tools account for these variances. Calibration allows for more accurate color measurement across differences while reducing errors. 

2. Color Variations

One piece of candy may contain multiple colors, and some sweets have a different surface color than the interior. A color measurement device must be able to quantify these spectral variations across the color of every layer and swirl.

3. Coating and Finishing Techniques

Coatings like sugar or a hard, shiny shell change how people perceive the color of sweets. These coatings and finishing techniques can complicate quality control across batches and facilities and impact whether someone buys the candy off the shelf. A reliable measurement device must capture accurate data, even in candies with textured surfaces.

4. Temperature and Ingredient Effects

During formulation, temperature and ingredients influence the final appearance. Cooking and cooling processes lead to variations. Elevated temperatures may create a Maillard reaction or caramelization. These reactions cause the food to look brown or deeper in color, which can be unappealing to consumers.

Numerous ingredients influence color, particularly natural and artificial colorants. The amount used determines the final appearance of the sweets. Knowing the influences of temperature and ingredients when quantifying spectral data enables producers to adjust their processes and minimize unwanted variations. 

5. Candy Types

Candies come in various forms that influence the color profile. For example, opacity varies — a gummy might let some light through, while a coated sweet is opaque. 

A color measurement tool must be able to quantify spectral data for different sweet types, standardizing color measurement to meet quality standards for visual perception.

Use the Aeros Spectrophotometer for Accurate Color Measurements

With over 70 years in the color measurement industry, HunterLab provides specialized tools for every application. The Aeros spectrophotometer is the ideal tool for candy, with a non-contact design perfect for heavily textured and nonuniform samples. Its sensor never touches the substrate, reducing cleanup times and contamination potential, especially for sticky or messy samples. Get a quote online today or discuss your application needs with our experts for ordering advice.