Soup Croutons
Chaucer Foods is the World's leading supplier of croutons for soups.
These are specially formulated to enhance the visual appearance and eating characteristics of all types of soups. They are manufactured from specially developed bread recipes designed to achieve an optimum texture that will remain crunchy whilst the soup is being consumed. They can be directly included in instant soup formulations, and do not need to be added separately by the consumer. Alternatively, they can be packed by Chaucer Foods in a variety of retail and food service formats, and used by the consumer to add appeal and variety to liquid soups; canned, chilled, ambient or homemade.
Chaucer Foods has a record of innovation second to none in developing new and innovative varieties of crouton. The Chaucer product range offers an almost countless variety of soup crouton depending on individual requirements. Products are individually formulated to match customers' unique needs.
The following list has been designed to help you select the variety of crouton to specifically fit your application.
What shape?
Traditionally, soup croutons are produced in a cubed shape. More recently, soup producers have been looking for new innovative soup accompaniments to add that extra enhancement. Soup sprinkles (small flavoured or unflavoured bread granules) are ideal for this function.
What size?
The most popular sizes of soup crouton are 6mm, 8mm and 10mm cubed. 6mm x 8mm x 8mm and 10mm x 8mm x 8mm are also extensively used by soup manufacturers. The smaller the size of crouton, the greater number of pieces per individual serving of soup. For more information on crouton sizes click here.
What oil content?
Traditional soup croutons are fried in vegetable oil and typically contain an oil content of around 40%. Reduced fat varieties are specially formulated for slimming and low calorie soups.
Chaucer Foods can also offer soup croutons that are low in, or virtually free from, trans fatty acids. Trans fatty acids (tfa's) in the diet are of increasing concern globally. Caused by the hydrogenation of fats and oils, these tfa's are believed to cause increase in LDL cholesterol levels. Chaucer Foods has developed a range of croutons providing low tfa or free tfa options, offering the same shelf life and other characteristics with no compromise on quality. For more information on soup crouton oil content click here.
What texture?
All croutons are designed to retain a crunchy texture for at least 3 minutes when added to soups.
What bread type?
Most soup croutons are manufactured from specially formulated, density- enhanced white breads. Rye and wholemeal breads are used in the manufacture of speciality products.
What colour?
Croutons can be formulated to vary from dark brown to almost white. Typical colours include golden yellow, orange and red. Pieces of herbs or other inclusions, such as sun dried tomato, can be included in croutons to further enhance their visual appeal.
What flavours?
The largest selling variety of soup crouton is lightly salted. However, there is significant demand for flavoured products.
The most popular selling flavours of soup croutons are:
Garlic Garlic & Herb Cheese Bacon
For more information on soup crouton flavours click here.
What marketing claims?
Chaucer Foods can produce soup croutons to Organic, Kosher or Halal specifications. Reduced fat varieties are also available for slimming and 'calorie controlled' applications.
All Chaucer Food's croutons are formulated free from genetically modified ingredients, and any allergen with soya and its derivatives.
What ingredients declaration?
A typical ingredients declaration for an unflavoured soup crouton is: Wheat flour, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Salt, Yeast. Declarations will vary depending on bread type, flavour composition and type of oil.
What packaging?
Soup croutons are packed by Chaucer in a wide variety of packing formats. These include sachets of 10g to 1kg, up to bulk quantities of 500kg. Soup croutons are typically packed in 20kg export-grade boxes.
Chaucer Foods also has the capability to pack soup croutons in a number of retail-type formats depending on customer requirement.
What shelf life?
Soup croutons have a typical shelf life of 18 months under normal storage conditions avoiding heat and direct sun light.
What quality assurance?
Chaucer Food's quality assurance team take pride in ensuring all products are delivered to customers in optimum condition.
Each production batch is tested to ensure that products retain a crunchy texture for at least 3 minutes in boiling water.
All production batches are assessed by a daily taste panel against organoleptic standards for taste texture and product appearance.
All products are tested to ensure conformance to microbiological standards.
All deliveries of oil are tested for conformance to specification for peroxide values and lauric acid levels (important indicators of oil quality and shelf life).
Chaucer Food's UK manufacturing site is BRC (Higher) and ISO 9001 2000 accredited.
Why Chaucer?
World market leader in soup croutons for industrial
applications.
Supplier to the world's major soup producers.
Over 20 years experience in manufacturing.
Pioneer of many of the crouton developments of the last
decade.
World-wide market understanding.
Comprehensive product range to suit all applications.
Packaging flexibility from small sachets to bulk packs for
industrial, retail and food service applications.
Commitment to quality.
Producer of complimentary products such as freeze dried
ingredients and Natural Mushroom Extract that are also
used in soup applications.
Do you need further information?
Click here if you have specific requirements or wish to receive samples and/or specifications of Chaucer Food's Products.