Silicone rubber in the food industry is possible, provided you use a food grade certified product and let it cure fully. The RESION silicone rubber is food grade certified and therefore suitable for moulds that come into contact with food, such as baking moulds and chocolate moulds. Still, there are conditions to look out for, and I list them below.
Silicone rubber in the food industry is entirely about the certification. Food grade means that the cured material has been checked for safe contact with food and does not release harmful substances. The RESION silicone rubber range is food grade certified, whereas standard technical silicones without that certification are not intended for food contact. So always check the product specification before you make a mould for edible products.
Food grade silicone is suitable for a variety of food applications, but not every application has the same requirements. The distinction between direct and indirect contact determines how strict you have to be.
For moulds for chocolate, confectionery and baking moulds, food grade silicone rubber is excellently suited. The material is highly resistant to heat and stays flexible, so that you can easily release a cast shape without damage. For detailed shapes, a flexible variant such as silicone casting rubber shore 15 works nicely, while a firmer shore 40 suits larger or heavier castings better.
The difference between direct and indirect food contact determines how critical the certification is. With direct contact, such as a mould into which you pour chocolate, the silicone rubber must be demonstrably food grade. With indirect contact, for example a packaging part that does not touch the food, the requirements are less strict. Take a look at the range of silicone moulds to see which ready-made solutions there are.
Working food-safely with silicone rubber requires full curing and clean processing. Even a food grade product is only safe if you process it correctly.
Full curing is the most important condition for food-safe silicone rubber. As long as the material has not fully cured, residues can be released. Keep to the stated curing time and give the mould some extra time afterwards. The cure type plays a role in this; in condensation cure and platinum cure you can read why platinum cure silicones are often preferred for food applications.
Cleaning and temperature resistance determine how long a food mould remains safe to use. Food grade silicone is highly resistant to heat and is easy to clean, provided you do not use aggressive agents that affect the surface. If you want to colour a mould, use only silicone pigment intended for that purpose and bear in mind that colourant can influence the food grade status.
Are you in doubt whether a specific product is suitable for your food application? Our specialists are happy to give you a definitive answer. Contact customer service before you get started.
The RESION silicone rubber is food grade certified and therefore suitable for moulds that come into contact with food. Still, not every technical silicone product is automatically food grade. Therefore always check the product specification on the relevant page and contact customer service if in doubt, so that you are sure the product suits your application.
Food grade silicone rubber is highly resistant to heat and cold and is therefore widely used for baking and freezing applications. Do always keep to the temperature limits stated by the manufacturer, because they differ per product. Let a mould cool down after use before you clean it and avoid sudden, extreme temperature changes to prevent cracks.
Full curing is important because silicone rubber is only safe for food contact once the chemical reaction is completely finished. With incomplete curing, residues can be released that you do not want in your food. Keep to the stated curing time, give the mould extra time afterwards and check that the surface no longer feels tacky or soft anywhere.
You can colour a food grade mould with special silicone pigment, but bear in mind that additives can influence the food grade status. Use only pigments intended for that purpose and add them in small amounts. If you are in doubt about safety with direct food contact, choose an uncoloured mould or ask customer service for advice.
For a food mould you choose the shore based on the level of detail and the size of the shape. A lower shore is flexible and suitable for detailed shapes such as bonbons, while a higher shore gives firmness to larger or heavier castings. All shores in the RESION range are food grade, so you mainly choose based on flexibility and application.
Do you have a specific question? Call one of our specialists for free advice +3185 0220090
