How to Measure Brix in Fruit Using Atago’s IC-PAL-1 Handheld Pocket Brix Refractometer
Brix is the measurement of the sugar content within a liquid solution. One degree Brix is equivalent to 1 gram of sucrose in 100 grams of the measured solution. Brix results display in degrees Brix (°Bx) or express as a percentage.
Brix refractometers are often used to measure sucrose levels within a wide range of food and beverage, including fruits, vegetables, condiments, juices, soft drinks, wine and beer. Brix Refractometers provide professionals a wealth of information at the touch of a button, giving insight to a product's taste, quality, and nutritional density.
The IC-PAL-1 handheld pocket refractometer by Atago makes it easy to measure Brix. This video article shows how to take a Brix measurement using the Atago IC-PAL-1 digital handheld Brix refractometer.
Figure 1 Watch the Instrument Choice Scientists demonstrate how to measure fruit using the Atago IC-PAL-1 Digital Handheld Refractometer here.
How to measure fruit on the IC-PAL-1 Handheld Pocket Brix Refractometer by Atago
- At the beginning of each day, before taking a measurement or after changing the Atago’s batteries, you must perform a zero-set calibration. Here’s how; take approximately 0.3mL of water and place it on the device’s prism, then press the ‘START’ button to confirm that the water sample measures at 0.0.
- If the sample is not reading at 0.0 press the ‘ZERO’ button, otherwise wipe away the water and proceed to measurement.
- Then squeeze out the juice from the sample (approx. 0.3mL) onto the prism.
- Press the start button.
- Within three seconds, the Brix percentage of the fruit sample will display on the screen.
- Final step: Thoroughly wipe away the sample, ensuring that there is no residue remaining.
NOTE: Once testing has finished, it’s good practice to wash down the refractometer prism with warm water, and a mild detergent then make dry the Atago meter using tissues.
CONCLUSION
Taking Brix measurements using the Atago handheld pocket refractometers is a simple task that will allow you to obtain vital data about the sugar level of fruit within three seconds.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
- Want more information on Brix Refractometers and How they work? Learn more here.
- Watch a video of an Instrument Choice Scientist Unboxing the IC-PAL-1 here.
- Want the data history from your Atago pocket meter sent straight to your phone? See a video on How to use the Data Transmission Function on Atago Pocket Refractometers here.
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It turns out that the Brix percentage indicates the typical strength of a coffee. This measurement provides a well-trained barista insights into the solubility of a roast, how to setup up their equipment, even how to achieve the perfect roast of coffee beans.
Are you interested in taking coffee brewing to the next level? The Atago IC-PAL-Coffee is a device Instrument Choice recommends to baristas, principally because the instrument is capable of determining a subtle difference in a coffee brew’s concentration to a high resolution of 0.01%! What's more, stable readings are possible, even at high temperatures, which is a result of the Atago’s continuous measurement feature.
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