So, there is the first article in the new readers questions section of Food Lorists.
These two questions were send to me by Sava from the U.K:
"I live in the UK and have recently purchased Croatian cookbook, but do not understand the terminology. Please could you tell me what (DAG) means? as in weight and (DL).
Many thanks"
There is the explanation for DL is an abbreviation for deciliter which is the equivalent to 100 milliliter or 0.1 liter. There are more equivalence for a deciliter:
- 1 deciliter = 3.3814 fluid ounces-1 deciliter = 6.1024 cubic inches
- 1 deciliter = 20.29 teaspoons
- 1 deciliter = 6.76 tablespoons-1 deciliter = 27.05 drams
- 1 deciliter = 0.423 cups-1 deciliter = 0.845 gills
- 1 deciliter = 0.21134 pints
- 1 deciliter = 0.10567 quarts.

When it comes to the DAG, not knowing in which context it was used there is the only logical explanation that I have for these three letters in relation to food:
DAG is an abbreviation for diacylglycerol which a type of fat. The word means that this fat molecule is made of two fatty acid linked to a molecule of glycerol. It is contained in most vegetable oils an his linked to helping the reduction of fat tissues masses in the human body, inducing a weight loss.
Diacylglycerol (DAG) oil is a new fairly type of cooking oil that has been granted license to human consumption in the late 90s. It is used like normal vegetable oil but is healthier has it helps reducing body fat. It is sold under the brand name enova oil in Americas, Europe and Japan when it is used since a very long time. But I have to say I have never come across any in regular shops like Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury or other chain store or even health store.
Furthermore, diacylglycerols are common food additives used to stabilize certain ingredients, such as oil and water, which would not otherwise blend well.

2 comments:

  1. chef z said,

    Just reading the question I assume the question of DAG is in regards of metric weight.

    "DAG" or "dag" as well as "dkg" is the abbreviation for dekagram/decagram meaning 10g.
    Deka originally from the Greek language meaning 10, wa "latinized" later to deca with the same meaning.

    It was very common in Central Europe, especially in countries which were heavenly influenced by the Austo-Hungarian monarchy. Eventhough less commonly used now one can find them in older cookbooks, or books with grandma's handed down recipes.

    ChefZ

    on 28 August, 2008  


  2. Yann_Chef said,

    Thanks, Chefz, for correcting my misunderstanding of Sava's question. I have been mislead by the way dag was written (DAG) as decagrams is shorten dag not DAG which refers to diacylglycerol. I have to say that I am quite surprised that decagrams are still used in cookbooks.
    Well we learn every day.

    on 29 August, 2008