Digital refractometer for measuring °Brix

Degrees Brix indicate the soluble solids content of a juice, which in fruit are mainly sugars. Together with firmness and colour, it is one of the figures used to decide when to harvest and to check that a consignment meets what the buyer requires. The refractometer obtains it from a few drops of juice placed on the prism.

The difference from an optical refractometer lies in the reading. With an optical one you have to look against the light and read where the shadow line falls on a scale, which varies from one operator to another. The digital one shows the value on screen, clearly and instantly, which avoids interpretation errors and makes measurements taken by different people comparable. It also offers high accuracy and repeatability in °Brix measurements.

It measures from 0 to 53 °Brix with a resolution of 0.1 °Brix, a range that covers everything from underripe fruit to concentrated juices and musts. It has automatic temperature compensation (ATC): the refractive index reading varies with the temperature of the sample, and the instrument corrects for it automatically, which is important when measuring in the field in full sun or fruit straight out of the cold store.

It is a portable, compact instrument, easy to carry and use both out in the field and in the warehouse. It is suitable for fruit, juices, musts and other food liquids. For complete maturity control, it is usually accompanied by the penetrometer, which gives firmness, and the calibre gauge, which gives size; each one answers a different question and none replaces the others.

At Fontanet Group, from Fraga (Huesca) and with a team of more than 30 years in the sector, we advise you on how to get the most out of the refractometer in your own quality control. Availability and accessories are confirmed with our sales team.