Molecular structure
malic acid
Cooking relevance
Malic acid (2-hydroxybutanedioic acid, PubChem CID 525) is a weak organic acid found naturally in many fruits and vegetables. In cooking, it contributes tartness and can be used as a food additive to enhance acidity and preserve flavor.
- aroma
- tart · acidic · minimal direct aroma
- culinary role
- acidulant · flavor enhancer · preservative
- mass spectra
- 564 experimental spectra
Mass spectrum
A real measured fragmentation pattern · 1 of 564 experimental spectra
Sensory signature
How this molecule tastes and smells · gold is measured, dashed is a model estimate
Research associations
Literature-derived · peer-reviewed sources only · not medical advice
Foods containing this compound
Verified Data
Compound identity and culinary context are continuously cross-referenced across open scientific databases and maintained by Foodgeist's enrichment pipeline.
The Geist can be wrong. Some flavor, taste, and pairing values are model-predicted, not lab-measured.



























