What Does Ash in Food Mean?

Ash refers to the inorganic material, such as minerals, present in food. It is the portion of the food or any organic material that remains after it is burned at very high temperatures. Some minerals are essential to a healthy diet (for example, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium), whereas others can be toxic (lead, mercury, cadmium and aluminium). The quality of many foods depends on the concentration and type of minerals they contain, including their taste, appearance, texture and stability.