System parameters in a high moisture extrusion process for microparticulation of whey proteins

Protein-Based Fat Replacers: A Focus on Fabrication Methods and Fat-Mimic Mechanisms

The increasing occurrence of obesity and other non-communicable diseases has shifted the human diet towards reduced calorie intake. This drives the market to develop low-fat/non-fat food products with limited deterioration of textural properties. Thus, developing high-quality fat replacers which can replicate the role of fat in the food matrix is essential. Among all the established types of fat replacers, protein-based ones have shown a higher compatibility with a wide range of foods with limited contribution to the total calories, including protein isolate/concentrate, microparticles, and microgels. The approach to fabricating fat replacers varies with their types, such as thermal-mechanical treatment, anti-solvent precipitation, enzymatic hydrolysis, complexation, and emulsification. Their detailed process is summarized in the present review with a focus on the latest findings. The fat-mimic mechanisms of fat replacers have received little attention compared to the fabricating methods; attempts are also made to explain the underlying principles of fat replacers from the physicochemical prospect. Finally, a future direction on the development of desirable fat replacers in a more sustainable way was also pointed out.

Technological interventions in improving the functionality of proteins during processing of meat analogs

Meat analogs have opened a new horizon of opportunities for developing a sustainable alternative for meat and meat products. Proteins are an integral part of meat analogs and their functionalities have been extensively studied to mimic meat-like appearance and texture. Proteins have a vital role in imparting texture, nutritive value, and organoleptic attributes to meat analogs. Processing of suitable proteins from vegetable, mycoproteins, algal, and single-cell protein sources remains a challenge and several technological interventions ranging from the isolation of proteins to the processing of products are required. The present paper reviews and discusses in detail various proteins (soy proteins, wheat gluten, zein, algal proteins, mycoproteins, pulses, potato, oilseeds, pseudo-cereals, and grass) and their suitability for meat analog production. The review also discusses other associated aspects such as processing interventions that can be adapted to improve the functional and textural attributes of proteins in the processing of meat analogs (extrusion, spinning, Couette shear cell, additive manufacturing/3D printing, and freeze structuring). '.

Food extrusion: An advanced process for innovation and novel product development

Extrusion is a versatile process capable of producing a variety of new and novel foods and ingredients, thus increasing manufacturing opportunities. Further, it could provide nutritious, safe, sustainable, and affordable foods, especially directed at individualized consumer needs. In addition to past research efforts, more investigations should be conducted in order to refine, redesign, or develop new extrusion processing technologies. The present review highlights the current advances made in new and novel food product development by considering the extrusion process, the influencing parameters, and product characteristics and properties; the most promising extrusion processes that can be used in novel food product and ingredient development, such as extrusion cooking, hot-melt extrusion, reactive extrusion, and extrusion-based 3D printing; the possibilities of using various raw materials in relation to process and product development; and the needs for product development modeling along with extrusion process design and modeling. In correlation with extruded product development, topics that merit further investigation may include structure formation, plant and animal biopolymers functionalization, biopolymer reactions, process simulation, modeling and control, engineering and mechanical aspects of extruders, analysis of pre-processing treatments, as well as prototyping, risk analysis, safety, sensory and consumer acceptance.

Microstructure and Physicochemical Properties of Light Ice Cream: Effects of Extruded Microparticulated Whey Proteins and Process Design

This study aimed to understand the influence of extruded microparticulated whey proteins (eMWPs) and process design in light ice cream processing by evaluating the microstructure and physicochemical properties. The inulin (T1), a commercial microparticulated whey protein (MWP) called simplesse (T2), a combination (T3), as well as eMWPs (as 50% volume of total particles): d50 < 3 µm (T4), and d50 > 5 µm (T5) were used as fat replacers. The first process design was pasteurization with subsequent homogenization (PH). The second process was homogenization with subsequent pasteurization (HP) for the production of ice cream (control, 12% fat, w/w; T1 to T5, 6% fat, w/w). The overrun of light ice cream treatments of PH was around 50%, except for T4 (61.82%), which was significantly higher (p < 0.01). On the other hand, the overrun of HP was around 40% for all treatments except T1. In both the PH and HP groups, the color intensities of treatments were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The melting behavior of light ice cream was also significantly different. The viscosity of all treatments was significant (p < 0.05) at a shear rate of 64.54 (1/s) for both cases of process design. A similar firmness in both the PH and HP groups was observed; however, the products with eMWPs were firmer compared to other light ice creams.

Influence of pH, Temperature and Protease Inhibitors on Kinetics and Mechanism of Thermally Induced Aggregation of Potato Proteins

Understanding aggregation in food protein systems is essential to control processes ranging from the stabilization of colloidal dispersions to the formation of macroscopic gels. Patatin rich potato protein isolates (PPI) have promising techno-functionality as alternatives to established proteins from egg white or milk. In this work, the influence of pH and temperature on the kinetics of PPI denaturation and aggregation was investigated as an option for targeted functionalization. At a slightly acidic pH, rates of denaturation and aggregation of the globular patatin in PPI were fast. These aggregates were shown to possess a low amount of disulfide bonds and a high amount of exposed hydrophobic amino acids (S₀). Gradually increasing the pH slowed down the rate of denaturation and aggregation and alkaline pH levels led to an increased formation of disulfide bonds within these aggregates, whereas S₀ was reduced. Aggregation below denaturation temperature (T_d) favored aggregation driven by disulfide bridge formation. Aggregation above T_d led to fast unfolding, and initial aggregation was less determined by disulfide bridge formation. Inter-molecular disulfide formation occurred during extended heating times. Blocking different protein interactions revealed that the formation of disulfide bond linked aggregation is preceded by the formation of non-covalent bonds. Overall, the results help to control the kinetics, morphology, and interactions of potato protein aggregation for potential applications in food systems.

Extruded whole buckwheat noodles: effects of processing variables on the degree of starch gelatinization, changes of nutritional components, cooking characteristics and in vitro starch digestibility

The effects of processing variables on the degree of gelatinization (DG), changes of nutritional components, cooking characteristics and in vitro starch digestibility of extruded whole buckwheat noodles were investigated.

Selected properties of the potato snacks expanded in the microwave radiation

The results of measurements of the selected properties of the extruded potato pellets and snacks expanded in the microwave field are presented in the paper. The potato pellets with the addition of the baking soda were prepared with a single screw extruder TS-45. The snacks were obtained by pellets expansion in a conventional microwave oven. The expansion index and the hardness of the pellets and the snacks, as well as, the texture properties of the snacks were evaluated during this study. The results showed that baking soda addition reduced the potato pellet expansion during their extrusion. This was an effect of a smaller thickness of the obtained pellets. The addition of baking soda had positive influence on potato snacks expansion in microwave radiation. The higher content of the soda additive resulted in lower hardness of pellets during cutting tests. The opposite effect was observed during texture measurements of the snacks. The addition of baking soda increased hardness of the expanded snacks. Soda addition lowers crispness and fragilityof the potato snacks expanded in the microwave radiation.