Microstructural, Physical, and Sensory Impact of Starch, Inulin, and Soy Protein in Low-Fat Gluten and Lactose Free White Sauces

Rosemary Extracts Improved the Antioxidant Status of Low-Fat Yoghurt Sauces Enriched with Inulin

Yoghurt sauces are considered fatty products which are quite susceptible to oxidation and must be stabilised using antioxidants. Novel formulations for yoghurt sauces often involve replacement of fat with dietary fibres and use of natural preservatives. The aim of the present research was to design healthier formulations for yoghurt sauces based on the replacement of sunflower oil (SO) with chicory inulin (IN) and the use of rosemary extracts (RE) as natural antioxidants. Different sauces were developed by adding IN at 2 and 5% w: w and/or 300 mg/kg lipo- and/or water-soluble rosemary extracts (RLE and/or RWE) containing 120 and 146 mg polyphenols per g extract, respectively. Nutritional value (proximate composition and caloric contribution), some physical properties (pH and CIELab colour) and antioxidant status (deoxyribose, DPPH radical scavenging, Rancimat, lipid peroxidation and linoleic acid assays) were assessed in the sauces. Replacement of SO with IN (5%) reduced fat content by 30%, roughly 15% low calories, thereby obtaining healthier sauces. As expected, the RLE was more effective than the RWE in improving antioxidant activity in lipidic environment. Using RLE enhanced the antioxidant capacity of lipid peroxidation by 44%. In the Rancimat test, this increased the oxidative protection of the sauce made with and without IN (5%) by around 20% or 45%, respectively. Similarly, using RLE doubled protection against linoleic acid oxidation. Application of IN in yoghurt sauce has nutritional (replacement of lipids with dietary fibre) and technological interest (foaming agent) and can be combined with RE of high polyphenol content as a potential functional ingredient capable of stabilising the sauces against oxidation.

Potato starch altered the rheological, printing, and melting properties of 3D-printable fat analogs based on inulin emulsion-filled gels

Plant-based oil inks that imitate the texture and melting behavior of traditional animal fats using 3D printing have been developed. The influence of the incorporation of potato starch and the type of oil on rheology and meltability was investigated. The results showed that the dynamic modulus and hardness of fat analogs increased, whereas fat analog meltability decreased with an increase in potato starch content. Coconut oil and soybean oil-containing fat analogs incorporated with proper potato starch levels exhibited good printability and similar meltability to commercial beef and pork fats. The addition of potato starch suppressed fat analog meltability as it disrupted the inulin matrix. Fat analogs containing coconut oil could be texturized at temperatures lower than those required for their soybean oil counterparts. The fat analogs were solid at room temperature, demonstrated good printability, and imitated the melting behavior of fat contained in real meat throughout the cooking process.

Influence of Fiber Addition on White Sauces Made with Corn Starch: Effect on Their Freezing/Thawing Stability

Fiber-enriched white sauces with apple (AF401), potato (KF200), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were selected among six white sauces, all of them elaborated by replacing corn starch and milk with 3% of different dietary fibers. It was investigated the freezing/thawing (F/T) stability of these three enriched white sauces studying their physico-chemical (color, syneresis percentage, total soluble solids content), rheological (viscoelastic and steady measurements), and sensorial properties before and after a freezing/thawing treatment. White sauce with MCC resulted in being the most like the control (without fiber) showing a higher elasticity and a heat stability. Moreover, the sauce elaborated with MCC has a sensorial profile as a traditional corn starch sauce with high "creaminess" and lower "heterogeneity" after the F/T treatment. Therefore, the properties provided by MCC make this product interesting in food design, and MCC sauce could be used as an industrial frozen fiber-enriched white sauce. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: These days, there is an increase in the demand of precooked frozen dishes due to current lifestyles and because the use of fiber exhibits many proven health benefits. A béchamel sauce made from corn starch and enriched with different fibers was elaborated, frozen and thawed in microwave. Both fresh and frozen/thawed microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) sauces exhibited very similar rheological and sensorial properties to an industrial and traditional frozen white sauce without fiber. Therefore, MCC-enriched white sauce resulted to be a feasible strategy to produce a white sauce suitable for frozen dishes with good functional properties and sensorial quality.