Sensory and chemical stability in coated peanuts with the addition of essential oils and synthetic antioxidants

Sensory and Chemical Stabilities of High-Oleic and Normal-Oleic Peanuts in Shell During Long-Term Storage

Oxidative rancidity is one of the major causes of peanut quality deterioration. The in-shell nut industry's greatest concern is to preserve high quality and extended the shelf life of these products. This research determined the sensory and chemical stabilities of raw in-shell high-oleic and normal-oleic peanuts during long-term storage. In-shell peanuts samples of normal- and high-oleic types were stored at room temperature (23 °C) for 675 days. The quality parameters, like the fatty acid composition, moisture content, free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), conjugated dienes (CD), and p-anisidine value (pAV), as well as sensory attributes, were analyzed every 45 days. High-oleic samples showed a 4.36-fold higher oleic acid/linolenic acid (O/L) ratio (O/L = 10.65) than normal-oleic peanuts (O/L = 2.44). FFA, PV, CD, pAV, and oxidized and cardboard flavors increased in all stored samples but especially in normal-oleic peanuts. Conversely, roasted peanutty flavor decreased in all samples during storage but in lower proportion in high oleic peanut samples. The sensory and chemical changes that occurred in unshelled normal- or high-oleic peanut samples were not remarkable, suggesting that the shell may protect peanut kernels against deterioration. However, in-shell high-oleic samples show greater stability and shelf life than normal-oleic peanuts under the studied storage condition.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Quality preservation of peanuts is important for the food industry using peanuts as an ingredient. Peanut processors are concerned as to the best ways to preserve peanut quality for long-term storage. Raw high oleic peanuts kept in the shells show better preservation of their sensory and quality properties during storage. In-shell peanuts constitute an appropriate alternative to preserve chemical and sensory properties of this product.

Thyme and basil essential oils included in edible coatings as a natural preserving method of oilseed kernels

BACKGROUND

Sunflower seeds are susceptible to developing rancidity and off-flavours through lipid oxidation. Edible coatings and essential oils have proven antioxidant properties in different food products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of using an edible coating and thyme and basil essential oils to preserve the chemical and sensory quality parameters of roasted sunflower seeds during storage.

RESULTS

50% DPPH inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 0.278 and 0.0997 µg mL(-1) were observed for thyme and basil, respectively. On storage day 40, peroxide values were 80.68, 70.28, 68.43, 49.31 and 33.87 mEq O2 kg(-1) in roasted sunflower seeds (RS), roasted sunflower seeds coated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (RS-CMC), roasted sunflower seeds coated with CMC added with basil (RS-CMC-A), thyme (RS-CMC-T) and butylated hydroxytoluene (RS-CMC-BHT), respectively. RS-CMC-T and RS-CMC-BHT presented the lowest peroxide values, conjugated dienes and p-anisidine values during storage. RS-CMC-BHT, RS-CMC-T, and RS-CMC-A showed the lowest oxidized and cardboard flavour intensity ratings. On storage day 40, roasted sunflower flavour intensity ratings were higher in RS-CMC-T and RS-CMC-A.

CONCLUSIONS

Thyme and basil essential oils added to the CMC coating improved the sensory stability of this product during storage, but only thyme essential oil increased their chemical stability.

Antioxidant effects of the monoterpenes carvacrol, thymol and sabinene hydrate on chemical and sensory stability of roasted sunflower seeds

BACKGROUND

Oxidation products and rancid flavors decrease the sensory quality of food products, making them unacceptable to consumers. Synthetic antioxidants are used in many foods to prevent rancidity, though their safety is questioned. Monoterpenes are obtained from essential oils and many of them have shown antioxidant activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of sensory and chemical parameters in roasted sunflower seeds supplemented with carvacrol, thymol and sabinene hydrate monoterpenes.

RESULTS

Five samples were prepared: control roasted sunflower seeds (RS-C) and sunflower seeds treated with carvacrol (RS-Car), sabinene hydrate (RS-S), thymol (RS-T) and butylated hydroxytoluene (RS-BHT). The three monoterpenes (carvacrol, sabinene hydrate and thymol) provided protection to this food product, inhibiting the formation of oxidative deterioration compounds such as peroxides and hexanal and undesirable off-flavors such as oxidized and cardboard flavors. Sabinene hydrate had greater effect preventing peroxide formation during storage than the other monoterpenes.

CONCLUSION

Carvacrol, sabinene hydrate and thymol could be used as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants for preserving the quality of roasted sunflower seeds.