Efficacy of Sweet Potato Powder and Added Water as Fat Replacer on the Quality Attributes of Low-fat Pork Patties

Effect of defatted Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley seed flour as a fat replacer on physicochemical, technological, and sensory properties of beef patty

Defatted Lagenaria siceraria seed flour (DLSSF) was obtained from defatted seed cake, dried, and ground through a sieve of 500 μm and characterized. A 2 × 4 factorial design (two flour hydration rates and four fat substitution rates) was used to produce a low-fat beef patty by replacing fat with DLSSF. Beef kidney fat was used to formulate the control sample. Chemical, physical, technological, sensory, and nutritional characteristics of low-fat beef patties manufactured were evaluated. DLSSF contains mainly protein. As fat replacers, DLSSF induces a significant increase in the pH of the raw and cooked patty, the moisture and protein contents, the cooking yield, the cohesion, chewiness, springiness, and lightness of the cooked beef patty with fat substitution rate. There is a decrease in fat content, total calories, water retention capacity, hardness, and redness of the cooked patty with a fat substitution rate. From the sensory analysis, the substitution of fat improves the acceptability of samples. Based on the overall parameters analyzed, DLSSF containing 60% water can be used to produce low-fat beef patty by replacing fat at 100%. From these results, hydrated DLSSF could be an effective method to solve the problems of noncommunicable diseases related to animal fat consumption.

Efficacy of Chitosan, Pectin and Xanthan as Cold Gelling Agents in Emulsion Gels Stabilized with Legume Proteins to Be Used as Pork Backfat Replacers in Beef Burgers

This study aimed to develop stable emulsion gels enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids, formulated with a mixture of olive (75%) and linseed (25%) oils, by incorporating two different stabilizers-pea and soy protein isolates-and three different cold gelling agents-chitosan, pectin and xanthan-to be used as pork backfat replacers in beef burgers. The color, pH, stability and textural properties of the emulsion gels were analyzed as affected by cold storage (4 °C, 7 days). Proximate composition, fatty acid content, technological and sensory properties were determined after burger processing. Meanwhile, color, pH, textural parameters and lipid oxidation were monitored in burgers at 0, 5 and 10 days of storage at 4 °C. A reduction of the fat content between 21.49% and 39.26% was achieved in the reformulated burgers as compared with the control, while the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio decreased from 5.11 to 0.62. The highest moisture and fat retention were found in reformulated burgers made with xanthan, both with pea and soy proteins; however, their textural properties were negatively affected. The reformulated burgers made with chitosan were rated highest for sensory attributes and overall acceptability, not significantly different from the controls.

Application of Plant Proteases in Meat Tenderization: Recent Trends and Future Prospects

Papain, bromelain, and ficin are commonly used plant proteases used for meat tenderization. Other plant proteases explored for meat tenderization are actinidin, zingibain, and cucumin. The application of plant crude extracts or powders containing higher levels of compounds exerting tenderizing effects is also gaining popularity due to lower cost, improved sensory attributes of meat, and the presence of bioactive compounds exerting additional benefits in addition to tenderization, such as antioxidants and antimicrobial effects. The uncontrolled plant protease action could cause excessive tenderization (mushy texture) and poor quality due to an indiscriminate breakdown of proteins. The higher cost of separation and the purification of enzymes, unstable structure, and poor stability of these enzymes due to autolysis are some major challenges faced by the food industry. The meat industry is targeting the recycling of enzymes and improving their stability and shelf-life by immobilization, encapsulation, protein engineering, medium engineering, and stabilization during tenderization. The present review critically analyzed recent trends and the prospects of the application of plant proteases in meat tenderization.

Acetylated corn starch as a fat replacer: Effect on physiochemical, textural, and sensory attributes of beef patties during frozen storage

Acetylated corn starch was used as a fat replacer in beef patties and its effect on the physicochemical, textural, and sensory attributes of the patties was assessed during frozen storage (-20 °C) for 60 days. The results showed that acetylated corn starch enhanced the redness, moisture retention, thickness, and sensory attributes of the patties (P ≤ 0.05). It also reduced the firmness, cooking loss, diameter reduction rate, and dimensional shrinkage of the patties (P ≤ 0.05). The patties contain 15% acetylated corn starch showed a microstructure similar to that contain 15% animal fat as examined by scanning electron microscopy. Patties containing acetylated corn starch showed high scores of physicochemical properties and sensory attributes, which revealed the beneficial use of this modified starch in meat industry. In conclusion, acetylated corn starch improved the physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of beef patties and can thus be used as fat replacer in meat products.

Perspectives on scaling production of adipose tissue for food applications

With rising global demand for food proteins and significant environmental impact associated with conventional animal agriculture, it is important to develop sustainable alternatives to supplement existing meat production. Since fat is an important contributor to meat flavor, recapitulating this component in meat alternatives such as plant based and cell cultured meats is important. Here, we discuss the topic of cell cultured or tissue engineered fat, growing adipocytes in vitro that could imbue meat alternatives with the complex flavor and aromas of animal meat. We outline potential paths for the large scale production of in vitro cultured fat, including adipogenic precursors during cell proliferation, methods to adipogenically differentiate cells at scale, as well as strategies for converting differentiated adipocytes into 3D cultured fat tissues. We showcase the maturation of knowledge and technology behind cell sourcing and scaled proliferation, while also highlighting that adipogenic differentiation and 3D adipose tissue formation at scale need further research. We also provide some potential solutions for achieving adipose cell differentiation and tissue formation at scale based on contemporary research and the state of the field.

Effect of quinoa seed and tiger nut mixture on quality characteristics of low-fat beef patties

The present work aimed to investigate the effect of a newly proposed mixture of quinoa seeds and tiger nuts (QTM) (1:1) on low-fat beef patties. The chemical composition, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant activity of QTM were determined. The chemical composition, water-holding capacity, cooking loss, and sensory evaluation of low-fat beef patties prepared with 10% QTM as a partial fat replacer were also studied. Microbiological quality of frozen minced meat semi-finished products (burger patties, at -18°C) for 126 days was also determined. Based on the results, QTM contained 14.35% lipid, 9.37% protein, and 11.38% dietary fibre. Moreover, QTM also contained good amount of minerals and vitamins. The antioxidant activity of QTM was 20.41 mg/g. Results also showed that the addition of QTM had a positive effect on the sensorial quality of beef patties. Chemical composition, water-holding capacity, cooking loss, and pH profiles of newly formulated burger patties significantly improved following the addition of 10% QTM as a partial fat replacer. During the storage of semi-finished products, thiobarbituric values showed that the newly formulated beef patties had a lower level of lipid oxidation as compared to control. With lower microbial loads and lipid oxidation, the shelf life of the newly formulated beef patties also significantly increased as compared to control. As the conclusion, QTM could be applied as a functional component in meat products.

A novel meat quality improver composed of carrageenan and superfine smashed okra powder and its application in chicken meatballs

The study investigated the effects of the addition of 0% (control group, CG), 0.25, 0.35, and 0.45% superfine smashed okra powder (SSOP) or carrageenan (CAR), and 0.25% SSOP – 0.35% CAR complex (OC) on the quality of chicken meatballs. Chicken meatballs fabricated with the SSOP-CAR complex showed better quality as compared to the other treatments. The lowest cooking loss was observed in the OC group, which corresponded to significantly decreased relaxation times of low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) (T 21 and T 22) (P < 0.05). Compared to CG, The L* and a* values of chicken meatballs were significantly decreased due to the addition of SSOP (P < 0.05), and the additions of SSOP and CAR significantly increased the storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus of chicken meat batter upon heating (P < 0.05). Besides, the OC and 0.45% CAR groups showed the highest texture profile values for hardness and chewiness (P < 0.05). The sensory evaluation revealed that the chicken meatballs emulsified with the OC had the best overall acceptability. The results indicated that OC could be a great feasible and potential application in the meat industry, especially in the development of functional emulsified meat products.

Effects of Boswellia Serrata and Whey Protein Powders on Physicochemical Properties of Pork Patties

Processed meat products are prone to oxidative damage and quality decline during storage; however, these problems can be mitigated by the proper formulation of meat productions. This study evaluated the effects of natural anti-oxidants found in Boswellia serrata (B), whey protein powder (W), and their combination on pork patties during storage, exploring changes in textural properties and lipid oxidation susceptibility. The 2% whey-added group exhibited a higher crude protein content than the untreated control group. The highest water-holding capacity and lowest cooking losses were observed in mixed-additive groups (WB₁ (2% W/0.5% B) and WB₂ (2% W/1.0% B), and the highest sensory scores for overall acceptability were obtained for WB₁. Adding B. serrata can neutralize the hardness caused by whey powder, thereby improving palatability. From 7 d (days 7), the extents of lipid oxidation, determined using 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) analysis, for the WB₁ and WB₂ groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. The WB₁ and WB₂ groups exhibited substantially suppressed total bacterial colony and Escherichia coli counts relative to the control group. Our findings suggest that the additive combination of B. serrata and whey protein powders can suppress lipid oxidation, improve storage stability, and enhance textural properties in the production of functional pork patties.

Physico-Chemical, Microbiological and Sensory Evaluation of Ready-to-Use Vegetable Pâté Added with Olive Leaf Extract

The shelf-life extension implicates the reduction of food waste. Plant polyphenols can have a crucial role in the shelf-life extension of foods. Olive leaf extract (OLE) is rich in phenolic compounds such as oleuropein, which is well-known for its antioxidant properties. Physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory aspects of non-thermally stabilized olive-based pâté fortified with OLE at concentrations of 0.5 (EX0.5) and 1 mg kg⁻¹ (EX1) were investigated. These samples were compared with olive-based pâté fortified with the synthetic antioxidant BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and with a control sample (CTR) without antioxidants. No sensory defects were perceived in all samples, even if a more intense typical olive flavour was perceived in samples containing OLE compared to those containing BHT and CTR. This result was confirmed by significantly higher levels of 2-methylbutanal and 3-methylbutanal in samples containing OLE compared to CTR and BHT. Moreover, the main microbial groups registered a significant loss of 0.5–1 logarithmic cycles in samples containing OLE, especially in EX1. The results of the present study indicate the potentiality of using OLE as natural preservatives in non-thermally stabilized olive-based pâté, since some spoilage-related microbial groups were negatively affected by the addition of OLE at the highest concentration.

Comparative Efficacy of Synthetic and Natural Tenderizers on Quality Characteristics of Restructured Spent Hen Meat Slices (RSHS)

In the present study, comparative efficacy of natural as well as synthetic tenderizers on the quality characteristics of restructured spent hen meat slices (RSHS) was studied. Four different batches of RSHS viz. Control (without any tenderizer), T1 (1.25% calcium chloride replacing salt in formulation), T2 and T3 (1.5% each of pineapple rind and fig powder, replacing binder in the formulation) were developed in pre-standardized formulation. Vacuum tumbling was performed for 2.5 h and cooked product (RSHS) was assayed for quality attributes. Samples were packaged in aerobic conditions, stored for 21 days under refrigeration (4±1°C) and were evaluated for pH, oxidative and microbial quality parameters at regular interval of 7 days. Water holding capacity of T2 was recorded the highest and significantly higher (p<0.05) than all other samples. The textural attributes of T2 were comparable to T1 but significantly higher (p<0.05) than C and T3. The colour attributes (L*, a*, and b* value) of T2 and T3 were improved due to use of natural tenderizers. During sensory evaluation, tenderness scores for T2 samples were recorded the highest. Throughout storage period, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), free fatty acids (FFA) and peroxide value (PV) followed an increasing trend for control as well as treated products; however, T2 showed a significantly (p<0.05) lower value than control and other treated samples. It can be concluded that good quality RSHS with better storage stability could be prepared by utilizing 1.5% pineapple rind powder as natural tenderizer.

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Sapota Powder in Pork Patties Stored under Different Packaging Conditions

The present study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of sapota powder (SP) as natural preservatives and its better utilization in food processing with the incorporation of various levels of SP (2, 4, and 6%) by replacing lean meat. Based on the sensory attributes, pork patties with 4% incorporation of SP was found optimum and selected for further storage studies with control under aerobic and modified atmosphere packaging at refrigeration temperature (4±1°C) for 42 days for assessing its antioxidant and antimicrobial efficiency. During entire storage period, indicators of lipid oxidative parameters such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), free fatty acids (FFA) and peroxide value (PV) followed an increasing trend for control as well as treated products; however, treated product showed a significantly (p<0.05) lower value than control. A significantly lower (p<0.05) microbial count in treated patties than control was noted during entire storage. The sensory attributes are better retained in treated product as compared to control and even on 42nd day, overall acceptability of treated patties was found to fall in moderately acceptable category (5.95 in aerobic packets and 5.91 in modified atmosphere packets). Therefore SP has potential to enhance antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of pork patties during storage.

Development of gluten-free fish (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans) patties by response surface methodology

The goal of this study was to develop a fish-based product suitable for people with celiac disease. Water and gluten-free flours (rice, corn, amaranth or quinoa) were added to improve cooking yield, texture parameters and as an aid in improving quality attributes such as taste and juiciness. Cooking yields of patties containing gluten-free flours were higher than control and maximum values ranged between 91 and 93%. Hardness was higher in patties made with amaranth or quinoa flour, whereas cohesiveness and springiness were higher in patties made with corn and rice flour, respectively. Response surface methodology was used to optimize patties formulations. Optimized formulations were prepared and evaluated showing a good agreement between predicted and experimental responses. Also, nutritional value and consumer acceptance of optimized formulations were analysed. Flours addition affected proximate composition increasing carbohydrates, total fat and mineral content compared to control. Sensory evaluation showed that no differences were found in the aroma of products. Addition of rice flour increased juiciness and tenderness whereas taste, overall acceptance and buying intention were higher in control patty, followed by patties made with corn flour. The present investigation shows good possibilities for further product development, including the scale up at an industrial level.