Search

Summary: Dysphagia and difficulty swallowing, lead to a heightened risk of respiratory disorders and malnutrition. This study aimed to assess the physicochemical and sensory properties of a branched‐chain amino acids‐fortified perilla mousse (PM) and its retorted version (RPM) to determine their suitability for dysphagia patients. PM and RPM were evaluated for texture, colour, free amino acids content, sensory acceptance, and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) levels were determined. The results showed that PM and RPM met IDDSI Levels 3–4. RPM exhibited a redder, darker colour and a firmer texture compared with PM. Moreover, RPM showed no syneresis and maintained high viscoelasticity from 20 °C to 80 °C. Additionally, retort sterilisation increased essential amino acid levels in RPM, and it received high sensory acceptance. This mousse offers a promising option for dysphagia patients, providing enhanced nutritional value with ease of swallowing. Future research should explore the long‐term impacts on dysphagia management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Aquasoya, or soybean cooking water, is a novel plant‐based material as an egg substitute due to its functional proteins. However, research on its fermentation is still emergent. To assess its prebiotic potential, we developed a plant‐based yoghurt alternative using aquasoya powder (ASP). After analysing the main components of ASP, six variants of aquasoya yoghurt, employing commercial cultures, underwent physicochemical, rheological properties, lactic acid bacteria viability and sensory attributes. The results showed that all samples were maintained under pH 4.6 and acidity over 0.7 for 20 days of storage and displayed prebiotic potential. Additionally, yoghurt with 8% ASP content and Sacco starter culture exhibited a thinner network phase. Panellists noted yoghurt with culture – Culture For Health – had weaker flavour intensity and yoghurt with 8% ASP received the highest overall liking score in the preliminary consumer acceptance test. This study established aquasoya as a promising food ingredient for incorporation into a novel milk substitute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Aquasoya (AS) powder arouses great interest as a cost‐effective vegan ingredient. In our study, AS was used to develop vegan ice cream products. Different total solid content (TSC) (31%, 33%, 35%, 37%, and 39% w/w) of ice cream mix was changed by the addition of AS powder. pH, emulsion properties, brix, colour, viscosity, overrun, melting properties, texture profile analysis (TPA), and sensory evaluations were investigated. The pH of each AS (31%, 33%, 35%, 37%, 39%) ice cream mix sample was 5.70–5.81, with no significant variance in AS content. Notably, the 39% AS led to higher Brix and viscosity scores. Moreover, the highest overrun in AS ice cream was observed in the sample containing 39% TSC. In contrast, the 31%, 33%, and 35% samples exhibited lower viscosities. However, the 37% and 39% samples displayed higher viscosities, leading to a longer‐lasting appearance. Regarding sensory evaluation, the 39% sample received the highest ratings for overall taste intensity, colour, smell, bean smell, flavour, taste, astringency, and bitterness. However, it scored the lowest for sweetness, softness, and melting degree. Generally, a higher AS content corresponds to stronger overall characteristics. Additionally, acceptance evaluations showed that panels tended to favour ice cream with lower AS content. All these findings suggest that AS ice cream could be potentially developed using vegan ingredients, offering enhanced nutritional and sensory attributes while serving as an effective emulsifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Black soybean cooking water (BSCW), a by‐product of the soybean paste industry, is a novel foaming and emulsifying material. Its application, however, is limited to sauces and bakery goods. To expand its use, this research explored its binding and texturising abilities on a plant‐based patty. This vegan patty was developed including methylcellulose (MC) at 3% or BSCW powder at 3, 6 and 12%, and their functional and textural characteristics were analysed. Adding BSCW powder at 12% resulted in enhanced fluid retention parameters, namely, decreased cooking loss (9.98 ± 0.72%; control: 12.64 ± 0.36%) and increased binding capacity (86.18 ± 0.47%; control: 83.26 ± 1.94%). Texturally, BSCW powder enhanced the hardness and adhesiveness of the patties. Consequently, BSCW powder could improve the characteristics of a minced‐type vegan food similar to MC constituting an alternative plant‐based ingredient that is environmentally friendly due to being sourced from an upcycled material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Legume cooking water (CW) is a food by‐product with the potential of becoming a plant‐based egg white replacement; however, limited research has been performed on processes to propel its industrialisation. Consequently, this study assessed the impact of concentration methods (thin‐film evaporation; cryoconcentration [CC]; and stove‐top boiling [BL]) on the composition and characteristics of spray‐dried CW powders. CW was concentrated from 6.8 to 22 °Brix. Subsequent analyses showed that the powder characteristics were an outcome of their particle size and composition. CC powders with 18.56 ± 0.85% protein and D50 = 0.14 ± 0.01 μm presented the lowest‐performing functionality. Conversely, BL powders (25.13 ± 0.50% protein and D50 = 3.70 ± 0.47 μm) displayed enhanced emulsification and foaming. Hence, the properties of CW improved with thermal concentration. These results lay the ground for selecting and optimising a concentration procedure aiming to industrialise the production of CW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured the stability and the sensory and textural properties of rice chiffon cake batter and cake prepared with various sugar alcohols in place of sucrose. Mannitol substitution increased batter stability by 30% that of sugar cake and specific volume, allowing greater air retention than that achieved with other polyols, as well as formation of networks with equal cells. Nevertheless, the 100% sensory score of mannitol-substituted cake was low because of dryness. In contrast, maltitol, sorbitol and xylitol had no effect on the textural properties of cake batter and baked products. The sweetness and overall acceptability of chiffon cakes prepared with maltitol, sorbitol and xylitol, but not mannitol, were similar to those of sugar-added rice chiffon cake. In conclusion, maltitol, sorbitol and xylitol can be used to prepare low-calorie, gluten-free rice chiffon cake without affecting its quality. Practical Applications Previous studies have reported rice flour substitutions of 0-100% in products such as sponge cake, yellow layer cake, butter cake and chiffon cake. The use of sugar alcohols (polyols) as bulking agents for low-calorie baked products has been tested previously. In this study, maltitol, sorbitol and xylitol could replace sucrose in rice chiffon cake with no significant changes in batter stability or baking and sensory properties. However, mannitol had an unfavorable impact on textural and sensory qualities, although it increased batter stability and loaf volume of the baked cake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]