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Objective: In order to solve the phenomenon of low mechanical shelling efficiency and high kernel breakage rate of hazelnut, a vertical cone shell breaking machine was designed with automatic adjustment of clearance through compression spring. Methods: The key structure of the shell breaker was composed of three core components: the vertical cone inner roller, the slatted screen outer roller and the pressure spring device, and the stress of the hazelnuts in the shelling cavity of the shell breaker was analyzed. Results: The main parameters of the vertical cone hazelnut shell breaker were determined: the taper of the uniform cone was 30°, the inclination angle of the inner roller bus was 75°, the half cone angle was 15°, the surface groove was spiral, the groove depth was 3 mm, the inclination angle of the outer roller bus was 73°, the half cone angle was 17°, the free stroke of the compression spring design was 230 mm, the middle warp was 160 mm, the wire diameter was 24 mm, the effective number of turns was 6, the total number of turns was 8, and the effective speed range of the inner roller was 229.2～881.5 r/min. Conclusion: This design can automatically adjust the compression amount of the vertical cone shell breaker and adjust the shell breaking gap through the feeding amount, which can adapt to the fruit shape size of different hazelnuts, so that the hazelnut shelling efficiency and kernel preparation rate can be improved.

Objective: Determine the appropriate soymilk concentration and slurry depth to provide a theoretical reference for the efficient and high-quality production of yuba. Methods: The effect of soymilk solids concentration and slurry depth on the yield, film-forming rate, nutrient contents, mechanical properties, cooking loss rate, and rehydration ratio were investigated. Results: The optimal yield solids of yuba (34.68%) and highest nutritional value occurs when the soymilk solids concentration is 6% and the soymilk slurry depth is 6 cm, which presents 51.05% protein, 23.42% fats, and it also has good tensile strength and rehydration qualities, with respective measurements of 3.74 MPa and 3.80 g/g. Conclusion: Considering various factors such as yield, film formation rate and overall food quality, it is recommended to employ processing conditions with a soymilk solids concentration of 6% and a slurry depth of 6 cm for the efficient and high-quality production of yuba.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of drying methods on passion fruit peels. Methods: Passion fruit peels were treated with microwave vacuum freeze-drying, vacuum freeze-drying, heat pump drying, and far-infrared radiation drying. The drying characteristics, rehydration ratio, color difference, dietary fiber, functional properties, microstructure, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant properties were measured and determined respectively. Results: Heat pump-dried passion fruit peels had poor rehydration ratio and functional properties. Microwave vacuum freeze drying reduced the drying time by 53% when compared tp far-infrared radiation drying, and the microwave vacuum freeze-dried treated passion fruit peels had a higher rehydration ratio (7.45), total phenolic content (13.45 mg GAE/g DW) and antioxidant activity (DPPH was 38.53%, FRAP was 1.14 mmol/L). Additionally, the passion fruit peels were vacuum freeze-dried with treatment to increase their water holding capacity [(21.64±0.21) g/g], oil holding capacity [(6.09±0.71) g/g], swelling [(25.00±1.00) g/g], and total flavonoid content (7.84 mg RT/g DW). Different drying techniques led to higher rehydration ratios, and they also significantly differed (P＜0.05) in terms of dietary fiber, functional properties, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of the peels. Conclusion: The quality of passion fruit peel can be greatly affected by the drying process, and microwave vacuum freeze-drying is the most preferred technique.

Bioactive ingredients such as polyphenols and carotenoids have various health benefits such as anti-cancer and antioxidant activities. However, bioactive components are unstable and easily damaged in the gastrointestinal environment, making them unable to fully exert their functional effects. Proteins and polysaccharides can form complexes via non-covalent or covalent interactions, which have been widely used as encapsulation materials to enhance the stability and activity of bioactive compounds. This review summarizes the types of protein-polysaccharide complexes, and describes the application of the anti-solvent, pH-driven, thermal gelation and emulsification methods for the delivery of bioactive ingredients by protein-polysaccharide complexes. It is anticipated that this review will provide a reference for the research and application of bioactive compounds encapsulated in protein-polysaccharide complexes.

In this study, a composite hydrogel system was constructed by cross-linking of primary network hydrogels of gelatin (GE) and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) by transglutaminase (TGase) after addition of Lactobacillus plantarum in order to improve its viability and bioavailability. The experimental results showed that the modification by SHMP and TGase changed the gel strength, water distribution state, and gel network structure of gelatin, and reduced the gelation rate, so that the three-dimensional network structure of the gel was more stable, and the intermolecular forces of the composite hydrogel was stronger, contributing to the resistance of the encapsulated L. plantarum to adverse environments. The presence of L. plantarum was found to slightly disrupt the ordered structure of the hydrogel by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Endogenous fluorescence spectroscopy analysis showed that addition of L. plantarum resulted in the exposure of the extended region containing tryptophan within the GE molecule to a more polar environment. The steric effect occurred during the gelling process, delaying the formation of covalent crosslinks and physical interactions between the biopolymer molecules, which led to changes in their microstructure. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion tests and storage tests showed that L. plantarum encapsulated in GE/SHMP/TGase gels had better survival rates and gastrointestinal release properties compared to single GE-based hydrogels. It was confirmed that GE/SHMP/TGase hydrogels had a better protective effect on L. plantarum. In conclusion, this study has explored a new method for preparing GE-based hydrogels as a delivery system for probiotics, which will provide a theoretical basis for the development of probiotic functional foods.

This experiment investigated the effects of soaking treatment (for 45 min) with different color fixatives (0.1 g/100 mL citric acid, 0.2 g/100 mL citric acid, 0.2 g/100 mL sodium bicarbonate, and 1.0 g/100 mL sodium chloride solution) after blanching for two minutes on the browning inhibition and drying characteristics of daylily buds during hot air drying. The color, nutrient composition and microstructure of dried products were characterized, and the chemical structure was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The pretreatment conditions for dried daylily buds with improved commodity value were determined using principal component analysis (PCA). Results showed that the browning inhibitory effect of steam blanching was better than that of hot water blanching. The decreasing order of the browning inhibitory effects of color fixatives was 0.2 g/100 mL citric acid solution > 0.1 g/100 mL citric acid solution > 1.0 g/100 mL sodium chloride solution > 0.2 g/100 mL sodium bicarbonate solution. Daylily buds pretreated with 0.2 g/100 mL citric acid solution showed the highest drying rate, and the dried product had high rehydration ratio. Collectively, the dried product prepared by steaming followed by soaking with 0.2 g/100 mL citric acid solution had good quality with respect to color, flavonoid and polyphenol contents and microstructure. PCA indicated that the contents of polyphenols and 5-hydroxymethylhydrate were highly correlated with color and browning degree, and chewiness had the highest correlation with hardness. Out of the eight principal components, two (the first one included polyphenol content, browning degree and color difference, and the second one included hardness and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content) were extracted, which could well reflect the comprehensive information on the quality of dried daylily buds. This study can provide theoretical and technical references for the deep processing of daylily buds.

Summary: The inherent poor cooking quality and poor texture of mixed‐grain pasta limit consumer acceptance. This study systematically investigated the effect of curdlan in the processing of sweet potato puree oat mixed‐grain noodles, and comprehensively analysed a number of key indicators such as cooking characteristics, moisture state, texture properties, microstructure, starch crystallinity characteristics, short‐range ordered structure and thermal properties. At the production practice level, the study clearly indicated that the 0.6% curdlan addition ratio was the best solution in sweet potato puree oat mixed‐grain noodles processing. This finding not only significantly reduces the fracture rate, water absorption rate and cooking loss rate during the cooking process, but also significantly improves the quality and yield of the product, and brings significant improvement in the taste and texture of the noodles, which is of great significance for industrial production. In the microstructural and molecular studies, we revealed how curdlan could enhance the structural stability and mechanical strength of noodles by promoting the uniform distribution of starch granules in the gluten protein network. Further, through X‐ray diffraction, ordered structure and thermal property analyses, we have found that colchicine can effectively regulate the interactions of hydrogen bonding between starch and the content of straight‐chain and branched‐chain starch, which significantly reduces the crystallinity, ordered short‐chain structure and enthalpy of pasting of starch in the pasta. These in‐depth research results not only help us to understand more comprehensively the formation mechanism of the modification of pasta quality by curdlan, but also provide a solid theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the improvement of pasta quality in mixed grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The current work was carried out to enhance the quality (including product colour, rehydration performance, textural properties, product cracking rate and sensory evaluation) of microwave freeze‐dried prepared taro balls, a popular starch‐based food product, by synergistic addition of guar gum and sodium bicarbonate. The results showed that taro balls with added sodium bicarbonate had the shortest freeze‐drying time (153 min), but the high‐cracking rate (66.67%) was not acceptable to consumers. The addition of guar gum could effectively reduce the cracking rate (17.5%) during freeze‐drying of taro balls, but did not significantly improve sensory evaluation and textural properties. The combination of sodium bicarbonate and guar gum demonstrated satisfactory positive effects in increasing the rehydration rate of freeze‐dried taro balls (53.67%), maintaining the whiteness (WI = 84.52) and reducing the cracking rate (21.67%). Although sodium bicarbonate alone produced the best results in terms of sensory ratings and textural properties, there was no significant difference between the effects of sodium bicarbonate alone and the combination of the two food additives on rehydrated taro balls. Therefore, the combination of sodium bicarbonate and guar gum is an appropriate hybrid strategy for producing high quality freeze‐dried taro balls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: There is significant economic potential in reusing passion fruit peel as an industrial by‐product, and there has been enthusiasm for creating new goat milk yoghurt (GMY) products. Consequently, a thorough investigation regarding the impact of passion fruit peel on fermented GMY is crucial for the advancement of new food products. This study aimed to assess the impact of passion fruit peel powder (PFPP) on the quality characteristics, sensory properties, and antioxidant activity of GMY during storage. Six GMY formulations were prepared by varying the amount of PFPP addition (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5%). The results revealed that several characteristics of GMY were positively affected by the addition of PFPP, including the acidity, rheology, and texture property of the samples. It was observed that GMY with 1.0% addition of PFPP exhibited improved taste, flavour, and colour. Additionally, the total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanin, and antioxidant properties of GMY with PFPP were significantly increased across all levels. The results obtained from this study demonstrate that PFPP has the potential to be utilised in GMY to optimise the benefits of products with high antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Goji berries, renowned for their nutritional benefits, are traditionally dried to extend shelf life and preserve quality. However, conventional drying methods often result in uneven drying, color loss and reduced rehydration capacity. This study investigates an innovative hybrid strategy combining ultrasonic–ethyl oleate (US+AEEO) pretreatment with heat pump drying (HPD) to enhance the drying process of Goji berries.Fresh Goji berries underwent US+AEEO pretreatment, which significantly disrupted the waxy layer, enhancing drying efficiency and water infiltration during rehydration. Compared to freeze drying (FD), HPD combined with US+AEEO pretreatment resulted in higher retention of total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in the Goji soaking soup. Specifically, the HPD‐US+AEEO samples exhibited the highest TPC and TFC levels, significantly outperforming FD samples. Additionally, the DPPH and ABTS antioxidant assays demonstrated higher scavenging activities in HPD‐US+AEEO samples. The rehydration kinetics revealed that HPD samples had a superior rehydration rate and final moisture content compared to FD samples. Low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging analyses confirmed enhanced water distribution and higher mobility in HPD‐US+AEEO samples. Scanning electron microscopy indicated a more porous structure in US+AEEO‐treated samples, facilitating better water absorption and functional component retention.The combination of US+AEEO pretreatment with HPD significantly improves the drying process of Goji berries, enhancing nutrient retention, color preservation and rehydration properties. This innovative drying method offers a promising solution for producing high‐quality dried Goji berries, benefiting both the food industry and health‐conscious consumers. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the value proposition of sweet potato and oat while broadening their applicability in further processing, this study systematically investigated the impact of oat flour incorporation ratios (5%–25% of sweet potato dry weight) on the quality attributes of sweet potato–oat composite dough and its resulting steamed cake products. The results showed that the addition of oat flour could promote the rheological, water retention, and thermomechanical properties of the composite dough and improve the internal microstructure, specific volume, texture, and other processing properties of the steamed cake products. The rheology, water retention, and protein stability of the dough were maximized when the proportion of oat flour was 25%. The textural properties of steamed cakes, hardness, elasticity, cohesion, adhesion, chewiness, and recovery significantly increased (p < 0.05) and viscosity significantly decreased (p < 0.05) with the addition of oat flour. It is noteworthy that thermodynamic properties, internal structure of the dough, and air holding capacity, which are critical for processing, showed the best results at 20% oat flour addition. Therefore, the addition of 20%–25% oats is recommended to produce composite doughs with optimal quality and processing characteristics. Practical Application: As living standards improve, traditional cereals may no longer able to meet people's health needs. Therefore, there is an urgent consumer demand for nutritious, tasty alternatives to staple foods. In this study, oat flour and sweet potato mash were mixed to make sweet potato–oat cake, and the effect of ingredient ratio on the performance and quality of composite dough containing sweet potato–oat flour was analyzed, thus proposing an innovative approach to the research, development, and industrial production of sweet potato and oat food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of spray drying (SD), spray freeze‐drying (SFD), freeze‐drying (FD), and microwave freeze‐drying (MFD) on the characteristics of fish oil (FO) microcapsules. The physicochemical properties, morphology, fatty acid composition, and stability of the microcapsules were analyzed. The encapsulation efficiencies of microcapsules dried by SD, SFD, FD, and MFD were 86.98%, 77.79%, 63.29%, and 57.89%, respectively. SD microcapsules exhibited superior properties in terms of effective loading capacity, color, and flowability. Conversely, SFD microcapsules demonstrated improved solubility. Microencapsulation positively affected the thermal stability of FO, but the content of unsaturated fatty acids decreased. The findings from the storage experiment indicated that the oxidative stability of SD fish oil microcapsules was marginally lower compared to microcapsules produced through three alternative drying techniques, all of which were based on the FD concept. The comparison of various drying methods and their effects on the quality of FO microcapsules offers valuable insights that can serve as a foundation for the industrial production of high‐quality microcapsules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The current study introduces a novel infrared‐assisted spouted bed drying technique for the dehydration of green soybeans, which aims to enhance the drying quality and efficiency. The investigation involves an examination of the flow pattern in the spouted bed to obtain relevant data, followed by an optimization of the entire drying process. The drying process of green soybeans was simulated using SolidWorks and ANSYS Fluent software, based on the principles of computational fluid dynamics. RESULTS: The simulation test results showed that the simulation outcomes were consistent with the experimental data. The optimal conditions for the process of green soybean infrared‐assisted spouted bed drying were found to be an inlet speed of 8 m/s and a temperature of 50 °C with the wavelength and power settings of the infrared board at 10 μm and 500 W, respectively. CONCLUSION: The simulation method selected in this article, based on gas–solid two‐phase flow dynamics, is feasible for green soybean infrared‐assisted spouted bed drying process. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The edible rose (Rosa Crimson Glory) petals were dried using infrared‐assisted spouted bed drying technology. The effects of different drying temperature conditions (30, 35, 40, 45, and 50°C, as well as stepped heating drying [SHD] and stepped cooling drying) on the drying characteristics, physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, and changes in volatile flavor compounds of the rose petals were investigated. The results showed that the drying time was shortened with increasing drying temperature. Both variable temperature drying processes gave the shortest drying times. Optimal color retention of rose petals was achieved at a constant temperature of 40°C and SHD. Increased drying temperature resulted in higher water‐soluble polysaccharide content in the dried rose petals, whereas lower temperatures facilitated anthocyanin preservation. The variable temperature drying processes favored the retention of water‐soluble polysaccharides in rose petals, but not anthocyanins. Regarding antioxidant capacity, the samples dried at 40°C and those subjected to the two variable temperature drying processes performed better. This study also analyzed the differences in volatile flavor compounds of rose petals dried under different drying conditions. It was found that the majority of volatile flavor compounds in the rose petals dried by SHD exhibited higher content levels than the other drying conditions. Therefore, considering a thorough evaluation of all relevant factors, it was clear that utilizing the SHD process was the most efficient method for obtaining the best quality rose petals overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]