Modeling water loss and oil uptake during vacuum frying of pre-treated potato slices

The objective of this research was to determine the kinetics of water loss and oil uptake during frying of pre-treated potato slices under vacuum and atmospheric pressure. Potato slices (diameter: 30 mm; width: 3 mm) were pre-treated in the following ways: (i) raw potato slices “control”; (ii) control slices were blanched in hot water at 85 °C for 3.5 min; (iii) blanched slices were dried in hot air until reaching a moisture content of ∼0.6 g water/g dry basis. The slices were fried under vacuum (5.37 kPa, absolute pressure, at 120, 130 and 140 °C) and atmospheric conditions (at 180 °C). Two models based on the Fick's law were used to describe water loss: (i) with a constant effective diffusive coefficient; and (ii) with a variable effective diffusive coefficient. Oil uptake data were fitted to an empirical model, with a linear behavior for short times whereas the model was time independent for long times. The variable diffusivity model better fitted experimental water loss, giving values of effective diffusivity between 4.73 × 10⁻⁹ and 1.80 × 10⁻⁸ m²/s. The proposed model for the study of the kinetics of oil uptake fitted the experimental data properly. Control and blanched vacuum fried potato chips increased their final oil contents to 57.1% and 75.4% respectively, when compared with those fried at atmospheric pressure. However, the oil absorption of dried vacuum fried potato chips diminished by ∼30%.     

Oil uptake and texture development in fried potato slices

The objective of this work was to study oil absorption and the kinetics of texture development of fried potato slices during frying. Prior to frying, potato slices were blanched in hot water at 85 °C for 3.5 min. Unblanched slices were used as the control. Control and blanched potato slices (Panda variety, diameter: 37 mm, width: 2.2 mm) were fried at 120, 150 and 180 °C until reaching moisture contents of 1.8% (total basis) and their texture and oil content were measured periodically. Oil uptake was higher in 15% for blanched samples than for control samples after 20 s of frying. Besides, the higher the frying temperature, the lower the oil absorption in control samples. Textural changes in fried potato slices were followed by the parameter maximum force (MF) extracted from the force vs. distance curves corresponding to different sampling times. Normalized maximum force (MF*) was used in modeling textural changes in the potato slices during frying in both the initial tissue softening process and the later crust development process. Higher temperatures accelerated these processes; however neither the temperature nor the pre-treatment had a significant effect (P > 0.05) over the final texture of the fried potato chips.     

Reduction of acrylamide formation in potato slices during frying

Reduction of acrylamide formation in potato chips was investigated in relation to frying temperature and three treatments before frying. Potato slices (Tivoli variety, diameter: 37 mm, width: 2.2 mm) were fried at 150°C, 170°C and 190°C until reaching moisture contents of ∼1.7 g water/100 g (total basis). Prior to frying, potato slices were treated in one of the following ways: (i) soaked in distilled water for 0 min (control), 40 min and 90 min; (ii) blanched in hot water at six different time-temperature combinations (50°C for 30 and 70 min; 70°C for 8 and 40 min; 90°C for 2 and 9 min); (iii) immersed in citric acid solutions of different concentrations (10 and 20 g/l) for half an hour. Glucose and asparagine concentration was determined in potato slices before frying, whereas acrylamide content was determined in the resultant fried potato chips. Glucose content decreased in ∼32% in potato slices soaked 90 min in distilled water. Soaked slices showed on average a reduction of acrylamide formation of 27%, 38% and 20% at 150°C, 170°C and 190°C, respectively, when they were compared against the control. Blanching reduced on average 76% and 68% of the glucose and asparagine content compared to the control. Potato slices blanched at 50°C for 70 min surprisingly had a very low acrylamide content (28 μm/kg) even when they were fried at 190°C. Potato immersion in citric acid solutions of 10 and 20 g/l reduced acrylamide formation by almost 70% for slices fried at 150°C. For the three pre-treatments studied, acrylamide formation increased dramatically as the frying temperature increased from 150°C to 190°C.     

The effect of asparaginase on acrylamide formation in French fries

Acrylamide formation in French fries was investigated in relation to blanching and asparaginase soaking treatments before final frying. Par-fried potatoes of Bintje variety were prepared by cutting strips (0.8 × 0.8 × 5 cm) which were blanched at 75 °C for 10 min. Unblanched strips were used as the control. Control or blanched strips were then dried at 85 °C for 10 min and immediately partially fried at 175 °C for 1 min. Finally, frozen par-fried potatoes were fried at 175 °C for 3 min to obtain French fries. Pre-drying of raw or blanched potato strips did not generate acrylamide formation as expected. Partial frying of pre-dried control potato strips generated 370 μg/kg of acrylamide and the final frying determined French fries with 2075 μg/kg of acrylamide. When control potato strips were treated with a 10000 ASNU/l asparaginase solution at 40 °C for 20 min, the acrylamide formation in French fries was reduced by 30%. When blanched potato strips were treated in the same way, the produced French fries have 60% less acrylamide content than blanched strips without the enzyme treatment. Soaking of blanched potato strips (75 °C, 10 min) in an 10000 ASNU/l asparaginase solution at 40 °C for 20 min is an effective way to reduce acrylamide formation after frying by reducing the amount of one of its important precursors such as asparagine.     

Comparative study of physical and sensory properties of pre-treated potato slices during vacuum and atmospheric frying

The objective of this research was to study the effect of different processing conditions on physical and sensory properties of potato chips. Potato slices of Desirée and Panda varieties (diameter: 30 mm; thickness: 3 mm) were pre-treated in the following ways: (i) control or unblanched slices without pre-drying; (ii) blanched slices in hot water at 85 °C for 3.5 min and air-dried at 60 °C until a final moisture content of ∼0.6 kg water/kg dry solid; (iii) control slices soaked in a 3.5 kg/m³ sodium metabisulphite solution at 20 °C for 3 min and pH adjusted to 3. Pre-treated slices were fried at 120 and 140 °C under vacuum conditions (5.37 kPa, absolute pressure) and under atmospheric pressure until they reached a final moisture content of ∼1.8 kg water/100 kg (wet basis). An experimental design (3 × 2³) was used to analyze the effect of pre-treatment, potato variety, type of frying and frying temperature over the following responses: oil content, instrumental color and texture and sensory evaluation. Vacuum frying increased significantly (p < 0.05) oil content and decreased instrumental color and textural parameters. Sensory attributes, flavor quality and overall quality, were significantly improved using vacuum frying. The higher frying temperature (140 °C) increased ΔE, maximum breaking force, hardness and crispness and decreased L^* and b^* values. On the other hand, Panda potato variety improved the color of the product. A great improvement on color parameters was obtained using sulphited potato slices instead of the other pre-treatments. Although, the better flavor was obtained for control potato chips, no significant differences were found for overall quality between control and sulphited potato chips. Significant correlations (p < 0.01) between sensory and instrumental responses were found.     

Color changes and acrylamide formation in fried potato slices

The objective of this work was to study the kinetics of browning during deep-fat frying of blanched and unblanched potato chips by using the dynamic method and to find a relationship between browning development and acrylamide formation. Prior to frying, potato slices were blanched in hot water at 85 °C for 3.5 min. Unblanched slices were used as the control. Control and blanched potato slices (Panda variety, diameter: 37 mm, width: 2.2 mm) were fried at 120, 150 and 180 °C until reaching moisture contents of ∼1.8% (total basis) and their acrylamide content and final color were measured. Color changes were recorded at different sampling times during frying at the three mentioned temperatures using the chromatic redness parameter a¹. Experimental data of surface temperature, moisture content and color change in potato chips during frying were fit to empirical relationships, with correlation coefficients greater than 90%. A first-order rate equation was used to model the kinetics of color change. In all cases, the Arrhenius activation energy decreases alongside with decreasing chip moisture content. Blanching reduced acrylamide formation in potato chips in ∼64% (average value) in comparison with control chips at the three oil temperatures tested. For the two pre-treatments studied, average acrylamide content increased ∼58 times as the frying temperature increased from 120 to 180 °C. There was a linear correlation between acrylamide content of potato chips and their color represented by the redness component a¹ in the range of the temperatures studied.     

Pore development in chicken meat during deep-fat frying

In this study, the effect frying oil temperature (FOT) and frying time on pore development was investigated during deep-fat frying (DFF) of chicken breast meat. The samples were sized to the following dimension: length×width×thickness=20×15×10 mm, and were fried at different FOTs (170°C, 180°C, and 190°C) in an industrial fryer for periods varying from 5 to 900 s. Oil uptake analysis was conducted by soxhlet extraction method with petroleum ether as the base extraction solvent. Pore development computation was based on the densities (bulk and apparent) measured after the end of each frying time with a fluid displacement pycnometry. The process variables significantly (P<0.01) influenced pore development in chicken meat during DFF. The final oil uptake was found to have influenced pore development. A goodness-of-fit test suggest linear model fitted well to the pore development and moisture loss experimental data while exponential model gave the best fit for pore development and oil uptake in chicken meat. A porosity of 0.28, 0.24 and 0.22 were found at FOT (170°C, 180°C, and 190°C), respectively.     

Comparison between atmospheric and vacuum frying of apple slices

Vacuum deep-fat frying is a new technology that can be used to improve quality attributes of fried food because of the low temperatures employed and minimal exposure to oxygen. In this paper atmospheric and vacuum frying of apple slices were compared, in terms of oil uptake, moisture loss and color development. In addition, some apple slices were pre-dried (up to 64% w.b.) before vacuum frying to determine the overall effect. To carry out appropriate comparisons between both technologies equivalent thermal driving forces were used in both processes (ΔT = 40, 50, 60 °C), keeping a constant difference between the oil temperature and the boiling point of water at the working pressure. Vacuum frying was shown to be a promising technique that can be used to reduce oil content in fried apple slices while preserving the color of the product. Particularly, drying prior to vacuum frying was shown to give the best results. For instance, when using a driving force of ΔT = 60 °C, pre-dried vacuum fried slices absorbed less than 50% of the oil absorbed by atmospheric fried ones. Interestingly, a strong relationship between water loss and oil content was observed in both technologies, allowing the extension of observations that have been made for atmospheric frying.     

Acrylamide reduction in potato chips by using commercial asparaginase in combination with conventional blanching

In this research acrylamide reduction in potato chips was investigated in relation to blanching and asparaginase immersion treatments before final frying. Potatoes slices (Verdi variety, diameter: 40 mm, thickness: 2.0 mm) were fried at 170 °C for 5 min (final moisture content of ∼2.0 g/100 g). Prior to frying, potato slices were treated in one of the following ways: (i) Rinsing in distilled water (control I); (ii) Rinsing in distilled water plus blanching in hot water at 85 °C for 3.5 min; (iii) Rinsing in distilled water plus immersion in an asparaginase solution (10000 ASNU/L) at 50 °C for 20 min; (iv) Rinsing in distilled water plus blanching in hot water at 85 °C for 3.5 min plus immersion in an asparaginase solution (10000 ASNU/L) at 50 °C for 20 min; (v) Rinsing in distilled water plus blanching in hot water at 85 °C for 3.5 min plus immersion in distilled water at 50 °C for 20 min (control II). Blanching in hot water (ii) was almost as effective as asparaginase potato immersion (iii) in order to diminish acrylamide formation in potato chips (acrylamide reduction was ∼17% of the initial acrylamide concentration). When potato slices were blanched before asparaginase immersion, the acrylamide content of the resultant potato chips was reduced considerably by almost 90%. We have demonstrated that blanching of potato slices plus asparaginase treatment is an effective combination for acrylamide mitigation during frying. It seems to be that blanching provokes changes in the microstructure of potato tissue leading to an easier and more effective diffusion of asparaginase.     

EVALUATION OF THE TEXTURE OF FRIED POTATOES

Texture of potatoes with different shapes (slices and strips) were evaluated after frying and in some cases after baking. Blanched and unblanched potato slices (Bintje variety) were fried at four oil temperatures: 160, 170, 180 and 190C until reaching a moisture content of ∼1.7%. A puncture test with three point support for the slices was applied to measure the texture of potato chips using the following parameters extracted from the force versus distance curves: maximum force of break (MFB) and deformation of break (DB). These two parameters were useful to follow the changes in texture of the fried slices with moisture content at different frying temperatures. Blanched and unblanched potato strips were partially fried at 160C and 190C for 60, 90 and 120 s. The par-fried potatoes were frozen at -20C for one day after which they were baked at 200C for 15 min. The texture of the baked potato strips was evaluated using a bending test with two support points. From the force versus distance curves, two parameters were extracted: maximum force of deformation (MFD) and maximum deformation (MD). Significant higher MFB and lower DB values (P > 0.1) for unblanched fried slices indicate that these are crispier than blanched chips for moisture contents lower than 4% (6.59 N and 0.62 mm vs 5.74 N and vs 0.75 mm for unblanched and blanched chips, respectively, average values for the four frying temperatures employed). There was no effect of the frying temperature and the pretreatment (blanching or unblanching) on the texture of the frozen par-fried potatoes after baking when compared at the same residual moisture content, but blanched potato strips lost moisture more slowly both in frying and in baking.     

Quality changes in chicken nuggets fried in oils with different degrees of hydrogenatation

Quality changes in chicken nuggets fried in different mixtures of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated canola oils were studied. Colour, texture, oil and moisture contents of the chicken nugget samples fried at 190 °C for 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 300 s were investigated. The proportions of hydrogenated to non-hydrogenated frying oils used in the study were 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%.Results indicate that increase in frying time resulted in decreased product lightness (L*) whereas redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) increased. The maximum load to puncture increased with increasing frying time. In addition, oil content increased slowly with frying time, and moisture content decreased as expected. Both frying times and oil types have significant effects on the quality parameters investigated. First-order kinetic equation was used to describe colour changes as well as oil and moisture contents of the samples. Oil and moisture contents had negative correlation relationship. With increasing degree of oil hydrogenation, the surface colour of the fried chicken nuggets samples were lighter, texture increased, oil and moisture contents decreased.     

Oil partitioning between surface and structure of deep-fat fried potato slices: A kinetic study

The present work deals with the kinetics of partitioning of oil on the surface as well as in the structure during holding of fried potato slices at elevated temperatures (100, 120, 140, 160 and 180 °C) compared with controls. After frying, the oil present on the surface migrates into structure due to condensation of vapor inside the product resulting in the creation of a vacuum. However, the oil present on the surface need not migrate into the structure, if the fried product is held at elevated temperatures. Further, the excess oil, which did not migrate into structure, can be removed by absorbent paper. The oil partition coefficient, defined as the ratio of oil present on the surface to the structure, during holding of samples at 180 °C was found to be 3.06, whereas the oil partition coefficient of the sample held at ambient temperature was 0.53, which indicates the availability of oil on the surface of fried product held at elevated temperature. The mass transfer coefficient of oil corroborated with the above finding. The holding of deep-fat fried product at 180 °C followed by the removal of oil from the surface using high absorbent paper reduced the oil content of the final product from 0.440 to 0.332 kg of oil/kg dry solids.     

Effect of microwave pre-thawing of frozen potato strips on acrylamide level and quality of French fries

The objective of this study was to reduce frying time, and hence acrylamide level of French fries by microwave pre-thawing of frozen potato strips. Effect of this pre-treatment on acrylamide content and quality attributes of French fries was determined. Frozen par-fried potato strips (8.5 × 8.5 × 70 mm) were thawed in a microwave oven prior to final frying in sunflower oil at 170, 180, and 190 °C. Potato strips that were final fried without pre-thawing were considered as the control. Acrylamide analysis was performed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method. Microwave pre-thawing of frozen strips reduced the acrylamide level of French fries by 10% (from 17.7 to 15.9 ng/g), 89% (from 72.1 to 8.0 ng/g), and 64% (from 50.5 to 18.4 ng/g) for frying at 170, 180, and 190 °C, respectively, in comparison to the control samples. Quality attributes (texture, color, and oil content) of pre-treated strips were found to be comparable to those of the control.     

Effect of microwave pretreatment on mass transfer during deep-fat frying of chicken nugget

The effect of a microwave pretreatment at different time duration on the mass transfer of chicken nuggets during deep-fat frying was studied. Coated chicken nugget samples pretreated in a microwave oven for 1-2 min were fried at 160 °C for times ranging from 0 to 300 s to evaluate the mass transfer as compared to the samples without a microwave pretreatment. Microwave pretreatment had a significant effect on moisture loss and oil uptake of chicken nuggets during deep-fat frying.     

Formation of trans fatty acids in edible oils during the frying and heating process

To assess an impact of heated edible oils on intake of trans fat, the formations of trans fatty acids (TFAs) in cooking conditions was estimated by a frying and heating model system. For the frying model, sliced raw potatoes (10% of the frying oil (w/w)) were fried in commercially available canola oil at 160, 180 and 200 °C, and the 10 frying cycles were performed. The TFAs contained both in fried potatoes and in frying oils were measured by gas chromatography (GC). Lipids content of raw potatoes was about 0.1% (w/w) and TFAs in the raw potatoes were negligible. On the other hand, fried potatoes contained lipids at the level of 8.8%–9.2% and their fatty acid composition was mostly in correspondence with that of the frying oil. The TFAs amount of potatoes fried by the tenth frying operation was at the level of 0.99–1.05 g/100 g lipids. When 100 g potatoes fried in this process were consumed, the TFAs intake was estimated at less than 0.1 g. After 10 frying operations, TFAs content, acid values and peroxide values of the frying oils were measured and compared with those of corresponding heated canola oils without food. The amounts of trans 18:1 FAs contained both in the frying oil and in heated oil were less than the quantitative limit (0.047 g/100 g oil). The increases of trans 18:2 FAs and trans 18:3 FAs of the used frying oil were 0.02 g/100 and 0.05 g/100 g, respectively, compared with those of the fresh oil. trans 18:2 FAs accumulation in the heated oil was slightly less than that in the frying oil. To elucidate TFAs accumulation in various edible oils during cooking, six kinds of commercially available edible vegetable oils were heated to 180 °C in glass test tubes. Small changes in TFAs amounts were observed after four hours heating. These results suggested that an ordinary frying process using unhydrogenated edible oils has little impact on TFAs intake from edible oils.     

Vacuum frying of high-quality fruit and vegetable-based snacks

Sweet potato, green beans, Tommy Atkins mango, and blue potato were fried in a vacuum frying process at a temperature of 120-130 ± 1°C. Before frying, green beans and mango slices were soaked in a 50% maltodextrine 0.15% citric acid solution. The products were also fried in a traditional (atmospheric pressure) fryer at 160-165 ± 1°C for 4 min. A 30-member consumer panel rated the sensory quality of both types of fried snacks using a 1-9 hedonic scale. Compared with traditional frying, oil content of vacuum-fried sweet-potato chips and green beans was 24% and 16% lower, respectively. Blue potato and mango chips had 6% and 5% more oil, respectively, than the traditional-fried samples. Anthocyanin (mg/100 g d.b.) of vacuum-fried blue potato chips was 60% higher. Final total carotenoids (mg/g d.b.) were higher by 18% for green beans, 19% for mango chips, and by 51% for sweet-potato chips. Sensory panelists overwhelmingly preferred (p < 0.05) the vacuum-fried products for color, texture, taste, and overall quality. Most of the products retained or accentuated their original colors when fried under vacuum. The traditional-fried products showed excessive darkening and scorching. These results support the applicability of vacuum frying technology to provide high-quality fruit and vegetable snacks.     

Experimental measurement of physical pressure in foods during frying

Two important factors affecting the oil uptake in foods during deep fat frying are water content and pressure development. In the past frying studies, the physical pressure has not been measured experimentally but was calculated using computer models, which has resulted in disagreements about its magnitude. The present study tries to explain the complex mass transfer mechanisms taking place during deep fat frying with respect to real time pressure variations inside potato discs and chicken nuggets. Frying experiments were performed at two temperatures of 175 °C and 190 °C for 200 and 240 s for potato discs and chicken nuggets, respectively. The gage pressure increased rapidly above the atmospheric pressure immediately after the samples were introduced into the hot oil. The rise in pressure was greater in potato discs with greater initial moisture content. This was expected due to sudden moisture flash-off. As frying progressed, the temperature inside the samples increased whereas the gage pressure started decreasing and became negative. The onset of negative pressure was observed during initial stages of frying for chicken nuggets, but in the middle of frying for potato discs. The negative pressure values before the product is taken outside the fryer may cause increased oil uptake during frying itself. During the post frying cooling, the pressure further decreased and reached negative values. The negative pressure is expected to have caused rapid absorption of surface oil during both frying and cooling stages.     

Optimization of processing conditions to reduce oil uptake and enhance physico-chemical properties of deep fried rice crackers

Physico-chemical properties of fried rice crackers were studied as a function of fish powder content, processing conditions, frying temperature and frying time. The results showed that addition of fish powder content at 5, 10 and 15 g/100 g reduced the oil uptake by approximately 10, 14 and 22 g/100 g (db), respectively in comparison to the control without fish powder. The deep fried rice crackers mixed with fish powder tended to be lower in hardness, lower in expansion ratio and higher in bulk density in comparison to the control sample. The color parameter, L^∗ of fried rice crackers decreased with increase in fish powder content. In contrast, a^∗ and b^∗ values increased with increase in fish powder content. The moisture content of deep fried rice crackers decreased with increase in frying temperature and frying time. The oil uptake in fried rice crackers increased with increase in frying time but decreased with increase in frying temperature. With increase in frying temperature and time, the texture of rice crackers became harder, the bulk density increased, and the expansion ratio decreased. The optimum conditions resulting in desirable physico-chemical properties and minimum oil uptake were rice crackers with fish powder content of 9 g/100 g, fried at a temperature of 220 °C for 60 s.     

Acrylamide Mitigation in Potato Chips by Using NaCl

In April 2002, Swedish researchers shocked the world when they presented preliminary findings on the presence of acrylamide in fried and baked foods, most notably potato chips and French fries, at levels of 30–2,300 ppb. The objective of this research was to study the effect of immersing potato slices in a NaCl solution over the acrylamide formation in the resultant potato chips. Potato slices (Verdi variety, diameter 40 mm, width 2.0 mm) were fried at 170 °C for 5 min (final moisture content of ∼2.0%). Prior to frying, the potato slices were treated in one of the following ways: (1) control slices (unblanched or raw potato slices); (2) slices blanched at 90 °C for 5 min in water; (3) slices blanched at 90 °C for 5 min plus immersed in a 1 g/100 g NaCl solution at 25 °C for 5 min; (4) slices blanched at 90 °C for 5 min plus immersed in a 3 g/100 g NaCl solution at 25 °C for 5 min; (5) slices blanched at 90 °C for 5 min plus immersed in distilled water at 25 °C for 5 min; and (6) slices blanched at 90 °C for 5 min in a 3 g/100 g NaCl solution. Blanching followed by the immersion of potato slices in 1 g/100 g NaCl solution was effective in reducing acrylamide content in ∼62%; however, almost half of this percentage (∼27%) could be attributed to the effect of NaCl and 35% to the effect of the slight heating treatment during salt immersion step (25 °C for 5 min). Blanching seems to make the NaCl diffusion in potato tissue easier leading to a significant acrylamide reduction in the potato slices after frying.     

Effect of hydrocolloid coatings on the heat transfer and oil uptake during frying of potato strips

The effect of the hydrocolloid coatings (gellan gum and guar gum) of a food matrix on the heat transfer during a frying process was investigated and correlated with the oil uptake. While the potato strips coated with the hydrocolloid solutions were fried at 170 °C, the hydrocolloid coatings significantly reduced the heat transfer coefficients as well as oil uptake which became more apparent at higher concentrations. Thus, the oil uptake was found to have a good polynomial correlation (R² > 0.99) with heat transfer coefficients, suggesting that a rapid heat transfer led to an increase in the oil content of the fried samples.