Effects of low‐temperature blanching on tissue firmness and cell wall strengthening during sweet potato flour processing

Free starch rate has been one of the most important criterions to evaluate the quality of sweet potato flour. Low‐temperature blanching (LTB) of sweet potatoes before steam cooking has shown significant increase in tissue firmness and cell wall strengthening. This research indicated that pectin methylesterase (PME) activity decreased by 87.8% after 30 min of blanching in water at 60 °C, while polygalacturonase (PG) and β‐amylase activity decreased 69.4% and 7.44%, respectively, under the same condition. Both PME and β‐amylase played important roles in tissue firmness. Further studies of tissue firmness and methyl esterification showed that the combination of LTB and Ca²⁺ could increase the activity of PME and significantly enhance the pectin gel hardness to strengthen the cell walls and decrease free starch rate from 12.83% to 7.28%.     

Physico‐Chemical and Structural Characteristics of Vegetables Cooked Under Sous‐Vide,Cook‐Vide,and Conventional Boiling

In this paper, physico‐chemical and structural properties of cut and cooked purple‐flesh potato, green bean pods, and carrots have been studied. Three different cooking methods have been applied: traditional cooking (boiling water at 100 °C), cook‐vide (at 80 and 90 °C) and sous‐vide (at 80 °C and 90 °C). Similar firmness was obtained in potato applying the same cooking time using traditional cooking (100 °C), and cook‐vide and sous‐vide at 90 °C, while in green beans and carrots the application of the sous‐vide (90 °C) required longer cooking times than cook‐vide (90 °C) and traditional cooking (100 °C). Losses in anthocyanins (for purple‐flesh potatoes) and ascorbic acid (for green beans) were higher applying traditional cooking. β‐Carotene extraction increased in carrots with traditional cooking and cook‐vide (P < 0.05). Cryo‐SEM micrographs suggested higher swelling pressure of starch in potatoes cells cooked in contact with water, such as traditional cooking and cook‐vide. Traditional cooking was the most aggressive treatment in green beans because the secondary walls were reduced compared with sous‐vide and cook‐vide. Sous‐vide preserved organelles in the carrot cells, which could explain the lower extraction of β‐carotene compared with cook‐vide and traditional cooking. Sous‐vide cooking of purple‐flesh potato is recommended to maintain its high anthocyanin content. Traditional boiling could be recommended for carrots because increase β‐carotenes availability. For green beans, cook‐vide, and sous‐vide provided products with higher ascorbic acid content.     

Effect of steam cooking on the residual enzymatic activity of potatoes cv. Agria

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to study the influence of steam cooking on pectin methylesterase (PME) and endogenous α‐ and β‐amylase activities in different tissues (cortex and pith) of raw and heat‐treated potatoes cv. Agria. Three different cooking temperatures were chosen (55, 70 and 85 °C). For each cooking trial, time–temperature profiles were recorded and the degree of cooking was expressed in terms of cooking factor. RESULTS: Steam cooking contributed to significantly activate PME at 55 °C and to reduce its activity at the final processing temperature (85 °C), with the highest amount in the cortex (0.3745 ± 0.0007 µmol galacturonic acid (GA) g^?1 fresh weight (FW) min^?1) compared with the pith (0.2617 ± 0.0012 µmol GA g^?1 FW min^?1). The presence of heat‐labile and heat‐stable isoforms of PME in the considered potato tissues was also assumed. Heat treatment by steam resulted in a significant decrease in endogenous α‐ and β‐amylase activities in both tissues compared with the raw potato, though without complete deactivation. Starch‐degrading enzymes were also found to be differently distributed in the raw tuber. CONCLUSION: Steam cooking affected in different ways the assessed residual enzymatic activity in the considered tissues of potatoes cv. Agria. Further research is needed to confirm the results obtained. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Transfer of heat and moisture during microwave baking of potatoes

Microwave baking of potatoes comprised two phases. In the first phase the internal temperature of the potatoes rose to approximately 100 °C with little loss of water vapour. The uniformity of internal heating during this phase was assessed by identifying gelatinised starch. Starch gelatinisation began near the outer surface after 1.5 min of cooking and was complete by 2.5 min. During the second cooking phase the thermal energy absorbed was used to evaporate water. When immersion in boiling water was substituted for this second phase of microwave cooking, it took significantly longer for the internal texture to soften adequately for the potatoes to be considered cooked. This suggests that microwave cooking influences texture independently of the thermal profile of the cooking process. Damage by escaping steam is suggested as a mechanism. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Texture and Microstructure of Steam Cooked, Vacuum Packed Potatoes

Uniaxial compression tests combined with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to study textural properties of vacuum packed, steam cooked (VPS-cooked) potato tubers. Comparisons were made with conventionally water cooked tubers for cooking intervals of 0–60 min. In the VPS-cooked potatoes the gelatinized starch formed dense clusters. In contrast, water cooked cells were filled with gelatinized starch. The textural attributes declined with increased cooking time, faster for water cooked potatoes than for VPS-cooked. After >30 min cooking, firmness of VPS-cooked potatoes increased, while cell separation and disintegration of tissue made the water cooked tubers less firm. Textural properties and cell structure were directly affected by processing conditions.     

Parenchyma cell microstructure and textural characteristics of raw and cooked potatoes

Cooking, microstructural and textural characteristics from four New Zealand potato cultivars (Agria, Nadine, Moonlight, and Red Rascal) were studied. Potatoes from the waxy cultivar, Nadine, showed lowest dry matter and starch content and also had highest cooking time compared to the other cultivars. The total colour difference, ΔE, indicative of browning and darkening during storage (for 1 h) of the peeled potatoes was observed to be highest for Red Rascal, followed by Nadine and was lowest for Agria. Light (LM) and confocal scanning electron (CSLM) micrographs revealed Moonlight and Red Rascal raw potato parenchyma cellular structure to be well integrated, showing compact hexagonal cells. Raw tubers from these cultivars also exhibited higher hardness and cohesiveness, as observed using texture profile analysis (TPA). Moonlight potato parenchyma retained cell wall outline after cooking and its cells were observed to be completely filled with gelatinised starch matrix, whereas the cellular structure of Nadine potato parenchyma was completely disintegrated after cooking. TPA results of cooked potatoes agreed well with these microstructural observations, with Moonlight cooked potatoes showing highest cohesiveness and hardness. The cell wall of parenchyma cells was observed to degrade partially upon cooking of potatoes, resulting in loosening of the cell wall microfibrils, as observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of a selected potato cultivar. Also, the cell wall decreased in thickness after cooking. The remains of the primary cell wall along with some electron dense granular structures were observed floating in the cytoplasmic starchy matrix in potato tuber parenchyma cells.     

Influences of superheated steaming and roasting on the quality and antioxidant activity of cooked sweet potatoes

Roasted sweet potato is a popular food because of the attractive aroma produced by the Maillard reaction. However, the roasting process may lead to charred skin. Cooking with superheated (saturated) steam provides a solution to this problem. As the results show, when comparing sweet potatoes cooked by superheated steam, and those roasted for 40 min, respectively, the degree of gelatinisation could reach as high as 95% with only 140 °C superheated steam, while roasting required temperatures up to 240 °C. Moreover, in appearance, the skins of the sweet potatoes cooked using superheated steam were not charred like the roasted ones. However, sweet potatoes roasted at 240 °C for 60 min had the highest overall sensory score. When comparing the antioxidant activity, the sweet potatoes cooked by superheated steam had the highest content of total phenol and flavonoids, the best scavenging ability of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the highest ferric‐reducing ability of plasma (FRAP).     

In vitro availability of starch in heat‐treated potatoes as related to genotype,weight and storage time

The objective of the study was to determine the influence of potato variety, weight and storage time after lifting on the glycaemic index (GI) and resistant starch (RS) content predicted from measurement of the rate and extent of in vitro starch hydrolysis, respectively. The potatoes were either boiled, or boiled and subjected to different heat‐cycling conditions selected to promote retrogradation of amylose or amylopectin, respectively. The hydrolysis indices (HI) and predicted GIs of all 19 potato products were high and fell within narrow ranges of 122–144 and 118–138, respectively. No correlation between average weight of the potato tuber and HI was found. Furthermore, there was no difference in HI between potatoes stored for 1–3 or 8–10 months, nor between varieties of new potato and winter potato. However, the HI was significantly lowered by temperature cycling at conditions known to promote retrogradation of amylopectin (6 °C, 48 h) compared with 6 °C for 24 h followed by 70 °C for 24 h. RS content was already substantial in boiled potatoes, 4.5 g 100 g^?1 (starch basis), and could be increased further by temperature cycling, the highest yield obtained, 9.8 g 100 g^?1 (starch basis), following heat treatment at 6 °C for 24 h followed by 70 °C for 24 h; that is at conditions known to favour amylose retrogradation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

添加剂对熟制甘薯抗老化作用的研究

为了抑制熟制甘薯在贮藏期间的老化,以优质甘薯为原料,经烘烤、熟刺、搅拌成泥,加入抗老化剂制成熟制甘薯食品,并进行冷冻储藏。研究了添加不同抗老化剂对熟制甘薯的保水力、糊化性质和老化程度的影响。结果表明,添加了抗老化剂的熟制甘薯保持了其特有的口感风味,且保水力较大,糊化特性和老化度都不同程度地优于不添加抗老化剂的熟制甘薯．     

Modeling the Kinetics of Cooking and Precooking Potatoes

This research investigated the kinetics of cooking potatoes over the temperature range in which starch gelatinizes. A back extrusion texture test was used to measure cookedness. By correlating the data with that of other researchers using different texture tests and potato varieties, we present a unified model of cooking which is first order, independent of variety, and applies to both cooking and gelatinization over the temperature range of 74°C to 100°C.     

Methods for the preparation of cell walls from potatoes

A group of new methods is described for preparing cell walls from potatoes and processed potato products. Starting from raw domestic potatoes, starch is degraded enzymatically after a very brief 100 °C gelatinisation step conducted after homogenisation to minimise the time required for heat transfer. Protein is removed by detergent and phenol extraction. This procedure (method 1) gave cell wall preparations containing <5% starch, with minimal degradation of wall polysaccharides. It did not, however, remove starch efficiently from industrial potatoes in which the starch content is much higher. A different procedure, method 2, was used in this case. In method 2 a 20 min starch gelatinisation step was used but the temperature was restricted to 70 °C and the pH to 4.0, with the aim of protecting pectins from depolymerisation. Method 2 and method 1A, which is a hybrid procedure involving the starch gelatinisation step from method 2 and other steps from method 1, gave low‐starch cell walls from industrial as well as domestic potatoes. These methods are suitable for a range of potato types and potato products and are either more efficient or more convenient than previous procedures for cell wall isolation. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Structure of pectin in relation to abnormal hardness after cooking in pre-peeled, cool-stored potatoes

Unacceptable hard tissue can be detected in pre-peeled potatoes after cooking. Pectin methyl esterase (PME) has been suspected to facilitate formation of Ca-bridges between pectin molecules by deesterification of the uronic acids. But this has also been questioned, due to the low storage temperature of the peeled tubers, optimum of PME being 50-70 °C. Hardness in tubers was induced by several packaging methods. Annual and seasonal variations were observed. In the work, analysis of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) are considered representative of the pectin content. Analyses revealed an increase in insoluble NSP during storage after peeling and cooking, and a decrease in branching (arabinose, galactose) and degree of methyl esterification of total NSP, in both fresh and cooked tissue, dependant on storage period. Reduction of steric hindrance by debranching of the pectin molecules as well as a PME-induced increase of possible Ca-cross-linking sites may favor hardening of the tissue. The microscopy does not show any pectin changes until after cooking, but the chemical data do. This suggests that hardening, at least partly, is due to the removal of methyl ester groups, as well as galactose and arabinose in the side chains. The Ca-bridges can probably not be formed until sufficient calcium is released from the starch during gelatination.     

Microbiological quality of fresh-cut sweet potatoes

Sweet potato roots were dipped in various concentrations of chlorine for 5 min at 1 or 20 °C before and after slicing, and then stored at 2 or 8 °C for 14 days to evaluate the effects of different chlorine treatments and storage temperatures on the microbiological quality of fresh‐cut sweet potato slices. The microflora of fresh‐cut sweet potato slices was dominated by mesophiles, followed by psychrotrophs and fungi initially and during storage. The 2 °C storage was necessary to keep the microbial load at a low level. No spoilage was observed in fresh‐cut sweet potatoes at both storage temperatures for 14 days. Chlorination of sweet potatoes before slicing was not effective in ensuring acceptable microbiological quality of fresh‐cut sweet potatoes. Dipping slices in 200 ppm chlorine at 1 °C reduced the population of all micro‐organisms during storage.     

Gelatinization of Sweet Potato,Tania and Yam Tuber Starches

Morphological changes that occur in starch granules of sweet potato, tania and yam tubers from native to cooked states, were studied both by electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. In the first stages of heating, the same event was observed in all samples: a central cavity appeared at hilum level of the starch granules just before granule expansion started. Differences in gelatinization behaviour between these three starches were enhanced by mechanism by which amylose leached out. In the sweet potato starch granules, amylose was released through micropores formed in the starch granules during the phase of expansion whereas in tania starch granules, both micropores and pin-holes were observed. In yam starch granules, amylose escaped only by pin-holes formed across the starch granules. When cooking was achieved, spongy-like structures were observed in cooked sweet potato parenchyma cells while folded gelatinized granules remained in yam. In cooked tania tuber, both types of cell contents were observed. Sweet potato, tania and yam starches presented DSC endotherms at 72.7, 69.9 and 74.4°C with enthalpy change of 13.6, 12.9 and 20.9J/g, respectively.     

Influence of Temperature and Time on Cooking Kinetics of Potatoes

To study cooking kinetics, slices (6 mm thick, 30 mm diameter) of 3 potato varieties were treated in water at 90°, 100° and 110°C for varying times. Sensory, chemical and physical properties were investigated. Changes during cooking at constant temperature were mathematically described by a 0 order (texture, taste) and a 1st order (shear force, dry matter, pectin, soluble amylose, cell size) equation. The starch content remained constant. Temperature dependence of the rate constant could always be described by a first order equation. The z-values, which are necessary to calculate Cvalue for practical heat treatments, could be determined. Correlations established between kinetics of different properties showed that behavior of certain potato properties may be predicted by shear-force measurement.     

Transfer of heat and moisture during oven baking of potatoes

Potatoes were baked for up to 60 min in a conventional fan‐assisted oven. Temperature profiles within the potato tubers were determined both by direct measurement and by following the inward progress of starch gelatinisation, which occurs at 65 °C. Temperature profiles with time were S‐shaped and about 30 min was needed for the centre to reach 100 °C. From the nature of the temperature profiles, long potato tubers will cook faster than round tubers of the same weight, and a varietal ‘shape factor’ was defined to quantify this effect. The slow temperature rise, compared to other forms of cooking, was due to evaporative cooling. Moisture loss was linear with time after an initial lag and reached 15–20% of the mass of the potato after 1 h of cooking. Approximately half of the moisture was lost from the outermost layer of the potato under the periderm, leaving behind a dried layer of flesh that appeared to restrict water transport and, unlike any other part of the potato, could exceed 100 °C. This has consequences for the thermal development of flavour compounds as well as for perceived texture. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of preheating on potato texture

Preheating potatoes at 50 to 80°C has a firming effect on the cooked potato tissue. This effect is particularly pronounced at a preheating temperature of 60 to 70°C followed by cooling. Several theories have been presented in the literature to explain this firming effect: retrogradation of starch, leaching of amylose, stabilization of the middle lamellae and cell walls by the activation of the pectin methylesterase (PME) enzyme, and by the release of calcium from gelatinized starch and the formation of calcium bridges between pectin molecules. Most probably, none of these theories alone can explain the phenomenon and more than one mechanism seems to be involved. Some of these mechanisms seem to be interdependent. As an example, calcium could be considered as a link all the way through release after starch gelatinization to cross‐linking pectin substances in the cell wall and the middle lamellae, which has been demethylated by the PME enzyme. More research and “clear cut” experiments are needed in order to elucidate the role of each mechanism, especially which of them is the main contributor to the process of firming. Most probably, the calcium‐pectin‐PME mechanism plays a secondary role, that is, it only retards the collapse of the tissue structure that would otherwise occur during the final heating without preheating, and it is not the main factor of firmness.     

In vitro digestibility of starch in cooked potatoes as affected by guar gum: Microstructural and rheological characteristics

Potatoes from different New Zealand cultivars (Nadine, Moonlight, Red Rascal, Agria) were analysed for starch digestibility in vitro (under simulated gastric and small intestinal conditions). The extent of starch hydrolysis (%) for all the potato cultivars ranged between 85% and 95% at the end of in vitro digestion. Nadine potatoes, which were waxy in texture, showed higher starch hydrolysis (%) whereas these levels did not differ significantly among the other three cultivars. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were performed on the digests in order to study the microstructural changes occurring during digestion in cooked potatoes. The micrographs clearly showed that starch was quickly hydrolysed by the enzymes present in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) whereas the cell walls remained intact during simulated digestion process. Addition of guar gum (0.5%) to cooked potatoes reduced their starch hydrolysis (%) by ∼15% during the in vitro digestion. Online viscosity measurements were also performed on the cooked potatoes during simulated small intestinal digestion using a dynamic rheometer. Cooked potato viscosity dropped considerably upon the action of enzymes from SIF on starch as the digestion progressed. The presence of 0.5% guar gum facilitated the cooked potato matrix to maintain viscosity similar to undigested cooked potato sample throughout the in vitro digestion, which might have resulted in lower starch hydrolysis (%).     

The effect of thermal processing and storage on the physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of potatoes

Shepody potatoes were cooked using three common cooking methods – microwaving, boiling and pressure cooking. Microwaving for 2.5 min retained the highest amounts of slowly digestible starch (SDS, 19.6%) and resistant starch (RS, 48.8%) as compared to the other cooking treatments. Similarly, enthalpy and FTIR results (ratio of 1047/1022 cm^?1) were also higher for microwaved samples, again indicating incomplete gelatinisation. Potatoes were also boiled for 15, 30 or 45 min, followed by 1, 3 or 7 days retrogradation at 23 or 4 °C. Retrogradation enthalpy increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with increased storage time and decreased storage temperature; FTIR results displayed temperature dependency; at 4 °C, ordered structure increased with increasing storage time, whereas the opposite trend was seen at 23 °C. Lastly, formation of SDS and RS was favoured for longer boiling times (30 – 45 min), extended storage times (3–7 days) and 4 °C.     

Textural and pasting properties of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) as affected by storage temperature

Fresh tubers from five potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars were stored at different temperatures (4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 °C) and 80–90% relative humidity for 18 weeks after harvest to examine the effect of storage temperature on their textural and pasting properties. Texture profile analysis was performed on raw and cooked potatoes using an Instron universal testing machine to measure textural parameters such as fracturability, hardness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness and springiness. Both raw and cooked potato tubers showed a considerable reduction in all textural parameters upon storage, irrespective of the storage temperature employed. Raw potatoes showed a decrease in fracturability and hardness with increasing storage temperature, whereas their cooked counterparts showed the opposite trend. The extent of change in the textural properties of both raw and cooked potatoes also varied among the different cultivars. Fresh and stored tubers from all cultivars were freeze‐dried, ground into flours and analysed for amylose content and pasting properties. The amylose content of flours prepared from potatoes stored at 4 and 8 °C was observed to be considerably lower than that of flours prepared from potatoes stored at 16 and 20 °C. Pasting characteristics such as peak viscosity, setback and final viscosity increased with increasing storage temperature, while the reverse was observed for pasting temperature, when studied using a rapid visco analyser. Breakdown in viscosity of the flour pastes from all cultivars was considerably reduced during storage, irrespective of the storage temperature employed. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry