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.     

Pressure-induced thermotolerance of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

Non-lethal high pressure treatment was evaluated regarding its potential of inducing heat resistance in Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Pressure pre-treated cells (at 100 MPa and 37 °C for 10 min) showed higher survivability than untreated ones when both were heat treated at 60 °C. Upon exposure to this lethal temperature for 5 min, cells survived better by 1.5 log-cycles in comparison to control group, when they were previously pressure treated at 100 MPa and 37 °C for 10 min. Apparently, only short-time heat resistance was positively affected by such pressure pre-conditioning step since at prolonged holding time at 60 °C (more than 7 min), no significant differences regarding the inactivation rate was observed. Various pressures (100–200 MPa), temperatures (37–50 °C), and holding times (5–10 min) were systematically investigated. The findings can serve as indications towards optimizing production of probiotic starter cultures using spray-drying.     

Effect of temperature and growth media on the attachment of Listeria monocytogenes to stainless steel

Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19111 cultivated in nutrient-rich medium (brain heart infusion, BHI) or starved in minimal medium (10% filter sterilized pond water and 90% sterilized distilled water) were investigated for their initial attachment to austenitic stainless steel No. 4 with satin finish at 4 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C, 37 °C, or 42 °C. A droplet (10 μl) containing  10⁷ CFU/ml of L. monocytogenes suspended in BHI or minimal medium was placed on the stainless steel surface. After holding in saturated humidity for 3 h at the desired temperature the surface was washed and prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Using SEM, attachment of L. monocytogenes was determined by counting cells remaining on the surface. When L. monocytogenes cultivated in BHI were used, with the exception of the number of attached cells being lower at 42 °C than at 37 °C and 30 °C, the number of attached cells increased with increasing temperature (P < 0.05). When L. monocytogenes starved in minimal medium were used, the number of attached cells also increased with increasing attachment temperature (P < 0.05), but the number of attached cells at 42 °C was lower than that at the other temperatures. The attachment of L. monocytogenes to stainless steel surface was greater when cultivated in rich medium of BHI vs starved in the minimal medium.     

Changes in fatty acids and microbial populations of pork inoculated with two biopreservative strains

Meat surface fermentation has been reported as an efficient method to reduce undesirable microbial population of this food commodity in tropical areas with high ambient temperatures and humidity. However, in order to efficiently apply this method, growth of biopreservative strains and changes in the meat substrate should be studied. Changes in long-chain fatty acids as well as pH and microbial growth (lactic acid bacteria and enterobacteria) were studied in pork inoculated with two biopreservative strains (Lactobacillus alimentarius and Staphylococcus carnosus) and stored at 4 and 20 °C. Both tested strains produced more than 6 mg lactic acid/g tissue, however, S. carnosus was more efficient in reducing enterobacteria populations at 20 °C. No significant increase in long-chain fatty acid concentration in samples stored at 4 °C was observed but there was a rapid increase of free fatty acids when stored at 20 °C.     

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.     

Effect of cooking time and ingredients on the performance of different starches in white sauces

The effect of white sauce ingredients and increased cooking time at 90 °C on the degree of gelatinization of corn, waxy corn, rice, potato and modified waxy corn starches was studied. The changes in pasting properties, linear viscoelastic properties, and microstructure were determined. In all the native starches in water, a longer cooking time at 90 °C caused greater starch granule swelling and more leaching of solubilized starch polymers into the intergranular space. These effects were more noticeable in the waxy corn and potato starches. The potato starch was the most affected, with complete disruption of the starch granules after 300 s at 90 °C. The microstructural changes which transformed a system characterized by starch granules dispersed in a continuous phase (amylose/amylopectin matrix) into a system with an increase in the continuous phase and a decrease in starch granules were associated with a decrease in system viscoelasticity. The elastic moduli were higher in the sauce than in the starch in water system. However, with the exception of potato starch, the white sauce showed lower viscoelasticity than the starch in water system. The white sauce ingredients decreased the effect of cooking time on the starch gelatinization process, particularly in potato starch.     

Effect of temperature and water activity on growth and ochratoxin A production by Australian Aspergillus carbonarius and A. niger isolates on a simulated grape juice medium

The effect of water activity (0.92, 0.95, 0.965 and 0.98) and temperature (15 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C and 35 °C) on growth rate and ochratoxin A (OA) production by five strains of Aspergillus carbonarius and two strains of A. niger isolated from Australian vineyards was characterised on a synthetic grape juice medium. Maximum growth for A. carbonarius occurred at ca 0.965 a_w and 30 °C, and for A. niger, at ca 0.98 a_w and 35 °C. The optimum temperature for OA production was 15 °C and little was produced above 25 °C. The optimum a_w for toxin production was 0.95–0.98 for A. carbonarius and 0.95 for A. niger. Toxin was produced in young colonies after and, typically, did not continue to accumulate the entire surface area of the plate was colonised. Rather, the amount decreased as colonies aged. Trends for growth and OA production were similar among Australian isolates and those from European grapes, as reported in the literature.     

Changes in characteristics of sweet potato flour prepared by different drying techniques

The changes occurring in the characteristics of sweet potato flour as a result of processing were investigated. Pasting behaviour of drum dried and hot air-dried sweet potato flour was determined using Rapid Visco-Analyser. The pasting characteristics decreased due to gelatinization of starch during processing. The degradation of starch by amylases during hot air drying further lowered the water binding capacity/viscosity and total amylose and increased the digestibility compared to those of drum dried and native flour. Swelling power and solubility of the flours increased as a result of processing which subsequently increased with increase in temperature. Scanning electron micrographs of starch granules showed tendency of clustering, especially in drum dried samples. X-ray diffraction patterns showed alteration from Ca-type to V-type with a marked reduction in crystallinity index as a result of processing. The ¹³C NMR spectra of processed starches showed reduced peak intensities and line widths due to depolymerizing effects, and also pointing to their change in crystallinity.     

Maintaining muscles at a high post-mortem temperature induces PSE-like meat in turkey

The aim of the present study was to validate an experimental model which surely generates pale, soft, exudative (PSE) turkey meat. Immediately after exsanguination, Pectoralis major (n=15) were kept at various temperatures (4, 20 or 40 °C) for 6 h. All the muscles were then stored at 4 °C for 9 days. They had the same rate of pH fall. L^* values were higher in the 40 °C treatment muscles than in the two other treatment muscles between 1 and 9 h. Drip loss of the 40 °C treatment muscles was higher than in the two other treatment muscles. However, thawing and cook loss were not significantly different between treatments. Cooked meat from the 40 °C treatment muscle was tougher than the two other treatment muscles. Napole yield was lower for these muscles. Myofibrillar protein extractability was lower in the 40 °C treatment muscle whatever the considered time. We showed that the 40 °C treatment muscles were similar to PSE muscles.     

Thermophysical properties of silver hake and mackerel surimi at cooking temperatures

Thermal diffusivity values obtained using a transient method both from heating and cooling information and apparent specific heat of surimi made from silver hake and mackerel as a function of temperature (60–110 °C) and added potato starch content (3% and 7%, w/w) were determined. The water content of all samples was kept constant at about 77% (w/w) in order to determine the effect of starch. Thermal diffusivity and apparent specific heat of all samples increased with temperature. The effect of temperature on diffusivity was found significant (p=0.001) in all samples at temperatures above 85 °C. This effect may be caused by structural changes as temperature is raised. Thermal diffusivity increased with temperature more rapidly in samples with high levels of starch than in those with no starch. However, thermal diffusivity of silver hake surimi preset at 40 °C for 30 min did not show a significant increase (p<0.05) over the temperature range studied. Thermal diffusivities calculated from cooling and heating data were significantly different (p<0.05).

The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms of silver hake and mackerel surimi showed three endothermic peaks. When starch was added to surimi samples an endothermic peak having a large area was observed, which overlapped the third highest temperature peak of surimi samples. No significant shifts in the endothermic peaks of myofibrillar proteins were detected with increasing starch content. Transition temperatures for starch–surimi system were higher than those for starch–water system. There were deviations in the apparent heat capacity function calculated from DSC measurements in surimi samples containing starch. These are attributed to gelatinization of starch and modification of water structure.     

LIPIDS OF WHEAT, CORN AND POTATO STARCH

The lipid constituents from wheat, corn and potato starches were analyzed, as was the composition of nonstarch compounds present in these lipid extracts. The lipids were extracted from starch granules using n- propanol-water (3:1, v/v) via cold and hot extraction into surface and internal lipid fractions, respectively; fatty acid profiles of the fractions so obtained were then carried out. The content of surface lipids was greatest from potato and wheat starches, whereas cornstarch was characterized as having the highest relative percentage of internal lipids. Hot extraction resulted in an increase in the lipid content for all extracts, and of the starches investigated, the lipids from cornstarch contained the highest percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Unlike that of wheat starch, it was noted that the fatty acid, C20: 1 (n-9), could only be extracted from corn and potato starch granules by the hot extraction technique. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and some phenolics were found to bind to wheat starch granules, but not to those of corn and potato. Using HPLC-UV-DAD analysis, five phenolic compounds were detected in the lipids extracted from wheat starch by hot extraction. Maxima from UV-DAD spectra of the compounds were observed at a wavelength of 337.4 or 332.7 nm, and are characteristic of phenolic acids or their derivatives.     

Effects of pH and temperature on metmyoglobin solubility in a model system

From a series of experiments heating metmyoglobin solutions at pH 5.0 through 7.0, the effects of temperature and pH on the thermal stability of metmyoglobin were investigated. The percent metmyoglobin denatured at temperatures from 25 to 80 °C was determined. pHs lower than 6.5 caused metmyoglobin denaturation at various temperatures from 25 to 80 °C, but it was particularly apparent when pH was < 5.6. Thermal stability of metmyoglobin increased as pH increased. Metmyoglobin denaturation occurred at 55 °C at pH 5, however, denaturation did not occur until 60 °C at pHs from 5.3 to 7.0. A slower heating rate (0.9 °C/min) resulted in more metmyoglobin thermal denaturation than a faster heating rate (1.3 °C/min) when the temperature was above 55 to 60 °C. The denaturation caused by low pH alone was reversible, while that caused by high temperature was not. Techniques which increase muscle pH, such as the injection of sodium bicarbonate, could effectively improve the color condition of PSE meat.     

超声处理对马铃薯淀粉结构特性及理化性质的影响

为了研究超声对马铃薯淀粉微观结构及理化性质的影响,以马铃薯淀粉为原料,通过扫描电子显微镜、激 光共聚焦显微镜、X射线衍射、傅里叶变换红外光谱、差示扫描量热法、快速黏度分析、偏光显微镜观察等方法, 研究了超声对马铃薯淀粉微观结构及理化性质的影响,揭示超声对马铃薯淀粉的机械力化学效应。结果表明：由于 马铃薯淀粉颗粒内部“狭长的脐点区”结构比较疏松,超声处理对马铃薯淀粉可产生显著机械力化学效应;随着超 声时间延长,马铃薯淀粉颗粒内部依次经过受力阶段、聚集阶段、团聚阶段;同时由于超声处理引起了马铃薯淀粉 颗粒结构变化,故导致了马铃薯淀粉理化性质显著变化。     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of granular native and mildly heat-treated tapioca and sweet potato starches at sub-gelatinization temperature

The effect of mild heat treatment (below gelatinization temperature) towards the susceptibility of granular starch to enzymatic hydrolysis was investigated. Tapioca and sweet potato starches were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis with a mixture of fungal α-amylase and glucoamylase at 35 °C for 24 h. Starches were hydrolyzed in native (granular) state and after heat treatment below gelatinization temperature (60 °C for 30 min). The dextrose equivalent (DE) value of heat-treated starch increased significantly compared to native starch, i.e., 36–50% and 27–34% for tapioca and sweet potato starch, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy examination showed that enzymatic erosion occurred mainly at the surface of starch granules. Hydrolyzed heat-treated starch exhibited rougher surface and porous granules compared to native starch. X-ray analysis suggested that enzymatic erosion preferentially occurred in amorphous areas of the granules. The amylose content, swelling power and solubility showed insignificant increase for both starches. Evidently, heating treatment below gelatinization temperature was effective in enhancing the degree of hydrolysis of granular starch.     

Microstructural and physicochemical properties of heat-moisture treated waxy and normal starches

Starches from normal rice (21.72% amylose), waxy rice (1.64% amylose), normal corn (25.19% amylose), waxy corn (2.06% amylose), normal potato (28.97% amylose) and waxy potato (3.92% amylose) were heat-treated at 100 °C for 16 h at a moisture content of 25%. The effect of heat-moisture treatment (HMT) on morphology, structure, and physicochemical properties of those starches was investigated. The HMT did not change the size, shape, and surface characteristics of corn and potato starch granules, while surface change/partial gelatinization was found on the granules of rice starches. The X-ray diffraction pattern of normal and waxy potato starches was shifted from B- to C-type by HMT. The crystallinity of the starch samples, except waxy potato starch decreased on HMT. The viscosity profiles changed significantly with HMT. The treated starches, except the waxy potato starch, had higher pasting temperature and lower viscosity. The differences in viscosity values before and after HMT were more pronounced in normal starches than in waxy starches, whereas changes in the pasting temperature showed the reverse (waxy > normal). Shifts of the gelatinization temperature to higher values and gelatinization enthalpy to lower values as well as biphasic endotherms were found in treated starches. HMT increased enzyme digestibility of treated starches (except waxy corn starch); i.e., rapidly and slowly digestible starches increased, but resistant starch decreased. Although there was no absolute consistency on the data obtained from the three pairs of waxy and normal starches, in most cases the effects of HMT on normal starches were more pronounced than the corresponding waxy starches.     

Influence of temperature and surfactant on Escherichia coli inactivation in aqueous suspensions treated by moderate pulsed electric fields

This research employed a conductometric technique to estimate the inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli cells in aqueous suspensions (1 wt.%) during simultaneous pulsed electric fields (PEF) and thermal treatments. The electric field strength was E = 5 kV/cm, the effective PEF treatment time t_PEF was within 0–0.2 s, the pulse duration t_i was 10^− 3 s, the medium temperature was 30–50 °C, and the time of thermal treatment t_T was within 0–7000 s. The damage of E. coli was accompanied by cell size decrease and release of intracellular components. The synergy between PEF and thermal treatments on E. coli inactivation was clearly present. The non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 additionally improved its inactivation. The characteristic damage time followed the Arrhenius law within the temperature range 30–50 °C with activation energies W = 94 ± 2 kJ mol^− 1 and W = 103 ± 5 kJ mol^− 1 with and without the presence of surfactant, respectively. Relations between cell aggregation, cell ζ-potentials and presence of surfactant were analysed.     

Impact of sorbitol on the thermostability and heat-induced gelation of bovine serum albumin

The influence of sorbitol (0–40 wt.%) on the thermal denaturation and gelation of bovine serum albumin (BSA, pH 7.0) in aqueous solution has been studied. The effect of sorbitol on heat denaturation of 0.5 wt.% BSA solutions was measured using ultrasensitive differential scanning calorimetry. The unfolding process was irreversible and was characterized by the thermal denaturation temperature (T_m). As the sorbitol concentration increased from 0 to 40 wt.%, T_m increased from 73.0 to 80.9 °C. The rise in T_m was attributed to the increased thermal stability of the globular state of BSA relative to its native state. The dynamic shear rheology of 4 wt.% BSA solutions containing 200 mM NaCl was monitored as they were heated from 30 to 90 °C at 1.5 °C min⁻¹, held at 90 °C for 120 min, and then cooled back to 30 °C at −1.5 °C min⁻¹. Sorbitol increased the protein gelation temperature (ΔT_gel +10 °C for 40 wt.% sorbitol), decreased the isothermal gelation rate at 90 °C, but increased the final shear modulus of the gels cooled to 30 °C. The impact of sorbitol on gel characteristics was attributed to its ability to increase protein thermal stability, increase the attractive force between proteins and decrease the protein–protein collision frequency.     

Measurement of solid fat content by ultrasonic reflectance in model systems and chocolate

A series of confectionery coating fat (CCF) and cocoa butter (CB) dispersions in corn oil were prepared and tempered to a range of temperatures (10, 12 and 15 °C and 26, 27.5 and 29 °C respectively) to produce samples with solid fat contents (SFC) between 0 and 9%. The ultrasonic velocity in the CCF samples increased with increasing SFC and decreased with temperature, however the CB samples were too attenuating to allow velocity measurements. The ultrasonic reflectance at the surface of both sets of dispersions decreased linearly with SFC but at the same level of solids was less for CB than CCF suggesting some dependence on other aspects of fat structure. The microstructures and thermal properties of the fat systems are compared in an attempt to understand these structural differences. Finally ultrasonic reflectance is shown to respond to changes in a chocolate melt during tempering.     

Microscopic Observation and X-Ray Diffractometry of Heat/Moisture-Treated Starch Granules

Heat/moisture-treated potato and corn starch granules were observed by microscopy and X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) photograph of the cross section of the heat/moisture-treated potato and corn starch granules showed a large hollow area about 1/3 of the diameter at the center of the starch granules and a layered structure resembling growth rings. From the X-ray diagrams it was confirmed that heat/moisture-treatment caused an alteration from the B-type in the direction an A-type structure in potato, whereas corn starch did not change and maintained an A-type structure. The enzymatic digestibility of heat/moisture-treated starch was found to be less resistant than that of native starch.     

Microstructural changes of starch in cooked wheat grains as affected by cooking temperatures and times

The changes of starch microstructure in soft and hard wheat grains after cooking in a pressure cooker were investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a light microscope (LM) in conjunction with image analysis. The conditions studied included variation of the cooking times (20-120 min) at the constant temperature (120 °C) and with variable temperatures (110-140 °C) for constant time (40 min). SEM images showed that steam induced changes in the intact starch granules of cooked wheat grains, with the microstructure becoming more in mud-like structure, with increased cooking time or temperature. The swelling and gelatinization of starch granules could contribute to this change. Suspensions of cooked wheat flour were selectively stained with iodine, for observation using the LM. The image analysis software was used for quantitative analysis of the images captured from the LM, providing both the number and area of the starch granules (determined from the dark-blue spots) per fixed image size. With increased cooking time or temperature, the number of starch granules decreased and the area increased as a result from the swelling and melting of starch granules. This study demonstrated the use of SEM and LM for the investigation of starch granules in cooked wheat grains without prior starch isolation.