Characteristics of low-fat meat emulsion systems with pork fat replaced by vegetable oils and rice bran fiber

The effects of vegetable oils prepared from olive, corn, soybean, canola, or grape seed, and rice bran fiber on the composition and rheological properties of meat batters were studied. Pork fat at 30% in the control was partially replaced by one of the vegetable oils at 10% in addition to reducing the pork fat to 10%. The chemical composition, cooking characteristics, texture properties, and viscosity of low-fat meat batters were analyzed. The moisture, protein, ash content, uncooked and cooked pH values, b^∗-value, hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and viscosity of meat batters with vegetable oil and rice bran fiber were all higher than the control. In addition, batters supplemented with vegetable oil and rice bran fiber had lower cooking loss and better emulsion stability. Low-fat meat batters with reduced pork fat content (10%) and 10% vegetable oil plus rice bran fiber had improved characteristics relative to the regular fat control.     

Quality characteristics of reduced-fat frankfurters with pork fat replaced by sunflower seed oils and dietary fiber extracted from makgeolli lees

The effects of reducing pork fat levels from 30% to 20% by partially substituting pork fat with a mix of sunflower seed oil (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) and makgeolli lees fiber (2%) were investigated based on physicochemical properties, textural properties, and sensory characteristics of reduced-fat frankfurters. The moisture and ash content, and lightness were higher in reduced-fat frankfurter samples containing sunflower seed oil and makgeolli lees fiber than in the control. The results showed that reduced-fat frankfurter samples with higher sunflower seed oil levels had lower redness and yellowness values, as well as less cooking loss, emulsion stability, hardness, springiness, and apparent viscosity. The results of this study show that incorporating sunflower seed oil and makgeolli lees fiber into the formulation successfully reduced animal fat in frankfurters, while improving quality characteristics.     

Optimization of replacing pork back fat with grape seed oil and rice bran fiber for reduced-fat meat emulsion systems

The effects of reducing pork fat levels from 30% to 20% and partially substituting the pork fat with a mix of grape seed oil (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) and 2% rice bran fiber were investigated based on chemical composition, cooking characteristics, physicochemical and textural properties, and viscosity of reduced-fat meat batters. For reduced-fat meat batters containing grape seed oil and rice bran fiber the moisture and ash contents, uncooked and cooked pH values, yellowness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and sarcoplasmic protein solubility were higher than in the control samples. The reduced-fat samples with increasing grape seed oil concentrations had lower cooking loss, emulsion stability, and apparent viscosity. The incorporation of grape seed oil and rice bran fiber successfully reduced the animal fat content in the final products while improving other characteristics.     

Physicochemical and sensory properties of healthier frankfurters as affected by walnut and fat content

This study evaluates the physicochemical and sensory properties of healthier frankfurters with 25% added walnut (WF) versus low-fat frankfurters (6% pork fat) (LF) and traditional frankfurters (18% pork fat) (NF). Results reveal that cooking losses were unaffected (p ? 0.05) by the formulation of frankfurters. The addition of walnut led to higher (p < 0.05) redness and yellowness values, while colour parameters did not differ significantly between LF and NF sausages. Frankfurters with added walnut (WF) presented higher (p < 0.05) hardness and chewiness values than LF and NF frankfurters. Differences in composition were also accompanied by changes in the microstructure of the gel/emulsions. Frankfurters with added walnut presented a flavour significantly different from meat and scored lower (p < 0.05) on texture preferences. However, all frankfurters scored the same for overall acceptability.     

Low-fat frankfurters enriched with n−3 PUFA and edible seaweed: Effects of olive oil and chilled storage on physicochemical,sensory and microbial characteristics

This article reports a study of the physicochemical, sensory and microbiological characteristics of low-fat (10%) and n−3 PUFA-enriched frankfurters as affected by addition of seaweed (5% Himanthalia elongata), partial substitution (50%) of animal fat by olive oil and chilled storage (41 days at 2 °C). The presence of seaweed improved water and fat binding properties, reduced (P < 0.05) lightness and redness and increased (P < 0.05) the hardness and chewiness of low-fat frankfurters enriched with n−3 PUFA. The effect of olive oil on those characteristics was less pronounced than that of seaweed. Replacing pork backfat with olive oil in frankfurters produced acceptable sensory characteristics, similar to control, while addition of seaweed resulted in less acceptable products, due mainly to the special flavour of the seaweed. Formulation and storage time affected the total viable count and lactic acid bacteria count. Frankfurters containing olive oil and seaweed had the highest total viable count from day 14 of storage, with lactic acid bacteria becoming the predominant microflora.     

Sodium lactate and protective culture effects on quality characteristics and shelf-life of low-fat frankfurters produced with olive oil

Low-fat frankfurters (9% fat, 13% protein) were produced with olive oil and four levels of sodium lactate (0, 1, 2, 3%). The level of sodium lactate affected (p < 0.05) moisture and ash content, processing yield, skin strength and saltiness of low-fat frankfurters. Sodium lactate at 2% level appeared to be more beneficial for the production of low-fat frankfurters with olive oil. It had the highest score for flavour intensity and did not negatively affect skin strength, lextural and sensory properties or the colour of frankfurters. Low-fat frankfurters (9% fat, 13% protein) with olive oil, produced with 0% and 2% sodium lactate (SL) and protective culture (PC) and stored under vacuum at 4 °C, were compared with high-fat frankfurters (27% all animal fat, 11% protein). Low-fat frankfurters with olive oil had higher (p < 0.05) moisture and lower (p < 0.05) brine concentration than high-fat frankfurters. PC extended shelf-life of low-fat frankfurters with olive oil from 3 to 4 weeks. 2% SL kept the pH of frankfurters almost constant and extended shelf-life up to 6 weeks compared with 3 and 4 weeks shelf-life for low-fat and high-fat control frankfurters, respectively.     

Influence of canola-olive oils, rice bran and walnut on functionality and emulsion stability of frankfurters

Fat content of frankfurters (20 g/100 g) was replaced with canola and canola-olive oils. Rice bran (RB) and walnut (WE) were added (2.5 g/100 g) to emulsions as macronutrients. Changes in energy values, color, emulsion stability and lipid oxidation of frankfurters during storage were investigated. ANOVA model was highly significant for color parameters and energy values (P < 0.001). The canola-olive oil replacement led to a high capacity to hold water and fat exudates in frankfurters, reporting higher emulsion stabilization parameters than regular frankfurters. The addition of RB led to an increase of cooking and fat exudates, indicating high emulsion instability possible due to interactions between RB fiber and fat-protein binders. Walnut addition reported low cooking loss values, and a significant capacity for emulsion stabilization in comparison with regular and RB frankfurters. Lipid oxidation increased from days 0-7 in all frankfurters, declining afterwards until end of storage. TBARS was not influenced by type of emulsions control, but significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed in vegetable oil emulsions made with RB; as well as between RB and WE added to either vegetable oil emulsions. These results suggest the use of these natural ingredients as valuable promoters of healthy meat products.     

Practical use of surimi-like material made from porcine longissimus dorsi muscle for the production of low-fat pork patties

This study evaluates the effect of replacing fat with surimi-like material (SLM) made from the porcine longissimus dorsi muscle on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of pork patties. Pork patties were produced with different levels of fat and SLM using a commercial method. Pork patties produced with 20% SLM had the lowest fat content (1.76%, P < 0.001), and had a higher cooking yield (87.41 vs. 78.57%, P < 0.05) and less shrinkage (4.01 vs. 9.02%, P < 0.001) than patties produced with 20% back-fat (control). Moreover, patties produced with SLM exhibited more acceptable organoleptic characteristics, including tenderness (P < 0.01) and overall acceptability (P < 0.001), than full-fat control patties. These results indicated that SLM cannot only be used as a fat replacer, but that it also improves the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of low-fat pork patties.     

Technological and sensory characteristics of reduced/low-fat,low-salt frankfurters as affected by the addition of konjac and seaweed

This paper reports the effect of an edible seaweed, Sea Spaghetti (Himanthalia elongata), on the physicochemical (emulsion stability, cooking loss, colour, texture, residual nitrite and microstructure) and sensory characteristics of reduced- and low-fat, low-salt (NaCl) frankfurters prepared with konjac gel as a fat substitute. The effects on emulsion stability of substituting konjac gel for pork backfat were conditioned by the proportion of the substitution. Incorporation of a combination of Sea Spaghetti/konjac gel (accompanied by reduction in salt) increased (P < 0.05) cooking loss and reduced (P < 0.05) emulsion stability in the gel/emulsion systems. Incorporation of Sea Spaghetti/konjac gel produced a decrease (P < 0.05) of lightness (L∗) and redness (a∗) values and an increase (P < 0.05) of yellowness (b∗) as compared to the other samples. The effect of adding seaweed on the texture parameters of low-salt frankfurters varied depending on the proportion of konjac gel used in the formulation. Morphological differences in frankfurter microstructure were observed as fat content was reduced and konjac gel increased. Incorporation of a combination of Sea Spaghetti/konjac gel caused the formation of a more heterogeneous structure, in which the seaweed was integrated in the meat protein matrix.     

Optimization of salt, olive oil and pectin level for low-fat frankfurters produced by replacing pork backfat with olive oil

Response surface methodology was used to determine the optimum salt level (1.3-2.1%) and pectin level (0.25-1.0%) when olive oil replaced pork backfat (0-100%) for the production of highly acceptable low-fat frankfurters (9% fat, 13% protein). The test ingredients significantly affected (P<0.05) jelly separation of the batter, skin strength, hardness, saltiness, odour and taste and the overall acceptability of the low-fat frankfurters. Batters with high pectin levels recorded the highest (P<0.05) jelly separation. Low-fat frankfurters with high salt levels tended to have very hard skins and increased (P<0.05) saltiness while those with a high pectin level were very soft, tasted like cream and had the lowest (P<0.05) score for odour and taste. The low-fat frankfurters with 1.8-2.1% salt, 0-35% olive oil and 0.25-0.45% pectin had the highest overall acceptability. However, low-fat frankfurters produced with 1.3% salt, 0.25-0.30% pectin and 80-100% olive oil were also acceptable. Such low-fat frankfurters, compared to commercial products, have a 48% lower salt content (from 2.5 to 1.3%) and 66.6% lower fat content (from 30 to 10%), in which 80-100% of the added fat is olive oil. Further research is needed to improve the acceptability of these frankfurters.     

QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW-FAT FRANKFURTERS MANUFACTURED WITH POTATO STARCH, FINELY GROUND TOASTED BREAD AND RICE BRAN

Low-fat frankfurters (10% fat, 13% protein) were produced with 3.0% potato starch, finely ground toasted bread and rice bran or their combination. No differences (P > 0.05) were found in processing yield and purge accumulation among treatments of tested ingredients. Potato starch (3.0%) significantly increased the lightness, hardness and skin strength of low-fat frankfurters. Finely ground toasted bread had the highest scores for visual color, external redness, flavor intensity and overall acceptability and improved (P < 0.05) skin strength of frankfurters in comparison to potato starch. Low-fat frankfurters with 3.0% rice bran had the same (P>0.05) visual color scores, redness and textural properties as those produced with potato starch and toasted bread, but lower (P < 0.05) flavor intensity and overall acceptability and were judged as "just acceptable". Decreasing the rice bran from 3.0 to 1.5% and using it in combination with toasted bread (0.75%) and potato starch (0.75%) had an insignificant effect on the flavor intensity and overall acceptability of low-fat frankfurters.     

Healthier oils stabilized in konjac matrix as fat replacers in n − 3 PUFA enriched frankfurters

Nutritional, sensory and technological properties of frankfurters as affected by reformulation processes designed to reduce fat content and improve fatty acid profile were investigated. Healthier oils stabilized in oil in water emulsion or in konjac matrix gel were used as fat replacers. Results showed that improved fat content by the replacement of pork backfat with konjac gel and by the addition of healthier oils stabilized by various different systems, both resulted in products with very similar characteristics. From a nutritional standpoint, reformulated frankfurters with konjac gel and/or added a healthier oil combination may claim “reduced fat content” and/or “high omega 3 fatty acid content” according to European Regulation, since they could contain less than 30% of the fat in the reference product and more than 0.6 g of ALA/100 g and more than 80 mg of the sum of EPA plus DHA per 100 g, respectively. Chill storage over 40 days generally had little effect on the technological characteristics of frankfurters.     

Quality of frankfurter-type sausages with added pig skin and wheat fiber mixture as fat replacers

Pig skin and wheat fiber mixture (PSFM) were assessed as fat replacers in frankfurter-type sausages. The addition of PSFM increased the moisture and protein content in the sausage because of the water binding capacity in wheat fiber and protein content in pig skin. The sausage sample containing 20% PSFM had 50% less fat, 32% fewer calories, and showed 39.5% less cooking loss than those of the control (p < 0.05). High PSFM content resulted in more stable meat emulsions and increased hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness. No significant differences were observed in color, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, warm-off flavor, and overall acceptability between the control and sausage sample with PSFM by the sensory panel. Therefore, PSFM could be used as fat replacers to obtain lower calories, and higher moisture, protein contents, and emulsion stability than in low-fat frankfurter-type sausages without PSFM.     

Storage stability of low-fat beef frankfurters formulated with carrageenan or carrageenan with pectin

Storage stability of low-fat frankfurters (<3.0 fat content) formulated with carrageenan (0.3, 0.5, and 0.7%) or carrageenan with a pectin gel (PG) (20%) was examined during 49-day refrigerated storage. Low fat frankfurters had higher bacterial growth than high-fat control (HFC) over the refrigerated storage due to higher water activity resulting from extra water addition. While there was no change in the pH of low-fat frankfurters initially due to carrageenan or PG incorporation, the most noticeable pH decline was observed in PG-added frankfurters followed by only carrageenan added ones over the storage period. HFC had the highest (P<0.05) TBA value and the lowest redness index (a(?)/b(?)) all the time as compared with carrageenan or carrageenan and PG added low-fat frankfurters. Low-fat frankfurters formulated with either carrageenan or carrageenan with PG had acceptable sensory scores.     

Characterisation of low-fat high-dietary fibre frankfurters

Two different peach dietary fibre (DF) suspensions (17 and 29%) were used to obtain low-fat high-DF frankfurters (20-5% fat) which were compared to an all-meat control (25% fat). The viscosity of the meat batters increased with DF content. The protein (11.5±0.6%) and collagen (1.4±0.1%) contents of frankfurters were not affected by DF addition, and the higher the DF content, the lower the pH (6.4 to 5.8) due to the fibre solution acidity. The DF was effective in retaining added water in low-fat frankfurters since their cooking losses were similar to those of the controls (5.5±0.1%). Low-fat frankfurters were darker and browner than the controls and only high fibre addition significantly decreased the textural parameters. Sensory evaluation indicated that low fat-high DF frankfurters (20, 15 and 10% fat) were as acceptable as the all-meat frankfurters.     

Effect of carrageenan level and packaging during ripening on processing and quality characteristics of low-fat fermented sausages produced with olive oil

Eight low-fat fermented sausages were produced with partial replacement of pork backfat with olive oil. The total fat content of the sausages was 10% of which 8% was animal fat and 2% was olive oil. The sausages were produced with two types of carrageenan (ι- and κ-) in four levels (0%, 1%, 2% and 3%). ι-Carrageenan had a better effect (p<0.05) than κ-carrageenan on such characteristics as pH, weight loss and lipid oxidation of the sausages, as well as, on sensory attributes. Low-fat fermented sausages with κ-carrageenan had the same (p>0.05) firmness as high-fat commercial sausages (control). The carrageenan level of 3% negatively affected the firmness of the sausages. In a 2nd experiment, a high-fat control (30% total fat) and three low-fat fermented sausages (10% total fat) with olive oil were produced with three levels of ι-carrageenan (0%, 1% and 2%). Low-fat sausages were vacuum packed for the last two weeks of ripening. ι-Carrageenan added at levels up to 2% had a positive effect (p<0.05) on the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of the low-fat fermented sausages. The application of vacuum packaging over last two weeks of ripening improved the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of the sausages and resulted in sensory attributes equal to or better than the high-fat controls.     

Lipid and colour stability of M. longissimus muscle from lambs fed camelina or linseed as oil or seeds

Reduced-fat pork patties produced with the addition of Laminaria japonica powder were evaluated for the chemical composition, cooking characteristics and sensory properties. Reduced-fat pork patties containing L. japonica powder had significantly higher moisture, ash, carbohydrate content, yellowness, and springiness than the control sample (P<0.05). Protein and fat contents, energy value, lightness, redness, cooking loss, reduction in diameter, reduction in thickness, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of the regular-fat (20%) control samples were significantly higher than reduced-fat pork patties containing L. japonica (P<0.05). The sensory evaluations indicated that the greatest overall acceptability in reduced-fat pork patties was attained at a L. japonica concentration of 1 or 3%. Pork patties with fat contents reduced from 20% to 10% and supplemented with 1 or 3% L. japonica had improved quality characteristics that were similar to the control patties containing a fat content of 20%.     

EFFECT OF CARRAGEENAN ON PROCESSING AND QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW-FAT FRANKFURTERS

Three types of carrageenan (K, I, K+I) × 4 levels (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0%) were evaluated with a complete factorial design to characterize the effect of carrageenans on processing and quality characteristics of low-fat frankfurters (9% fat, 13% protein). l-Carrageenan at 0.5–1.0% level appeared to be more beneficial for the production of low-fat frankfurters. It reduced (P<0.05) the hardness of the skin and contributed to a softer (P<0.05) product and higher overall acceptability. Low-fat frankfurters (9% fat) manufactured with I-carrageenan (IC) or in combination with finely ground toasted bread (TB), isolated soy protein (ISP) and pork skin (PSK), were compared to high-fat (27% fat, 11% protein) and to low-fat (9% fat, 13% protein) control frankfurters prepared with 3.5% potato starch (PS), as well as with commercial frankfurters (25% fat, 11.6% protein, 4.5% starch). Frankfurters with IC had higher (P<0.05) moisture, softer (P<0.05) skin and the highest (P<0.05) separation of gelatin. However, textural properties and overall acceptability were similar (P>0.05) to commercial and high-fat control frankfurters. Addition of TB had no significant effect. Use of ISP and PSK improved (P<0.05) the water-binding capacity but negatively affected the overall acceptability of frankfurters.     

Healthy reduced-fat Bologna sausages enriched in ALA and DHA and stabilized with Melissa officinalis extract

Reduced-energy and reduced-fat Bologna products enriched with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were formulated by replacing the pork back-fat by an oil-in-water emulsion containing a mixture of linseed-algae oil stabilized with a lyophilized Melissa officinalis extract. Healthier composition and lipid profile was obtained: 85 kcal/100 g, 3.6% fat, 0.6 g ALA and 0.44 g DHA per 100 g of product and ω-6/ω-3 ratio of 0.4. Technological and sensory problems were not detected in the new formulations. Reformulation did not cause oxidation problems during 32 days of storage under refrigeration. The results suggest that it is possible to obtain reduced-fat Bologna-type sausages rich in ALA and DHA and stabilized with natural antioxidants, applying the appropriate technology without significant effects on the sensory quality, yielding interesting products from a nutritional point of view.     

Improvement in melting and baking properties of low-fat Mozzarella cheese

Low-fat cheeses dehydrate too quickly when baked in a forced air convection oven, preventing proper melting on a pizza. To overcome this problem, low-fat Mozzarella cheese was developed in which fat is released onto the cheese surface during baking to prevent excessive dehydration. Low-fat Mozzarella cheese curd was made with target fat contents of 15, 30, 45, and 60 g/kg using direct acidification of the milk to pH 5.9 before renneting. The 4 portions of cheese curd were comminuted and then mixed with sufficient glucono-δ-lactone and melted butter (45, 30, 15, or 0 g/kg, respectively), then pressed into blocks to produce low-fat Mozzarella cheese with about 6% fat and pH 5.2. The cheeses were analyzed after 15, 30, 60, and 120 d of storage at 5°C for melting characteristics, texture, free oil content, dehydration performance, and stretch when baked on a pizza at 250°C for 6 min in a convection oven. Cheeses made with added butter had higher stretchability compared with the control cheese. Melting characteristics also improved in contrast to the control cheese, which remained in the form of shreds during baking and lacked proper melting. The cheeses made with added butter had higher free oil content, which correlated (R² ≥ 0.92) to the amount of butterfat added, and less hardness and gumminess compared with the control low fat cheese.