Acrylamide and methylglyoxal formation in potato chips by microwaving and frying heating

In our present paper, the effect of important α‐dicarbonyl compounds of methylglyoxal on the formation of acrylamide was quantified in potato chips systems. Methylglyoxal was regarded as the main α‐dicarbonyl compound, and its formation was detected by HPLC method. There heating methods were used to study the effect on acrylamide formation. The results showed that microwaving treatment could form more acrylamide compared with frying method. After 2 min of microwaving treatment at 700 W, the acrylamide content was sharply increased from 1.77 ± 0.37 to 72.93 ± 0.72 μmol kg^?1. Microwaving treatment would promote the formation of methylglyoxal compared with frying treatment at 160 and 180 °C in potato chips. A typical linear growth curve prepared by plotting acrylamide levels vs. methylglyoxal content formed under different heating condition was observed: y = ?41.33 + 0.17x (r = 0.965). This study revealed for the first time that there is a significant correlation between methylglyoxal and acrylamide in potato chips, thus confirming the important role of dicarbonyls in the formation of acrylamide in potato chips.     

Effect of temperature, pressure and calcium soaking pre-treatments and pressure shift freezing on the texture and texture evolution of frozen green bell peppers (Capsicum annuum)

The firmness of green bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) was studied under different processing conditions. Thermal texture degradation kinetics of pepper tissue between 75 and 95 °C could be accurately described by a fractional conversion model. The firmness of pre-processed pepper increased when the samples were submitted to several heat, pressure, and combinations of heat/pressure and calcium soaking pre-treatments. Pre-heating at 55 °C during 60 min and mild heat/high-pressure treatments (200 MPa at 25 °C, 15 min) yielded the best results, which were further improved when combined with calcium soaking. These pre-treatments significantly slowed down thermal texture degradation of pepper at 90 °C, a typical temperature used for pepper blanching prior to freezing. The above-mentioned pre-treated samples showed a significant reduction in firmness when frozen by regular freezing at 0.1 MPa. The same samples showed no changes in firmness when frozen by high-pressure shift freezing at 200 MPa. When freezing was carried out by high-pressure shift and after frozen storage (−18 °C) for 2.5 months, pressure pre-treated pepper showed a better retention of texture than thermal pre-treated pepper.     

茉莉酸甲酯处理对模拟运输振动圆椒贮藏品质的影响

圆椒营养丰富但质地脆嫩,在运输过程中容易受到振动引起的机械损伤。本实验探究了20 μmol/L的茉莉酸甲酯(methyl jasmonate,MeJA)对模拟运输振动后的圆椒在常温条件(20±1) ℃下贮藏的保鲜效果,对圆椒在贮藏期间的感官评分、硬度、呼吸强度、失重率以及圆椒可溶性固形物(SS)、维生素C(V_C)和叶绿素的含量进行了测定。结果表明:振动损伤会加速圆椒贮藏期间品质的下降;20 μmol/L的MeJA能较好的维持振动后圆椒的感官品质,抑制圆椒硬度的下降及失重率的上升,保持较低的呼吸强度,延缓圆椒SS、V_C及叶绿素含量的下降,有效保持了振动后圆椒的外观品质和营养价值,减少圆椒的逆境胁迫损伤,延长其货架期。     

Quality assessment of dehydrated red bell pepper using tempering drying cycles

Quality assessment of red bell pepper dices preserved through batch dehydration introducing tempering cycles were performed in this work. The parameters considered were: the percentages of ascorbic acid and final antioxidant activity retention, as well as the influence of calcium chloride on diffusivity and colour values. Although, a similar final moisture content was reached through different red bell pepper dehydration processes, but the one with tempering cycles had better qualities than those without tempering. Ascorbic acid and final antioxidant activity retention showed higher values and so were colour intensities compared to control samples in all cases. In respect to the effective diffusivity coefficients, there was an increment as the calcium chloride concentration increased. As of the treatments with tempering cycles, the best scheme was 15 min drying time and 30 min tempering time at 60 °C.     

A comparative study on the effect of packaging material and storage environment on shelf life of fresh bell-pepper

The effect of packaging materials [low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP)] and storage environment [modified atmospheric packaging (MAP)] on shelf life enhancement of bell pepper in terms of quality attributes such as physiological weight loss, ascorbic acid, texture, surface colour and subjective quality analysis have been studied at ambient and refrigerated condition. Different packaging techniques used for the experiment were MAP with LDPE, MAP with PP, MAP in perforated LDPE films, MAP in perforated PP films, shrink packaging with bi-axially oriented PP (BOPP) film and vacuum packaging with PP film. The in-pack bell pepper created a suitable headspace environment with low O₂ and high CO₂ concentrations, which resulted in a better retention of freshness of the vegetables and its marketability. Shrink packaging with BOPP film could not yield better result under ambient storage because of high water vapor transmission rate of the film and consequently loss of turgidity of the vegetables. Among different packaging techniques and storage conditions, MAP with PP film in refrigerated condition was found to be the best followed by vacuum pack with PP film in refrigerated condition and could be used to store for 20 days for bell pepper with maintenance of texture, colour, ascorbic acid and marketability. It is also inferred that under ambient conditions, bell pepper could be stored for 4 days using ventilated LDPE and PP as MAP storage. Further studies are needed to evaluate the sensory aspects, as well as to microbiological evaluation to characterize the fresh bell pepper during storage.     

Kinetics of osmotic dehydration of red bell peppers as influenced by pulsed electric field pretreatment

This study was aimed at relating diffusion rates during osmotic dehydration of red bell peppers in two different osmotic solutions (sucrose/sodium chloride, 21.86 and 2.02 g/100 g respectively, and sucrose, 50°Brix at 30 °C) to the extent of membrane permeabilisation induced by pulsed electric field (PEF) using varying field strength of 1, 1.5 and 2 kV/cm with a constant pulse number of 20 at a pulse duration of 400±50 μs. The development of pores with time within the membrane after PEF was monitored, changes in sample weight and composition in the product liquid phase were analysed. The initiation of pore formation and pore growth within the cell membrane after PEF was found to be time dependent and not an instantaneous process. A fractional ruptured membrane area, F_p=0.003% was detected after about 20 s of application of 2 pulses at 2 kV/cm (320 J/kg energy input per pulse and approx. 0.2 °C temperature change) and this increased to 0.0166% within 300 min. Osmotic dehydration of bell peppers was highest at the beginning of the process. The application of PEF resulted in enhanced rate of transfers as indicated by an increase of 11–25% in water loss and 2–5% in solids gain as compared to the untreated samples in the two osmotic solutions. Conditions of PEF that induced an average fractional ruptured area of 0.008%, 5 min after PEF treatment were found adequate to markedly improve diffusion kinetics during the osmotic dehydration under atmospheric pressure conditions.     

Sequential Microwave-Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction for Isolation of Piperine from Black Pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Piper nigrum</Emphasis> L.)

Piperine is the natural bioactive component of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) with several astounding therapeutic properties. In this study, sequential microwave-ultrasound-assisted extraction approach was used for isolation of piperine from black pepper. The effect of various factors such as extraction solvent, particle size of pepper, solvent to solid ratio, microwave power and time and ultrasound temperature and time on the extraction yield of piperine was considered. The maximum extraction yield was 46.6 mg piperine/g pepper which was obtained using ethanol as solvent at the particle size of 0.15 mm, solvent to solid ratio of 20:1, microwave power of 100 W for 1 min, and ultrasound temperature of 50 ^° C for 30 min. This extraction yield was higher than those obtained by Soxhlet (39.1 mg/g), microwave-assisted (38.8 mg/g) and ultrasound-assisted (37.0 mg/g) extractions. The purity of the extracted piperine was 81.4% as determined by HPLC analysis. The FTIR and UV-vis analyses confirmed that the structure of piperine remained intact after extraction and purification which is very important for medicinal applications.     

Pakistani Bell Pepper (Capsicum annum L.): Chemical Compositions and its Antioxidant Activity

A total of 33 compounds of bell pepper volatile oils were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC–MS) in the volatile dichloromethane extract obtained from Pakistani bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.), locally known as Shimla Mirch. The main constituents of the volatile oils of bell pepper (fresh and dried) were benzaldehyde (20.9–3%), 2-methoxy-3-isobutyl-pyrazine (20.4–9%), Z-β-ocimene (13–3%), 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (12.7–2.5%), and β-ionone (12.1–0.9%). Non volatile components of bell pepper ‘Twingo’ and Bell Pepper No. 1 (fresh and dried) were extracted with n-hexane and methanol. All extracts from solvent extraction and the volatile extract described above exhibited clear antioxidant activities at levels of 10–60 μg/mL in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl/linoleic acid and β-carotene bleaching assays. The dried bell pepper ‘Twingo’ volatile oil inhibited 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl activity by 70.95 ± 0.89%, at a concentration of 60 μg/mL. This study indicates that Pakistani bell pepper could be used to produce novel natural antioxidants as well as a flavoring agent in various food products.     

Development,Characterization, and Stability of O/W Pepper Nanoemulsions Produced by High-Pressure Homogenization

Interest in the utilization of bioactive plant compounds in foods has increased due to their biochemical activities (antioxidant, antimicrobial, etc.), and as alternatives in the reduction of the use of high concentrations of chemical substances. However, some of these additives are hydrophobic, thus being harder to disperse into the food matrix, which is generally water-based. A good alternative is the use of low concentrations of these compounds as nanoemulsions. The objective of the present study was to develop oil-in-water nanoemulsions containing “dedo-de-moça” pepper extract for food applications. Research in the development of these nanoemulsions was carried out using a high-speed homogenizer, followed by a high-pressure homogenizer. The influence of the following parameters was assessed: type and concentration of surfactants, hidrophilic-lipophilic balance, lipid/aqueous phase ratio, surfactant/oil ratio, pepper extract composition in nanoemulsion, and processing conditions. Nanoemulsions were evaluated by environmental (centrifugal and thermal) and storage stabilities, characterized by average droplet size and ζ-potential measurements, color, interfacial tension, atomic force, and cryo-scanning electron microscopy. Those with average droplet size between 132 ± 2.0 and 145 ± 1.0 nm were developed depending on working pressure and number of cycles; ζ-potential was around ? 36.71 ± 0.62 mV and the best nanoemulsion was stable to centrifugation and most of the thermal stresses. Droplets were characterized with cryo-scanning electron microscopy as being spherical, homogeneous, and stable, and remained stable when stored at 4 °C and room temperature for over 120 days. The pepper nanoemulsion, developed in the present study, has potential applications in the food industry.     

Assessment of the N-nitrosopiperidine formation risk from piperine and piperidine contained in spices used as meat product additives

The N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) formation in blends of spices and nitrite curing salt was investigated in relation with the piperine and piperidine contents in spices. Firstly, two analytical methods were developed. Piperine was extracted with dichloromethane by means of accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–diode array detector (λ = 343 nm). A selective hydroextraction of piperidine using ASE and its quantification by HPLC–ELSD was applied. Both methods were sufficiently sensitive and accurate (limit of detection, limit of quantification, and recovery: 0.28, 0.84 μg, and 98.9 ± 2.6 % for piperine, and 5.76, 17.45 μg, and 95.9 ± 2.9 % for piperidine, respectively). Secondly, both compounds were quantified in commercial samples (black and white pepper, paprika, chili pepper, allspice, and nutmeg). The maximum amount of piperine (21.12 mg g^?1) was found in pepper, while the other spices contained only traces. Piperidine was detected mainly in the pepper samples, whereby the highest concentration was found in the white pepper extract (11.42 mg g^?1). Thirdly, during the storage of spices blended with nitrite curing salt, the NPIP content was determined, using a gas chromatograph coupled with a thermal energy analyzer. Against our expectations, no NPIP formation was observed in the curing mixture which contained white pepper extract. This result remains in contrast with the white pepper mixture, in which the NPIP content significantly increased from not detected to 9.80 ± 0.41 ng g^?1 after the 2 months storage period. In conclusion, high amounts of piperine or piperidine in spices do not systematically result in the formation of NPIP, when blended with nitrite curing salt .     

Effect of different solvents on volatile and non-volatile constituents of red bell pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.) and their in vitro antioxidant activity

The fresh fruit of Capsicum annuum L. (red bell pepper) was successively extracted using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and their percentage yield was calculated. The effectiveness of each extract on chemical composition and antioxidant activity was studied. The qualitative phytochemical evaluation of each extract of bell pepper was done by HPTLC and Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. The total content of phenols, flavonoids and carotenoids were estimated by standard chemical methods. Further, the antioxidant potential of each extract was measured via DPPH and reducing power assays. Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy analysis showed that the majority of compounds were related to phenols and flavonoids. Further analysis of the extract by HPTLC verified the presence of different types of phenolic compounds in addition to flavonoids and carotenoids. Among the different solvent extracts analyzed, total phenolic content was higher in ethanol extract (7.136?±?0.03%, w/w) whereas ethyl acetate extract showed the presence of higher flavonoid content (4.0521?±?0.03%, w/w). The ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the fruit of C. annuum exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity with inhibition percentage of 53.66 and 49.55% at a concentration of 254 µg/ml. Based on the biochemical analysis and phytochemical screening, we conclude that C. annuum possess potent antioxidant potential and this ability of the extract is attributed to the presence of rich polyphenolic compounds.     

Dielectric Properties of Red Pepper Powder Related to Radiofrequency and Microwave Drying

To provide useful information for drying red pepper with radiofrequency or microwave energy and designing dielectric drying equipment, dielectric properties (dielectric constant ε′ and loss factor ε?″) of red pepper powder with moisture contents ranging from 10.4 to 30.8 % wet basis were measured at different temperatures (from 25 to 85 °C) over a frequency range of 20–4,500 MHz with a vector network analyzer and an open-ended coaxial-line probe. The results showed that both ε′ and ε?″ of red pepper powder were dependent on electromagnetic wave frequency, moisture content, and temperature. The value of ε′ decreased with increases in frequency over the tested range. The ε?″ decreased with increasing frequency when the frequency was below 4,000 MHz, and increased slightly when it was above 4,000 MHz. Both ε′ and ε?″ increased as either moisture content or temperature increased, and the increases were a little greater at high moisture and temperature than those at low moisture and temperature. The moisture- and temperature-dependent permittivities of red pepper powder at several frequencies of interest could be described by quadratic models. The results of variance analysis exhibited that both moisture content and temperature had significant influence (p<0.01) on permittivities of red pepper powder. The power penetration decreased as frequency, moisture content, and temperature increased. Large penetration depth at radiofrequencies below 100 MHz could be used to dry red peppers in a large scale, while microwave energy could be used for drying red peppers in a small scale.     

UV-C处理对青椒色泽和生理品质的影响

为研究短波紫外线（short-wave ultraviolet,UV-C）处理对青椒色泽和生理品质的影响,本实验以不同剂量UV-C处理青椒,得到最佳处理剂量,然后采用最佳剂量的UV-C（0.25 kJ/m2）处理青椒,分别将其进行常温和冷藏方式贮藏,测定青椒贮藏过程中的感官品质和总叶绿素、类胡萝卜素、类黄酮、总酚含量,同时测定过氧化物酶（peroxidase,POD）、过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（ascorbate peroxidase,APX）、多酚氧化酶（polyphenol oxidase,PPO）及八氢番茄红素合酶（phytoene synthase,PSY）、番茄红素β-环化酶（lycopene-β-cyclase,LCYB）活力的变化。结果表明：UV-C处理可明显提升青椒的外观品质,减缓叶绿素降解,并降低PSY和常温贮藏下LCYB活力,进而影响青椒中类胡萝卜素的合成,抑制类胡萝卜素和类黄酮含量的升高,从而延缓青椒转红。此外,与对照相比,UV-C处理还能降低青椒中的PPO活力,有效延缓果实褐变,并诱导酚类物质的合成,提高POD、CAT和APX活力,提高抗氧化能力。结论：UV-C处理可以延缓青椒转红,维持青椒在贮藏期间的生理品质,有效延长青椒的货架期,结果可为青椒的采后贮藏保鲜提供理论依据。     

辣椒籽油的制备及其挥发性香味物质的研究

利用亚临界低温萃取技术对经过炒制前处理的辣椒籽进行萃取制备得到辣椒籽油,并采用同时蒸馏结合GC-MS法,分析了不同的炒制温度(120~200℃)和炒制时间(5~25 min)对辣椒籽油中的挥发性成分和脂肪酸成分的影响。在炒制时间为5 min,炒制温度低于140℃时,芳樟醇、月桂烯、双戊烯是辣椒籽油的主要香气物质,当温度高于140℃时,吡嗪类化合物和2-戊基呋喃是辣椒籽油的主要香气物质。在炒制温度为140℃,炒制时间为5 min时,辣椒籽油中的芳樟醇、月桂烯、双戊烯的含量分别达到最大值,随着炒制时间的增加,辣椒籽油中的2,3,5,6-甲基四吡嗪和2-戊基呋喃的含量在20 min时达到了最大值。辣椒籽油中主要的脂肪酸成分是棕榈酸(11.57%)、油酸(76.16%)和亚油酸(7.14%)。     

Influence of deep-frying using various commercial oils on acrylamide formation in French fries

This study investigated the effect of different types of commercial oils (rice bran oil, shortening oil, high-oleic rapeseed oil, low-erucic acid rapeseed oil, blend oil A and blend oil B) and frying cycles on acrylamide formation during the preparation of French fries by deep-frying. Frying was carried out in intermittent mode (two batches each for 12 min without any time lag) and repeated for 600 frying cycles. Results indicated that the French fries that were fried in oils having lower heat transfer coefficients contained lower acrylamide concentrations (913 µg kg^–1), whereas those fried with oils having higher heat transfer coefficients contained higher acrylamide concentrations (1219 µg kg^–1). Unlike the peroxide value, acrylamide levels in French fries did not change significantly with an increase in the number of frying cycles when tested for 600 frying cycles for every type of oil. This study clearly indicates that the contribution of frying oils to the formation of acrylamide should not be neglected due to their different heat transfer coefficients. On the other hand, continuous use of frying oil does not lead to a higher acrylamide concentration in French fries.     

Linking oral processing behavior to bolus properties and dynamic sensory perception of processed cheeses with bell pepper pieces

The addition of food particles to food matrices is a convenient approach that allows to steer oral behavior, sensory perception and satiation. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of physical-chemical properties of heterogenous foods on oral processing behavior, bolus properties and dynamic sensory perception. Bell pepper gel pieces varying in fracture stress and concentration were added to processed cream cheese matrices differing in texture. Addition of bell pepper gel pieces to processed cheeses increased consumption time, decreased eating rate and led to harder and less adhesive bolus with more saliva incorporated. Addition of bell pepper gel pieces to processed cheeses decreased dominance rate and duration of creaminess, smoothness, melting and dairy flavor and increased graininess and bell pepper flavor. Increasing fracture stress of bell pepper gel pieces from 100 to 300 kPa resulted in longer consumption time and lower eating rate. For hard/non-adhesive processed cheese matrices increasing gel pieces fracture stress lead to a boli with larger particles and more saliva. These changes were accompanied by decreased dominance perception of creaminess and bell pepper flavor and increased dominance of graininess. Increasing the concentration of bell pepper gel pieces from 15 to 30% did not affect oral behavior but led to the formation of harder and less adhesive bolus with larger particles and less saliva that were perceived with reduced dominance of creaminess, meltiness and dairy flavor while dominance of graininess and bell pepper flavor increased. Changing the texture of the cheese matrix from soft/adhesive to hard/non-adhesive decreased consumption time, increased eating rate, did not influence bolus properties and decreased dominance rate of creaminess, smoothness and melting sensations. Number of chews and total consumption time were positively correlated with saliva content of the bolus, number of bolus particles, bolus hardness, dominance of firmness, chewiness and graininess. We conclude that the modification of physical-chemical properties of processed cheeses and embedded bell pepper gel pieces can be a strategy to steer oral behavior and bolus properties which consequently determine dynamic sensory perception.     

ANALYSIS AND FORMATION OF ACRYLAMIDE IN FRENCH FRIES AND CHICKEN LEGS DURING FRYING

The analysis and formation of acrylamide in French fries and chicken legs during frying were studied. Results showed that the most appropriate extraction solvent was ethyl acetate, with C‐18 cartridge for purification and 5‐mL deionized water as elution solvent. Dibromination of acrylamide followed by dehydrobromination to 2‐bromopropionamide in the presence of triethylamine was necessary for subsequent analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The most appropriate temperature programming condition was as follows: 70C in the beginning, raised to 150C at a rate of 10C/min, maintained for 1 min and to 240C at a rate of 30C/min, maintained for 5 min. Detection was carried out using selected‐ion monitoring mode, and N,N‐dimethylacrylamide was used as internal standard for quantification. French fries and the outer flour portion of chicken legs fried at 180C generated a higher level of acrylamide than at 160C. Compared to soybean oil and palm oil, a lower amount of acrylamide was produced in French fries and the outer flour portion of chicken legs fried in lard. However, no acrylamide was detected in the inner meat portion of fried chicken legs.     

Employing an intelligence model and sensitivity analysis to investigate some physicochemical properties of coated bell pepper during storage

The objectives of this work were to study the effects of three different coatings (gum Tragacanth, sesame oil and gum Tragacanth–sesame oil), temperature and time on shelf life of bell pepper. Moisture reduction, shrinkage as well as firmness and colour changes were studied during 30 days at 4, 10, 15 and 23 °C. Results of this study showed that bell peppers treated with gum Tragacanth at higher temperatures, such as 10 °C, had good quality up to 30 days of storage. However, sharp changes in physicochemical characters were observed in bell peppers stored at 23 °C. In order to predict moisture reduction, shrinkage, firmness and colour changes genetic algorithm–artificial neural network model was developed. It was found that artificial neural network with eight hidden neurons truly could predict the physicochemical changes of bell pepper during storage (R² > 0.9598). The results of sensitivity analysis showed that shrinkage percentage and also changes of firmness and colour were very sensitive to storage time, while storage temperature had the most effect on moisture reduction.     

Effect of Microwave Frying on Acrylamide Generation,Mass Transfer,Color, and Texture in French Fries

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of microwave power on acrylamide generation, as well as moisture and oil fluxes and quality attributes of microwave-fried potatoes. Concretely, 25 g of potato strips, in 250 mL of fresh oil (at room temperature), were subjected to three different microwave powers (315, 430, and 600 W) in a conventional microwave oven. Microwave frying resulted in an acrylamide reduction ranged from 37 to 83% compared to deep-oil frying. Microwave-fried French fries presented lower moisture and higher fat content than deep-oil fried potatoes. Concretely, microwave-fried potatoes presented values of moisture and texture more similar to potato chips than French fries, nonetheless with lower fat levels (less than 20 g/100 g wb) and acrylamide content (lower than 100 μg/kg wb) at the reference time. This study presents an alternative way of frying to address the production of healthier potato chips.     

油炸温度-时间对鸡肉中丙烯酰胺含量的影响

本文研究了油炸温度-时间对鸡肉表面和中心丙烯酰胺含量的影响。分别测定了在160℃、170℃和180℃油炸过程中鸡肉内外温度变化。油炸18min后,中心温度没有超过115℃,而表面温度升高很快。结果显示,鸡肉表面和中心丙烯酰胺含量差别很大,在160℃、170℃和180℃油炸18min后,表面丙烯酰胺含量分别为3.03μg/g、6.62μg/g和8.59μg/g;而中心丙烯酰胺含量在180℃只有2.26μg/g。虽然在160℃下油炸18min,表面温度没有超过130℃,但在此温度下也能产生丙烯酰胺,说明在低于130℃下也能产生丙烯酰胺。