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

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

Effects of osmotic pretreatment and frying conditions on quality and storage stability of vacuum-fried pumpkin chips

The effects of osmotic (OP), ultrasound-assisted osmotic pretreatment (UAOP) and frying conditions on quality and storage stability of vacuum fried pumpkin chips were investigated. The pumpkin samples were pretreated in maltodextrin solution and subsequently fried at different temperatures (90–110 °C) and time periods (10–30 min). The results demonstrated that the moisture content, water activity, lightness, yellowness and carotenoid content of the fried chips decreased, while oil content, hardness and a* (dark brown colour) value increased with increasing frying temperature and time. UAOP reduced about 16.0% of oil absorption and enhanced approximately 70% of carotenoid retention in the fried chips. UAOP samples were also more stable during storage than the untreated ones, indicated by lower degradation kinetics constants of key quality parameters. The proposed pretreatment could be an effective method for food industries to develop vacuum fried pumpkin chips with improved quality and stability.     

Effects of processing conditions on the quality of vacuum fried apple chips

The effects of pretreatment and processing conditions on the quality of vacuum fried apple chips were studied. As blanched apple slices were pretreated by immersing in fructose solution and freezing prior to vacuum frying, more uniform porosity was observed on the surface (or cross-section) of apple chips as examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). During vacuum frying, the moisture content and breaking force of apple chips decreased with increasing frying temperature and time while the oil content increased. The L values of fried apple chips decreased apparently with increasing frying temperature. However, when apple slices were fried at 100°C for up to 20 min, both a and b values increased rapidly. Statistical analysis with the central composite rotatable design showed that the moisture content, oil content, color, and breaking force of apple chips were significantly (P⩽0.05) correlated with concentration of immersing sugar solution, frying temperature and frying time. Based on surface responses and contour plots, optimum conditions were: vacuum frying temperature of 100–110°C, vacuum frying time of 20–25 min, and immersing fructose concentration of 30–40%.     

Effect of Cooking Method (Baking Compared with Frying) on Acrylamide Level of Potato Chips

ABSTRACT:  The effect of cooking method (baking compared with frying) on acrylamide level of potato chips was investigated in this study. Baking and frying experiments were conducted at 170, 180, and 190 °C using potato slices with a thickness of 1.4 mm. Raw potatoes were analyzed for reducing sugars and asparagine. Surface and internal temperatures of potato slices were monitored during the experiments to better explain the results. Fried and baked chips were analyzed for acrylamide content using an LC-MS method. The results showed that acrylamide level of potato chips prepared by frying increased with frying temperature (19.6 ng/g at 170 °C, 39 ng/g at 180 °C, and 95 ng/g at 190 °C). In baking, however, the highest acrylamide level was observed in potato chips prepared at 170 °C (47.8 ng/g at 170 °C, 19.3 ng/g at 180 °C, and 29.7 ng/g at 190 °C). The results showed that baking at 170 °C more than doubled the acrylamide amount that formed upon frying at the same temperature, whereas at 180 and 190 °C, the acrylamide levels of chips prepared by baking were lower than their fried counterparts.     

Quality changes of edible oils during vacuum and atmospheric frying of potato chips

Demand for safe and nutritionally rich fried products is gaining a momentum among consumers, leading to the increased consumption of vacuum fried products. The impact of vacuum frying (VF)(110 °C, 40 kPa) on chemical composition of food, fatty acid profile, microstructure, oxidative stability and sensory attributes was assessed and differentiated with that of atmospheric frying(AF) (180 °C). The potato slices were fried in mustard and soyabean oil used repetitively for 25 h. The oil content of VF potato chips was lower (15.18%) than AF chips (18.98%), however water loss in AF chips was higher than VF chips by 1.63-fold. VF significantly prevented the PUFA degradation, minimizes transfatty acid (TFA) formation and maintain a low C18:2/C16:0 ratio as compared to AF. VF Chips fried in soyabean oil show an increase in TFA content from 2.15 to 2.63% and a decrease in PUFA from 51.57 to 45.16% as compared to AF chips where TFA content increased from 2.15 to 3.72% and PUFA shows a higher reduction from 51.57 to 37.69% at the end of 25 h of frying. This indicate that in AF, oil is safe for use upto 10 cycles of frying, while as in VF, the same oil can be used for upto 40 cycles of frying without quality deteoriation. Sensorial analysis revealed that VF chips retain a better colour, taste and flavour but were less crispy than that of AF chips. These findings validate the application of vacuum frying technology for the production of high-quality foods with lesser degradation of frying oil.Industrial relevanceFood manufacturers are now impelled by the health-conscious consumer base for the production of healthy food products. The toxic effect of foods fried in degraded oils on human health is now widely known and thus the production of safe fried foods is the need of hour globally. In this context, vacuum frying is the most feasible approach for the production of quality fried products retaining the natural colour, flavour, sensory and nutritional properties better than that of atmospheric frying. Vacuum frying causes the least degradation of fatty acid of the frying oil and the fried potatoes, producing healthy potato chips. Therefore, the oil used for vacuum frying have a greater shelf life and oxidative stability than atmospheric frying. However, the higher installation cost of vacuum fryer still limits its use in the street fried food market, where degradation of oil is more likely. Thus, for its widespread commercialisation in developing countries, steps should be taken both by government and manufacturing companies to reduce the installation costs.     

Effects of processing conditions on the quality of vacuum‐fried carrot chips

The effects of pretreatment and vacuum frying conditions on the quality of fried carrot chips were studied. The moisture and oil contents of fried carrot chips were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced when blanched carrot slices were pretreated by immersion in fructose solution and freezing prior to vacuum frying. Furthermore, more uniform porosity was observed on the vertical cross‐section of carrot chips when examined by scanning electron microscopy. During vacuum frying, the moisture content, colour and breaking force of carrot chips decreased while the oil content increased with increasing frying temperature and time. However, there was no apparent change in Hunter ΔE with time when the frying temperature was below 100 °C and the frying time was below 25 min. Results of this study suggest that vacuum frying at moderate temperature (90–100 °C) for 20 min can produce carrot chips with lower moisture and oil contents as well as good colour and crispy texture. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

High-Temperature Natural Antioxidant Improves Soy Oil for Frying

ABSTRACT:  The objectives of this study were to determine the frying stability of soybean oil (SBO) treated with a natural citric acid-based antioxidant, EPT-OILShield™ able to withstand high temperatures and to establish the oxidative stability of food fried in the treated oil. Soybean oil with 0.05% and 0.5% EPT-OILShield and an untreated control SBO were used for intermittent batch frying of tortilla chips at 180 °C for up to 65 h. Oil frying stability was measured by free fatty acids (FFA) and total polar compounds (TPC). Chips were aged for up to 4 mo at 25 °C and evaluated for rancid flavor by a 15-member, trained, experienced analytical sensory panel and for hexanal content as an indicator of oxidation. Oil with 0.05% EPT-OILShield had significantly less FFA and TPC than the control. The effect of EPT-OILShield was apparently retained in aged chips because hexanal levels were significantly lower in chips fried in oil with 0.05% EPT-OILShield than in chips fried in the control. Tortilla chips fried in the control were rancid after 2 mo at 25 °C at sampling times evaluated from 25 to 65 h; however, chips fried in oil with 0.05% EPT-OILShield and used for 65 h were described as only slightly rancid after 4 mo. Gamma tocopherol levels were significantly higher in the chips fried in the oil with 0.05% EPT-OILShield than in the control, helping to inhibit oxidation in the tortilla chips during storage.     

Reduction of Acrylamide Formation in Potato Chips by Low-temperature Vacuum Frying

ABSTRACT: Potatoes and other foods that have a high content of the amino acid asparagine and a high accumulation of reducing sugars are subject to the formation of acrylamide upon frying. The objectives of this research were (1) to analyze the level of acrylamide formed during deep-fat frying of potato chips and (2) to evaluate means of reducing acrylamide in potato chips by using different potato cultivars and vacuum frying. Several potato cultivars were used in this research, including Innovator (I), NDTX 4930–5W (N), ATX 854 04–8W (ATw), Atlantic (A), Shepody (S), ATX847806–2Ru (ATr), and White-Rose (W). An electric bench-top (atmospheric conditions)-type fryer was used to fry the potatoes. Three temperatures were used: 150 °C, 165 °C, and 180 °C. The vacuum frying experiments were performed at 118 °C, 125 °C, and 140 °C and a vacuum pressure of 10 Torr. The potatoes were sliced (1.5-mm thick) and fried for different lengths of times. For potatoes fried at 165 °C (for 4 min) at atmospheric conditions, the acrylamide contents were 5021 ± 55 ppb (W), 552 ± 25 ppb (I), 358 ± 50 ppb (N), 397 ± 25 ppb (ATw), 646 ± 55 ppb (A), 466 ± 15 ppb(S), and 537 ± 14 ppb (ATr). Vacuum frying reduced acrylamide formation by 94%. Results showed that both cultivar and modified frying systems can play an important role in reducing acrylamide formation in fried potatoes. As the frying temperature decreased from 180 °C to 165 °C, acrylamide content in potato chips reduced by 51% during traditional frying and by 63% as the temperature decreased from 140 °C to 125 °C in vacuum frying. Increased frying time increased acrylamide formation during traditional frying for all temperatures and frying methods analyzed. However, the effect on acrylamide concentration was greater for the traditional frying than the vacuum frying. Keywords: acrylamide, vacuum, frying, potato, temperature     

Optimization of microwave frying of osmotically dehydrated potato slices by using response surface methodology

Microwave frying of osmotically dehydrated potatoes was optimized by using response surface methodology. Osmotic dehydration was applied prior to microwave frying in order to reduce oil uptake and to evaluate the effect of osmotic dehydration on quality of microwave fried potatoes. Moisture content, oil content, hardness and color of the fried potatoes were used as quality parameters. Microwave power level (400, 550, 700 W), frying time (1.5, 2.0, 2.5 min) and osmotic dehydration time (15, 30, 45 min) were the independent variables in the study. Osmotic dehydration treatment was conducted using 20% (w/w) sodium chloride solution at 30 °C. Moisture content of the fried potatoes decreased whereas oil content, hardness and ΔE value of potatoes increased with increasing frying time and microwave power level. The increase in osmotic dehydration time reduced moisture content and oil content and increased hardness of fried potatoes. The optimum condition was found as frying at 400 W microwave power level for 1.5 min after 39 min of osmotic dehydration time.     

Effect of Ultrasound-Assisted Osmotic Dehydration as a Pretreatment on Deep Fat Frying of Potatoes

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration (UAOD) as a pretreatment prior to frying and to study its effects on the quality of fried potatoes. The quality parameters, moisture content, oil uptake, color, texture, and microstructure of fried potatoes, were chosen. Quality of fried potatoes treated with UAOD was also compared with the ones treated with osmotic dehydration (OD). Potato slabs (40 × 40 × 7 mm) were pretreated with different osmotic solutions (15 % sodium chloride and 15 % sodium chloride/50 % sucrose solutions) at different temperatures (25, 45, and 65 °C) with and without ultrasonic waves for different treatment times. The pretreatment conditions which are OD for 90 min and UAOD for 30 min using 15 % sodium chloride/50 % sucrose solution were applied prior to frying at 170 °C for 2, 4, and 6 min. UAOD reduced the oil content of fried potatoes by 12.5 % (db) as compared to untreated fried potatoes at the end of frying. There was no significant difference between OD and UAOD in reduction of oil uptake in fried potatoes. However, UAOD was found to have the advantage of improving the color of French fries. In addition, it shortened the pretreatment time of OD by about 67 %. Cell structure of fried potato was damaged in the presence of pretreatments of OD and UAOD.     

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.     

Vacuum frying as a route to produce novel snacks with desired quality attributes according to new health trends

Consumers look for products that contribute to their wellness and health, however, even health-conscious consumers are not willing to sacrifice organoleptic properties, and intense full-flavor snacks remain an important trend. The objective of this study was to examine most important quality parameters of vacuum (1.92 inHg) and atmospheric-fried carrot, potato, and apple slices to determine specific advantages of vacuum technology. Slices were fried using equivalent thermal driving forces, maintaining a constant difference between oil temperature and the boiling point of water at the working pressure (ΔT = 60 and 80 °C). This resulted in frying temperatures of 160 and 180 °C, and 98 and 118 °C, for atmospheric and vacuum frying, respectively. Vacuum-fried carrot and potato chips absorbed about 50% less oil than atmospheric-fried chips, whereas vacuum-fried apple chips reduced oil absorption by 25%. Total carotenoids and ascorbic acid (AA) were greatly preserved during vacuum frying. Carrot chips vacuum fried at 98 °C retained about 90% of total carotenoids, whereas potato and apple slices vacuum fried at 98 °C, preserved around 95% of their initial AA content. Interestingly, results showed that the antioxidant capacity of chips may be related to both the presence of natural antioxidants and brown pigments developed at elevated temperatures. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A way to reduce detrimental effects of deep-fat frying is through operating-pressure reduction, the essence behind vacuum deep-fat frying. In this way, it is possible to remove product moisture at a low temperature in a low-oxygen environment. The objective of this research was to study the effect of oil temperature reduction when vacuum frying traditional (potatoes) and nontraditional products (carrots and apples) on most important quality attributes (vitamins, color, and oil uptake). Results are promising and show that vacuum frying can be an alternative to produce nutritious and novel snacks with desired quality attributes, since vitamins and color were greatly preserved and oil absorption could be substantially reduced.     

Optimisation of vacuum frying of gold kiwifruit slices: application of response surface methodology

Response surface methodology was used to investigate the effects of the level of maltodextrin (MD), frying temperature and time on the moisture, colour and texture properties of the vacuum‐fried gold kiwifruit slices and to determine the optimised conditions for vacuum frying. The moisture content of vacuum‐fried gold kiwifruit slices decreased with increasing frying temperature and frying time. The colour change of the product increased with increasing frying temperature. The browning index of the product increased with increasing frying temperature and frying time. The breaking force of the product gave higher values when processed at middle range of frying temperature and MD level. When processing vacuum‐fried gold kiwifruit slices, there was a need to use frying temperatures of 72.0–76.3 °C, frying times of 35.0–65.0 min and an MD level of 40% to achieve products with acceptable moisture, colour and texture properties.     

Osmotic dehydration of guava: influence of replacing sodium metabisulphite with honey on quality

Guava slices were subjected to pre-treatment by soaking in a solution containing 0.25% (w/v) sodium metabisulphite, 0.5% (w/v) ascorbic acid, 1% (w/v) citric acid, 1% (w/v) calcium chloride and either 0%, 1% or 3% (v/v) honey. A higher concentration of metabisulphite [0.5% (w/v)], but no honey, was also prepared as a reference. After osmotic dehydration, the guava slices were dried at 60 °C. During 24 weeks of storage, the measured texture values of products indicated that an addition of honey significantly delayed the increase in hardness and cutting work in guava slices compared to other treatments ( P  ≤   0.05). Pre-treatment with 0.5% (w/v) metabisulphite without honey or 0.25% (w/v) metabisulphite with 1% (v/v) honey maintained colour during storage better than with 0 or 3% (v/v) honey. The result showed good agreement with colour score evaluation. Overall results suggested that 1% (v/v) honey was the best pre-treatment condition.     

Comparison between atmospheric and vacuum frying of apple slices

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

Effects of maltodextrin level,frying temperature and time on the moisture,oil and beta‐carotene contents of vacuum‐fried apricot slices

Response surface methodology was used to investigate the effects of frying temperature, time and maltodextrin (MD) levels on the moisture, oil and beta‐carotene contents of the vacuum‐fried apricot slices. Based on the results, the moisture content of vacuum‐fried apricot slices decreases with increasing frying temperature and frying time. Generally, the oil content of vacuum‐fried apricot slices decreases with decreasing frying temperature and frying time. The beta‐carotene content of vacuum‐fried apricot slices increases with increasing frying temperature. But the trend of increase in the beta‐carotene content of the product with frying temperature was higher at lower MD level. When processing vacuum‐fried apricot slices, a frying temperature of 100 °C, frying time of 72.5 min and an MD level of 70% must be used to achieve a product of acceptable moisture, oil and beta‐carotene contents.     

Physiology of pre-cut mango. I. ACC and ACC oxidase activity of slices subjected to osmotic dehydration

Physiologically mature mangoes were ripened for 6 days at 24°C and 98% relative humidity. Slices from these fruits were osmotically dehydrated by immersion in sucrose 65°Brix at 30°C and 211 mbar vacuum during 30 min. Slices not subjected to osmotic dehydration (NOD) and slices with osmotic dehydration (OD) were stored at 24, 13 or 5°C. The respiration rate of both slice types was affected by the storage temperature. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthesis indicated activity of ACC synthase in both slices as well as in the whole fruit. ACC oxidase activity was greater in OD slices as compared to NOD and that was associated to better membrane stability. OD favored compaction of external layer in slices. No ethylene was detected in slices; however, the tissues did not lose their ability to synthesize ethylene. Results suggest that OD under vacuum may be beneficial as a pre-treatment of mango slices for longer shelf life under refrigeration.     

Optimization of processing conditions for vacuum frying of high quality fried plantain chips using response surface methodology (RSM)

Optimization of processing conditions (temperature 122 to 136°C, vacuum pressure 9.91 to 19.91 cmHg, and frying time 3 to 9 min) during vacuum frying of plantain chips was investigated using a Box-Behnken experimental design with response surface methodology (RSM). Models for various responses were developed and optimized frying conditions using numerical solutions were established. Optimized vacuum fried samples were compared with atmospheric fried samples based on the concept of equivalent thermal driving force (ETDF). Frying parameters had significant (p<0.05) effects on the moisture content, texture, and color with a coefficient of determination (R ²) for quadratic model responses varying between 0.53 and 0.99. Optimum vacuum frying conditions for plantain chips were a frying temperature of 133°C, vacuum pressure of 9.91 cmHg, and frying time of 6 min based on desirability concepts. Vacuum fried plantain chips had more acceptable sensory properties, based on ETDF values, than atmospheric fried samples.     

Use of sunflower oil mixed with jojoba and paraffin oils in deep-fat frying process

The aim of the present study was to increase the stability of sunflower oil during frying process and to obtain low-calorie fried foods. Therefore, sunflower oil was mixed separately with jojoba oil and paraffin oil at ratios of 9:1 and 8:2 (v/v). The frying process was conducted at 180 ° ± 5 °C for 12 h continuous heating time. Some physico-chemical properties (refractive index, viscosity, colour, acid value, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid test, iodine value and polymer content) of non-fried and binary fried oil systems were measured at various heating periods. The results demonstrated that mixing sunflower oil with jojoba oil or paraffin oil increased the stability and hence improved the quality of sunflower oil during frying process.