Specific volume and compressibility measurements of tomato paste at moderately high pressure as a function of temperature

High pressure (HP) processing is an innovative process for food preservation mainly due the inactivation that pressure induces in microorganisms and/or enzymes. The correct design and optimization of HP processes requires knowledge of the volumetric properties of the foods and pressure fluids implicated in those processes. In this study, a cell capable of measuring volume variations caused by pressure and/or temperature changes has been employed to determine the specific volume of tomato paste from 0.1 MPa to 350 MPa and in a temperature range from 273.16 K to 323.16 K (0 °C to 50 °C). From these values an empirical equation for the specific volume and the isothermal compressibilities of tomato paste, as a function of pressure and temperature, were also determined.     

Effects of combining microbial transglutaminase and high pressure processing treatments on the mechanical properties of heat-induced gels prepared from arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of setting conditions (25 °C for 2 h or 40 °C for 30 min) and combining of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) and high pressure processing (HPP) on the mechanical properties of heat induced gels obtained from paste from arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias). Treatments included fish paste control without added MTGase, fish paste incubated with MTGase but not pressurized (MTGase + cooking), fish paste incubated with MTGase and pressurized at 600 MPa for 5 min (MTGase + HPP + cooking) and fish paste pressurized at 600 MPa for 5 min and incubated with MTGase (HPP + MTGase + cooking). The controls and the treated samples were then subjected to one of two thermal treatments: 90 °C for 15 min or 60 °C for 30 min before cooking at 90 °C for 15 min. Samples of fish paste heated at 60 °C before cooking could not be used to prepare gels for texture profile analysis (TPA). TPA showed that pressurization improved the mechanical properties of gels made from paste treated with MTGase and set at 25 °C. The opposite was observed for samples set at 40 °C. Setting at 40 °C appeared to induce proteolytic degradation of myofibrillar proteins.     

The physico-chemical characteristics of extruded snacks enriched with tomato lycopene

Adding tomato derivatives to traditional starchy extruded snacks can improve their nutritional properties by adding lycopene and fibre; however the physico-chemical properties of these products must also be considered. Ingredients and extrusion parameters, including temperature, alter these properties, but their effect on lycopene content is not known. In this study, crisp low density extruded snacks were manufactured from corn, wheat and rice, with or without dried tomato skin or paste powder extruded at temperatures of 140, 160 or 180 °C. Lycopene content and the physico-chemical properties (expansion, density, hardness, colour parameters and percentage of moisture loss) of the extruded products were measured. Lycopene retention was higher in products containing tomato skin powder and significantly lower when wheat flour was used to make the snacks. Increases in the processing temperature improved the physico-chemical characteristics of the snacks but had no significant effect on lycopene retention (P > 0.05).     

Concentration Measurement by Acoustic Reflectance

ABSTRACT The speed of sound and the acoustic reflection coefficient of sucrose (0 to 60 wt%), glycerol (0 to 50 wt%), sodium chloride (0 to 27 wt%) solutions and tomato ketchup (0 to 100 wt%) dispersions were measured using a modified pulse-echo technique (2.25 MHz transducer, 20 °C). The density of all solutions is measured using a vibrating tube densitometer. All measured parameters are linear functions of concentration. Ultrasonic reflectance can provide equally precise measurements of concentration as conventional ultrasonic velocity measurements. For all samples except concentrated ketchup (> 50 wt%), measured reflectance is demonstrated to be a function of ultrasonic velocity and density.     

Manufacture of acid gels from skim milk using high-pressure homogenization

The effect of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) alone or in combination with a thermal treatment (TT) was investigated for the manufacture of acid gels from skim milk. Raw skim milk was subjected to HPH (0 to 350 MPa) or a TT (90°C, 5 min), or both, in the following processing combinations: 1) HPH, 2) HPH followed by TT, 3) TT followed by HPH, 4) TT, and 5) raw milk (control). After treatments, L* (lightness) values were measured, and then skim milk was acidified with 3% glucono-δ-lactone and rheological properties (G′ and gelation time), and whey holding capacity was evaluated. Treatments in which HPH and TT were combined showed greater L* values than those in which just HPH was applied. In all treatments, the L* values decreased as the pressure was increased up to 300 MPa with little change afterward. Gelation times were lower when HPH was combined with TT compared with the acid skim milk gels that were just pressure treated. The final G′ in gels obtained from skim milk subjected to the combined process (HPH and TT) was greater and pressure-dependent compared with all other gels. A maximum G′ (∼320 Pa) was observed with skim milk subjected to a combination of thermal processing before or after HPH at 350 MPa. Acid gels obtained from HPH milk at 350 MPa showed a linear decrease in whey holding capacity over time, retaining 20% more whey after centrifugation for 25 min compared with samples treated at lower pressures and all other treatments. Our results suggest that HPH in combination with TT can be used to improve the rheological properties and stability of yogurt, thus decreasing the need for additives.     

Evaluation of convective heat transfer coefficient between fluids and particles in suspension as food model systems for natural convection using two methodologies

This study was conducted to evaluate the convective heat transfer coefficient between Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids and food particles inside of a glass vessel and to assess the effect of controlled variables: convection phenomena, heating temperature, immersion fluid, and different food particles. The coefficient was evaluated from the sample temperature as a function of the heating time by two approaches: a lumped parameter method and an analytical methodology. High values corresponded to heating in Newtonian fluids (70–181, 57–248 W/m² K), and lower corresponded in non Newtonian fluids (31–169, 28–167 W/m² K). Similarly, major heat transfer coefficient corresponded to the heating of mushrooms (32–110, 28–132 W/m² K), followed by tomatoes (30–181, 35–183 W/m² K) and potatoes (31–148, 34–248 W/m² K), respectively. Fluid properties were more important than the thermal properties of the particles. This coefficient was higher at 85 °C in both types of fluids. Both methods generated satisfactory values, but the analytical approach showed more accuracy.     

Comparative study of denaturation of whey protein isolate (WPI) in convective air drying and isothermal heat treatment processes

The extent and nature of denaturation of whey protein isolate (WPI) in convective air drying environments was measured and analysed using single droplet drying. A custom-built, single droplet drying instrument was used for this purpose. Single droplets having 5 ± 0.1 μl volume (initial droplet diameter 1.5 ± 0.1 mm) containing 10% (w/v) WPI were dried at air temperatures of 45, 65 and 80 °C for 600 s at constant air velocity of 0.5 m/s. The extent and nature of denaturation of WPI in isothermal heat treatment processes was measured at 65 and 80 °C for 600 s and compared with those obtained from convective air drying. The extent of denaturation of WPI in a high hydrostatic pressure environment (600 MPa for 600 s) was also determined. The results showed that at the end of 600 s of convective drying at 65 °C the denaturation of WPI was 68.3%, while it was only 10.8% during isothermal heat treatment at the same medium temperature. When the medium temperature was maintained at 80 °C, the denaturation loss of WPI was 90.0% and 68.7% during isothermal heat treatment and convective drying, respectively. The bovine serum albumin (BSA) fraction of WPI was found to be more stable in the convective drying conditions than β-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin, especially at longer drying times. The extent of denaturation of WPI in convective air drying (65 and 80 °C) and isotheral heat treatment (80 °C) for 600 s was found to be higher than its denaturation in a high hydrostatic pressure environment at ambient temperature (600 MPa for 600 s).     

Effect of high-pressure processing on volatile composition and odour of cherry tomato purée

The impact of high-pressure processing on the odour of cherry tomato purée was evaluated by sensory evaluation and SPME–GC/MS analysis. Two temperatures (20 and 60 °C) and two pressures (atmospheric and 800 MPa) were used in processing. Higher pressure at ambient temperature decreased the levels of certain volatile aldehydes, ketones and alcohols present in tomato, whereas, the levels of hexanal, heptanal and octanal increased. The higher temperature combined with either ambient or high-pressure, decreased the levels of many volatile compounds and caused a reduction in the intensity of fresh tomato odour. Processing at 800 MPa and 60 °C resulted in a marked increase in the intensity of cooked tomato and tea-like odour. On the basis of sensory assessment and volatile analysis, high pressure treatment at 800 MPa does not seem to be suitable for preserving fresh tomato odour.     

Evaluation of High-Pressure Thermophysical Parameters of the Diacylglycerol (DAG) Oil Using Ultrasonic Waves

Modeling of high-pressure technological processes in the food industry requires knowledge of thermophysical parameters of processed foodstuffs in a broad range of pressures and temperatures. However, the high-pressure thermophysical parameters of foodstuffs are very rarely published in the literature. Therefore, further research is necessary to achieve a deeper insight into the biophysical and thermophysical phenomena under pressure to provide better control of technological processes and optimize the effects of pressure. The essential goal of this work is to evaluate the impact of high pressure and temperature on the thermophysical parameters of liquid foodstuffs on the example of diacylglycerol (DAG) oil (which attracted recently a considerable attention from research and industrial communities due to its remarkable benefits for health), using ultrasonic wave velocity and density measurements. Isotherms of adiabatic and isothermal compressibility, isobaric thermal expansion coefficient, internal pressure, and thermal pressure coefficient versus pressure were evaluated, based on the measurement of the compressional ultrasonic wave velocity and density of DAG oil at high pressures (up to 500 MPa) and at various temperatures. The adiabatic compressibility is affected mostly by the changes of pressure, i.e., it grows about four times when the pressure increases from the atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) to 400 MPa at a temperature of 50 °C. By contrast, the internal pressure is a pronounced function of the temperature, i.e., it increases six times when the temperature rises from 20 to 50 °C at a pressure of a 200 MPa. To perform numerical calculations, it was convenient to introduce a Tammann–Tait type equation of state to approximate the measured density isotherms of the investigated DAG oil. The results obtained in this paper can be applied in modeling and optimization of high-pressure technological processes and processing of foodstuffs. Evaluation of high-pressure isotherms of the considered thermophysical parameters of the DAG oil is an original authors’ contribution to the state-of-the-art.     

Thermophysical properties and thermal behavior of leafy vegetables packaged in clamshells

Little is known about the thermophysical properties of fresh-cut lettuce other than heat of respiration. Empirical correlations based on food composition remain the only way to estimate the thermophysical properties of fresh-cut lettuce. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the thermophysical properties of several baby-leaf lettuce and brassica greens and (ii) to verify the measured thermophysical properties by using them in a heat transfer model and comparing the predicted product temperatures with measured product temperatures in a simulated interruption of a cold chain. Density, leaf thickness, thermal conductivity, specific heat and water activity from nine varieties of baby-leaf lettuce and brassica greens were measured. A broken cold chain was simulated in a low temperature incubator set at 10 °C for a length of time before readjustment at 2 °C. Results showed that density (1078–1112 kg m⁻³), leaf thickness (0.18–0.54 mm), thermal conductivity (0.55–0.70 W (m °C)⁻¹) and specific heat (3.1–4.3 kJ (kg °C)⁻¹) varied significantly (P < 0.05) between varieties. However, no significant differences were observed for water activity (0.959 ± 0.006). Using thermophysical properties as input in the heat transfer model, experimental and calculated temperatures were well correlated (R² = 0.98) with a root mean square error of 0.57 °C over the 10–40 mg CO₂ (kg h)⁻¹ range of respiration rate. The measured thermophysical properties adequately predicted the temperature of the baby-leaf greens during simulated broken cold chains. A sensitivity analysis performed with the heat transfer model showed that the thermal conductivity, the specific heat and the density were relatively more important on the thermal behaviour of the baby-leaf greens than the heat of respiration.     

Evaluation of processing qualities of tomato juice induced by thermal and pressure processing

Effects of processing conditions including hot-break processing (92 °C for 2 min), cold-break processing (60 °C for 2 min) and hydrostatic pressure treatments (100-500 MPa) at different temperatures (4, 25 and 50 °C) for 10 min on quality aspects of tomato juice were investigated. Both hot- and cold-break processing induced significant changes in color, viscosity and radical-scavenging capacity of tomato juice compared with control (fresh tomato juice); moreover, hot-break processing induced a specific range of reduction of pectin methylesterase (PME) and polygalacturonase (PG) activities. Pressure treatments at and below 200 MPa at 4 and 25 °C maintained the color, extractable total carotenoids and lycopene, and radical-scavenging capacity; further, those at 500 MPa at 4 and 25 °C improved all the quality attributes the most except inactivation of PME in this study. The residual activity of PME showed the lowest after treating by 200 MPa at 25 °C; however, the PME activity was enhanced by treatments at 300-500 MPa and various temperatures. The residual activity of PG decreased gradually to 72% with pressure elevated from 100 to 400 MPa at 4 and 25 °C, further, that declined quickly to 10% after 500 MPa treatments. This research clearly shows that it is possible to selectively produce good tomato juice products by high pressure processing at ambient temperature.     

Kinetic study on the thermal and pressure degradation of anthocyanins in strawberries

The degradation of anthocyanins (pelargonidin-3-glucoside) in a strawberry paste during high-temperature/high-pressure treatments was investigated over a temperature range of 80–130 °C and a pressure range of 200–700 MPa, compared to 0.1 MPa. A first-order kinetic model fitted well to all data. At constant pressure, anthocyanin concentration decreased as a function of time and the degradation was accelerated at higher temperatures. At constant temperature, anthocyanins were more rapidly degraded as the pressure increased, but the effect of increasing pressure was smaller than the effect of increasing temperature. Temperature dependence of the degradation rate constants, described by the Arrhenius equation, was higher at atmospheric pressure than at elevated pressures, where all activation energies were comparable. Activation volumes, estimated by the Eyring equation, demonstrated a small pressure dependence of the reaction rate constants. Finally, a model to describe the combined temperature–pressure dependence of the degradation rate constants was proposed.     

Evaluation of thermal properties of food materials at high pressures using a dual-needle line-heat-source method

ABSTRACT:  Thermal properties of food systems at high pressure (HP) are important in the design and operation of HP processing equipment. Available techniques for thermal property evaluation under HP conditions are still very limited. In this study, a dual-needle line-heat-source (DNL) device was installed in an HP vessel to evaluate thermal conductivity ( k ), diffusivity (α), and volumetric heat capacity ( C _pV) of foods at high pressure. The DNL probe was calibrated using glycerin (0.1 MPa) and 2% (w/w) agar gel (0.1 to 350 MPa) at 5 and 25 °C. Calibration results showed a good correlation with the reference data of pure water: R ²= 0.966 for thermal conductivity and R ²= 0.837 for diffusivity, and a small standard deviation of relative error (3.18%) for the volumetric heat capacity. Fresh potato and cheddar cheese were used as test samples at 5 °C at selected pressure levels (0.1 to 350 MPa). The potato samples gave thermal properties very close to those of pure water, but much higher than those of the cheese. The k and α values of both potato and cheese increased with pressure and a 2nd-order polynomial well fitted their pressure dependency. The volumetric heat capacity data did not show a clear pressure-dependency trend. The experimental system worked well for the evaluation of thermal properties at pressures up to 350 MPa.     

Rheology and melt characterization of low-fat and full fat Mozzarella cheese made from microfluidized milk

Microfluidization of cheese milk at different temperatures and pressures altered the meltability and rheological properties of Mozzarella cheese. Pasteurized milks, standardized to 1.0 (low-fat (LF)) or 3.2 (full fat (FF)) g fat/100 g milk, heated to 10, 43, or 54 °C, and then microfluidized at pressures of 34, 103, or 172 MPa, were used to manufacture Mozzarella cheese. Cheeses made from nonmicrofluidized milks served as controls. During the hot water step, only control cheeses and cheeses made with milk microfluidized at 10 °C could be stretched while all others had short curds that did not fuse together. Cheese responses to different stresses (heat, compression, torsion, and oscillatory shear) were measured after 1 and 6 weeks of storage. FF cheeses made with the control milks and milks processed at 10 °C/34 MPa or 10 °C/103 MPa were softer and less rigid, and had the lowest visco-elastic properties and the highest meltabilities of all the cheeses. Microfluidization of the cheese milk did not improve the melt or rheology of LF cheeses. Microfluidization of milk with fat in the liquid state at higher pressures resulted in smaller lipid droplets that altered the component interactions during the formation of the cheese matrix and resulted in LF and FF Mozzarella cheeses with poor melt and altered rheology.     

Lycopene extraction from tomato peel by-product containing tomato seed using supercritical carbon dioxide

This work discusses the extraction of lycopene from tomato peel by-product containing tomato seed using supercritical carbon dioxide. The presence of tomato seed in the peel by-product improved the yield of extracted lycopene. Extraction was carried out at temperatures of 70-90 °C, pressures of 20-40 MPa, a particle size of 1.05 ± 0.10 mm and flow rates of 2-4 mL/min of CO₂ for 180 min extraction time. Oil from tomato seed was extracted under similar operating conditions and analyzed using GC-MS and GC-FID, while carotenoids extracted were analyzed by HPLC. The optimum operating condition to extract lycopene, under which 56% of lycopene was extracted, was found to be 90 °C, 40 MPa, and a ratio of tomato peel to seed of 37/63. The presence of tomato seed oil helped to improve the recovery of lycopene from 18% to 56%. The concentration of lycopene in supercritical carbon dioxide as a function of density at various temperatures was determined.     

Physical and thermal properties of potato chips during vacuum frying

Vacuum frying (1.33 kPa), with the aid of a de-oiling mechanism, was used to produce low-fat potato chips.The kinetics of oil absorption and oil distribution in the potato chips was studied so that effectiveness of the de-oiling system could be established. Non-linear regression was used to fit the experimental data to the models used to describe oil absorption in potato chips with time.Moisture content, oil content, microstructure, diameter and thickness expansion, bulk density, true density, and porosity of chips fried at different temperatures (120, 130, and 140 °C) was performed to evaluate the effect of process temperature on the product. The convective heat transfer coefficient at the oil-chip interface was determined for the same temperature range.The final oil content of the potato chips was 0.072 ± 0.004, 0.062 ± 0.003, and 0.059 ± 0.003 g/g solid for frying temperatures of 120, 130, and 140 °C, respectively. These values are lower (80-87% less) than those found in the not de-oiled potato chips, which indicates that the de-oiling mechanism is crucial in vacuum frying processing. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in oil content and oil distribution within temperatures. The rate of change in product quality attributes was greatly affected by temperature; however, the final values of moisture content, bulk density, true density, porosity, diameter shrinkage, and thickness expansion were not affected by temperature.During vacuum frying, the convective heat transfer coefficient changed considerably as frying progressed; moreover, it increased with temperature reaching a maximum between 2200 and 2650 W/m² K depending on frying temperature.     

Thermal conductivity of tomato paste

Experimental measurements of the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of tomato paste at concentrations of 27–44° Brix are reported. The thermal conductivity was measured in a guarded hot-plate apparatus while the diffusivity was estimated by a simplified transient method. The thermal conductivity (λ) values fell in the region of 0·460–0·660 W m^?1 K^?1, decreasing with increasing solids concentration and increasing as the temperature was raised from 30 to 50°C. The temperature effect was less pronounced at higher solids concentration. The thermal diffusivity of tomato paste at 35° Brix and 20°C was estimated as 1·42 × 10^?7 m² s^?1, which is in good agreement with data from the steady-state method.     

Mass transfer dynamics during high pressure brining of chicken breast

The objectives of this study were to investigate the changes in mass transfer, textural properties and water holding capacity of chicken breast when brine treated under different pressures. Chicken breasts were treated for up to 20 min in 4% sodium chloride solution under five pressures: 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 MPa at 25 ± 1 °C. The results indicated that the total weight and water uptake of the chicken breast increased with increasing pressure up to 150 MPa, and then decreased with further pressure increase up to 300 MPa. Chicken breast samples brined at 150 MPa, with a sodium chloride effective diffusivity value of 2.96 × 10⁻⁸ m²/s, exhibited minimum hardness and maximum water holding capacity. In general, pressure treatment at 150 MPa was found to be the most suitable level for curing based on its higher yield, effective diffusivity and improved texture and water holding capacity.     

Ultrasonic assessment of the melting behaviour in fat from Iberian dry-cured hams

The feasibility of using ultrasounds to characterize the melting properties of fat from Iberian dry-cured hams was evaluated. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and ultrasonic measurements were used to characterize the fat melting. The ultrasonic velocity in fat decreased with the increase in temperature, showing four different sections (0–4 °C, 4–10 °C, 10–20 °C and 20–24 °C). Ultrasonic velocity was related (R² = 0.99) to the percentage of melted fat (%MEF) showing an increase of 5.4 ms⁻¹ for 1% increase of melted fat (%MEF above 60%). The thermal history did not affect the ultrasonic measurements from 10 to 25 °C and, consequently, this range was the most suitable for classifying Iberian dry-cured products with different genetics and feeding backgrounds. Ultrasonic measurements could be a reliable technique to estimate the %MEF and subsequently the related sensory attributes in Iberian dry-cured ham at 10–25 °C, which is the common temperature range for the consumption of Iberian dry-cured products.     

Technological properties of date paste obtained from date by-products and its effect on the quality of a cooked meat product

Fresh date processing (picking, storage or conditioning) may lead to date losses. Such by-products from fresh dates (Medjoul variety) can be processed to prepare date paste. Chemical composition, physicochemical and technological properties of this date paste were determined regarding its potential application as an ingredient in the elaboration of meat products. The date paste had a high content of sugars (53.00 g/100 g) especially reducing sugars (fructose and glucose), total and insoluble dietary fiber (7.00 g/100 g and 4.04 g/100 g, respectively) and natural antioxidants (polyphenol content; 225 mg GAE/100 g). Its emulsion capacity was 57.00 mL/100 mL and it showed also a high emulsion stability (98.59 mL/100 mL). The addition of up to 15% date paste in the formulation of bologna-type products leads to the enhancement of the nutritional (lower fat content and higher fiber content than control) and technological quality (redder-colored and less hard, chewy and cohesive product than the control) together with a satisfactory sensory quality.