The effect of vegetable and spice addition on the acrylamide content and antioxidant activity of innovative cereal products

The aim of the work was to assess the impact of vegetable and spice addition on the acrylamide content and antioxidant activity of extruded cereal crisps. The foods were based on grain ingredients, such as brown rice, whole grain flour, wheat bran, with different vegetables. Products from one group contained green vegetables, such as broccoli and zucchini; garlic was included as a flavour additive (0.75–1.50%). The second group of crisps consisted of similar cereal ingredients with pumpkin and cinnamon; additionally ginger was included as a flavour additive (0.75–1.50%). The results indicate that the production of a new, innovative product with appropriate nutritional value and acceptable quality is a complex process. The production process significantly changed the nutritional value of the product. The content of acrylamide in zucchini and broccoli crisps was relatively low; ranging from 78 to 86 μg/kg of product. The addition of garlic did not significantly affect the acrylamide content in the final product. For cereal–pumpkin crisps, the acrylamide content was 7 times higher in comparison with zucchini and broccoli products. The acrylamide content in pumpkin and ginger crisps exceeded the benchmark level. The antioxidant activity of the pumpkin product was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than for crisps with green vegetables.     

Fatty Acid Composition and Trans Fatty Acids in Crisps and Cakes in Turkey's Markets

In this study, trans fatty acid and fatty acid composition of 57 crisps and 50 cakes sold in the markets in Turkey were determined. C 18:1, oleic acid, was the major fatty acid in all crisps and cake samples. The percentages of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ranged between 27.98–46.57, 35.73–47.57, and 9.86–35.90 g/100 g fatty acids in crisps and 35.41–54.03, 25.89–44.87, and 10.52–26.97 g/100 g fatty acids in cakes, respectively. Total trans fatty acids ranged from 0.02 to 1.35 g/100 g fatty acids in crisps and 0.00 to 5.05 g/100 g fatty acids in cakes, respectively.     

Structural changes and shrinkage of potato during frying

Summary Light microscopy was used to study changes in cell size, blister formation and crust evolution during potato frying. Frying experiments with both French fries and crisps of different thickness (1–5 mm) were performed at temperatures of 140 and 180 °C. Thickness, volume and density changes were also measured. The formation of crust in French fries starts after the potato surface reached approximately 103 °C, and then the crust thickness increased linearly with the square root of frying time, this increase being faster at 180 °C. The potato volume decreased during frying, although in the late stages the volume may increase because of oil uptake and cell separation caused by entrapped water vapour. Shrinkage was adequately described by the Weibull model with a residual value, with shrinkage rate increasing with temperature and decreasing with potato thickness. The residual volume was not affected by temperature (65% for French fries and 59–30 for crisps, depending on thickness). Volume appeared to decrease mainly as the result of water loss, except for very low water content, and thus potato density changes were very small.     

Relationship between oil uptake and moisture loss during frying of potato slices from c. v. Record U.K. tubers

The variations in moisture content and oil content of samples of 1.5-mm thick slices of potato (c.v. Record U.K.) were examined after various frying times at frying temperatures of 145, 165 and 185°C. The loss of moisture and the uptake of oil were found to be interrelated and both were linear functions of the square root of frying time. Within the temperature range examined, moisture loss and oil uptake were found to be independent of frying temperature. From the data and visual observations the mechanism of moisture loss and its influence on oil content in the final product were discussed. Suggestions are made for means of reducing the total oil content by modifications in the frying process.