Structuring of Chicken Fat by Monoacylglycerols

In this study, we investigated the effect of monoacylglycerol (MAG) as a structuring agent on the physicochemical, microstructure and rheological properties of chicken fat. The fatty acid composition, oxidative stability, free fatty acids (FFA), slip melting point (SMP), solid fat content (SFC), kinetics of crystallization, microstructure and rheological properties of the samples were evaluated. The addition of MAG at a 0.5 % level did not affect the fatty acid composition, induction period of oxidation at 110 °C (IP_ox110), SFC curve or rheological properties of chicken fat (p > 0.05). However, structured samples containing 3.0 and 5.0 % MAG had higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, SFC, SMP, FFA content and IP_ox110 (p < 0.05). The addition of MAG led to a reduction in the IP of oxidation at 60 °C (IP_ox60) and increased the oxidation rate of fats, as measured by the Schaal oven test. Samples containing 3–5 % MAG had higher SFC content, higher loss, storage and complex moduli, higher complex viscosity, and a lower induction period of crystallization (IP_cryst) and tan δ than chicken fat. Investigations by polarized light microscopy confirmed the presence of increased crystal content in samples containing higher MAG levels. These results show that structured chicken fats have the potential for application in the production of soft tub margarine and Iranian vanaspati.