Food Matrix Engineering: The Use of the Water-Structure-Functionality Ensemble in Dried Food Product Development
- Autores: P. Fito, Amparo Chiralt Boix
- Localización: Food science and technology international = Ciencia y tecnología de alimentos internacional, ISSN-e 1532-1738, ISSN 1082-0132, Vol. 9, Nº 3, 2003 (Ejemplar dedicado a: International Conference Iberdesh 2002: Process, Structure and Functionality Editorial), págs. 151-156
- Idioma: inglés
- Títulos paralelos:
- Ingeniería de matrices de alimentos: uso del conjunto agua-estructura-funcionalidad en el desarrollo de productos alimentiios desecados
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Resumen
: The structured food systems (i.e. cellular tissues) are dissipative structures whose functionality mainly concerns their properties (physico-chemical properties, chemical and biochemical reactions), external interactions with surroundings (interactions with micro-organisms, heat and mass transport pathway) and especially, their interactions with consumers (nutritional value, quality, taste and flavour, texture, appearance: size, shape, colour). Dehydration or rehydration processes concern heat and mass transport phenomena (water, solutes) coupled with micro and macrostructure changes both producing important effects on food functionality. Control of these changes is the major concern in food product development. This control must be applied not only to the changes in physico-chemical properties but also to those related with consumers' issues. Food matrix engineering is a branch of food engineering which aims to apply the knowledge of the food matrix composition, structure and properties to promote and control adequate changes which can improve some sensorial and/or functional properties in the food. These changes, which are caused by some basic operations, are related to the phenomena of heat and mass transfer, vaporization-condensation, internal gas or liquid release, structure deformation-relaxation and phase transitions in matrix components, and are usually coupled throughout the operation's progress. The final product may be a new product with improved composition and sensorial properties and/or more stability. All these concepts are discussed in this paper using several examples related to the application of combined food dehydration techniques. (A)
