Proteomics in bovine semitendinosus muscle to assess emerging strategies based on papain injection and ultrasounds on meat tenderization process.

The impact of papain and/or ultrasound treatments on tenderization of semitendinosus muscle through a proteomic approach was studied. Sixteen bovine muscles were submitted to the following treatments: aging at 3 °C (Control), papain injection (PI), ultrasound (US), PI followed by US (PIUS) and US followed by PI (USPI). pH, myofibrillar fragmentation indices (MFI), soluble collagen, texture profile and changes of myofibrillar proteins were investigated after 2, 24, 48 and 96 h of storage. The highest MFI and soluble collagen content were found in PI, PIUS and USPI samples while control samples showed the lowest values. PI samples showed the lowest WBSF and hardness values until 48 h of storage while at 96 h meat from USPI treatment showed WBSF value comparable to PI treatment. The lowest values of cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness were found in PI samples during all storage times. Proteomic analysis revealed a different quantity and expression of proteins among tenderization treatments. US treatment did not exhibit a significant ability to degrade muscle proteins, while, all treatments containing papain, showed a greater ability to hydrolyse and degrade myofibrillar proteins. PI promoted intense proteolysis leading to an early tenderization process; on the contrary, in PIUS and USPI treatments the sequence of treatments was relevant on meat tenderization. Particularly, USPI treatment, after 96 h, reached the same improvement in tenderness of enzymatic treatment but with slower hydrolysing rate; this could be determinant to preserve textural structure.

Effects of different cooking technologies on biopolymers modifications of cereal-based foods: Impact on nutritional and quality characteristics review.

Biopolymers are molecules that are present in nature and they are chain-like molecules made up of repeating chemical block. The main components of raw materials used to produce cereal food are represented by biopolymers like starch, proteins, fiber and lipids. The production of cereal food can be carried out by conventional cooking methods, as baking carried out by hot air oven and extrusion-cooking, or innovative technologies that uses radiofrequency, infrared, microwaves heating and vacuum baking. The modifications of biopolymers that occurring during processing of cereal food are focused above all on extrusion-cooking technology and conventional baking, instead the effects of innovative cooking methods on changes and interactions of biopolymers of cereal food are very scanty. This review is aimed to deal in depth and to compare the recent researches, about the modifications and interaction of biopolymers of cereal food that occurring during conventional and innovative cooking methods in order to address the scientific research devoted to this field toward many aspects that are still unknowns.

Effects of two sweet cherry cultivars (Prunus avium L., cvv. 'Ferrovia' and 'Lapins') on the shelf life of an innovative bakery product.

Sweet cherries are important fruits for human health, but their consumption is quite limited because of their seasonality and short shelf life. Consequently, these fruits are often subjected to technological treatments, but as a result, their consumption may involve significant intake of sugar and calories that tend to enhance many metabolic diseases. Agricultural science has characterized the different cultivars of fresh sweet cherries, but less literature is available about the suitability of different cultivars for industrial applications. The aim of this research was to design a model system to create an innovative bakery product with minimally processed fruits. Moreover, an evaluation of the suitability of two sweet cherry cultivars was performed to determine how to use these cultivars in an innovative bakery product and the effects on their shelf life. The results showed that the 'Ferrovia' cultivar is more suitable for use as a bakery product filling than 'Lapins' sweet cherries. During 75 days of storage at room temperature, 'Lapins' sweet cherries had aw and moisture values lower than those of 'Ferrovia'. Moreover, samples filled with 'Lapins' sweet cherries were harder than samples filled with 'Ferrovia' cherries. The technological processing of the sweet cherries caused a loss in antioxidant capacity that was more pronounced for 'Lapins' than 'Ferrovia' cherries (from 13.63 to 0.67 TEAC µmol g-1 DW and 11.37-2.70 TEAC µmol g-1 DW, respectively). This research highlights the importance of the cultivar for fresh consumption and processing of sweet cherry fruits, and the results show that if both cultivars are equally ripe, the cherry cultivar that retains a higher flesh firmness is more preferable for use.

How the variance of some extraction variables may affect the quality of espresso coffees served in coffee shops.

BACKGROUND: To improve the quality of espresso coffee, the variables under the control of the barista, such as grinding grade, coffee quantity and pressure applied to the coffee cake, as well as their variance, are of great importance. A nonlinear mixed effect modeling was used to obtain information on the changes in chemical attributes of espresso coffee (EC) as a function of the variability of extraction conditions. RESULTS: During extraction, the changes in volume were well described by a logistic model, whereas the chemical attributes were better fit by a first-order kinetic. The major source of information was contained in the grinding grade, which accounted for 87-96% of the variance of the experimental data. The variability of the grinding produced changes in caffeine content in the range of 80.03 mg and 130.36 mg when using a constant grinding grade of 6.5. CONCLUSION: The variability in volume and chemical attributes of EC is large. Grinding had the most important effect as the variability in particle size distribution observed for each grinding level had a profound effect on the quality of EC. Standardization of grinding would be of crucial importance for obtaining all espresso coffees with a high quality. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Partial substitution of pork backfat with extra-virgin olive oil in 'salami' products: effects on chemical, physical and sensorial quality.

The effects on chemical, physical and sensory quality of the partial substitution of pork backfat with extra-virgin olive oil were studied in 'salami' products. Four 'salami' formulations, with 15% total fat, were prepared, in which 0, 33.5, 50 and 66.5% of pork backfat was substituted with extra-virgin olive oil. The partial pork backfat substitution with extra-virgin olive oil did not substantially affect the chemical, physical and sensorial characteristics of products, with the exception of water activity and texture. With regard to both oxidation and loss of organoleptic quality, the addition of extra-virgin olive oil, rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids, did not decrease the shelf-life. The difference between samples with and without extra-virgin olive oil was a piquant note detected in the oil-added 'salami'. The formulation with 5% olive oil, corresponding to 33.3% substitution of pork backfat with olive oil, was judged best of all formulations. The results show that it is possible to produce this type of product, of good taste, similar to the traditional one, but with healthier features.