Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) is the most abundant byproduct generated from the beer-brewing process. BSG is a material rich in hemicellulose, composed of arabinoxylans (AX). However, the high crosslinking of this material causes low availability of AX, for which it is necessary to apply different treatments. The objective of this research is to increase the release of arabinoxylans through solid-state fermentation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici using extruded brewery spent grain. First, the BSG is subjected to two types of physical treatments: extrusion at 20% moisture, 200 rpm and 50 °C (BSGe), and blade milling (BSGm). The chemical composition is determined for each sample (BSG, BSGe and BSGm). Subsequently, the solid-state fermentation process (SSF) is carried out on each sample. The fermentation kinetics at 30 °C are monitored for 7 days. Once the SSF concludes, AX are extracted, and the purity of AX is determined by the phloroglucinol colorimetric assay. Finally, the total phenolic compounds, phenolic acids and antioxidant capacity by DPPH are quantified. No significant differences (p ≥ 0.05) in the protein, lipid, ash or total dietary fiber contents are found among the samples. No significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) in the content of soluble fiber is found, although BSGe and BSGm have higher values than BSG. On the other hand, the yields of soluble AX exhibit significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) among nonfermented samples (BSG, 0.03%; BSGm, 0.53%; BSGe, 0.70%) and with SSF (BSG, 2.95%; BSGm, 6.24%; and BSGe, 9.58%). In addition, the contents of free phenolic compounds and free phenolic acids and the percent inhibition of free extracts by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) differ significantly (p ≤ 0.05) between samples subjected to SSF and nonfermented samples. Therefore, extrusion and SSF treatment increase AX release from BSG as well as the antioxidant capacity of the extracts.

Consumption of fried foods is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular and other diseases; therefore, consumers are looking to reduce fat intake. We evaluated the effect of high-protein breaders and fiber on oil absorption and quality attributes in chicken nuggets, using flour blends (wheat, chickpea, coconut, oil-quinoa-chia), soy protein concentrate, and brewers’ spent grain. We evaluated the chemical composition, water and oil retention capacity (ORC), viscosity profile, and flour particle size distribution, along with the developed breaders (Formulation 1 and 2) and a commercial breader (CB), in addition to texture, color, fat, and moisture contents of the fried chicken nuggets prepared with the developed breaders and the CB. The total dietary fiber content (TDF) of the nuggets breaded with only Formulation-1 and CB was determined. Nuggets breaded with Formulation-1 showed lower (p ≤ 0.05) ORC, better moisture retention (67.6%), and more TDF (4.5% vs. 2.3%, p ≤ 0.05) compared to CB-breaded nuggets. Nuggets with Formulation-1 showed the expected texture and color characteristics for fried products. Formulation-1 has the potential to be used as a breader due to its moisture, reduced ORC, and the texture and color it imparts to the fried nuggets, providing higher amounts of nutrients and possible health benefits.

The Fusarium oxysporum species commonly found in soil include plant and human pathogens, and nonpathogenic species. F. oxysporum grown on lignocellulosic substrates under submerged conditions produces an extracellular enzyme profile with hemicellulolytic and cellulolytic activities. Our aim was to produce an extract of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis with β-1,4-xylanase activity after fermentation on a Brewers’ spent grain (BSG)-containing substrate. We prepared the BSG substrate, with or without sonication, for the submerged fermentation of Fusarium oxysporum previously isolated from local soil and preserved at 4 °C. First, an enriched inoculum was prepared, and later, the production of β-1,4-xylanase using the BSG substrates was monitored for up to 6 or 10 days in the enriched inoculum or in the enzyme extract, respectively. An activity of β-1,4-xylanase 12.0 U/mL (day 3) was obtained in the enriched inoculum with the untreated BSG, remaining constant for 3 days. A significant increase in the activity of this enzyme was observed (day 6), especially in the extract obtained using the sonicated BSG substrate (39 U/mL). Applying ultrasound to the BSG before its use in a submerged fermentation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis could be an alternative for producing β-1,4-xylanase.

Wheat flour was partially substituted with sorghum (SF), oat (OF), or corn (CF) flours at the 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% levels. Particle size (D), water-holding capacity, pasting properties with the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA), dough volume (DV) and the physical properties of dough (Kieffer Extensibility Rig) were determined. Significant changes in the pasting properties of the substituted flours according to degree of substitution were observed. The RVA pasting parameters increased with the degree of substitution in all cases. The dough maximum force in tension (Rmax) and deformation work were also affected by degree of substitution and cereal type. The DV of wheat flour substituted with OF showed no significant differences from WF, but significant differences were observed when SF or CF were used. These modifications were related to changes in the composition of the dry matter resulting from differences in the properties of substitution cereal components (carbohydrates, proteins, ash and lipids). Hence low substitutions could considerably reduce the cost of raw materials and could nutritionally improve products with cereal blends. However, it is necessary to evaluate any changes in bread characteristics.

El presente estudio se realizó en el Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo en 2024. El análisis de imagen es una herramienta esencial que puede ser utilizada en el control de procesos alimentarios. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar, mediante técnicas de imagen, las propiedades morfológicas de galletas elaboradas con trigo y avena en diferentes porcentajes y su relación con la firmeza de la galleta. Se determinó el perfil de textura en la masa obtenida de las diferentes formulaciones, así como el peso, diámetro, altura y firmeza de las galletas. Se realizó una caracterización morfológica de las galletas mediante análisis de imagen. Estas mediciones se enfocaron en el color de la superficie de forma global, así como las características de la textura superficial e interna de las galletas a través del análisis de la miga. Los resultados mostraron disminución de la firmeza (151.96 N a 103.17 N) a medida que aumentó el porcentaje de sustitución, un comportamiento similar se observó en el peso y la altura de la galleta, mientras que el diámetro no se vio afectado. En cuanto al análisis de imagen, se observó un mayor agrietamiento de la superficie de la galleta a medida que aumentó el porcentaje de sustitución. Se observaron cambios de color en la miga hacia zonas más claras, lo que indica una disminución de burbujas en la miga de galleta. El análisis de imágenes puede ser una alternativa importante para determinar la calidad de un producto terminado, en este caso, una galleta.

La aplicación de tratamientos térmicos sobre harinas pueden afectar de manera positiva sus propiedades funcionales. Por lo anterior, se realizó la sustitución de harina de trigo (HT) con el 10, 20 y 30% de harina de mijo (HM) tratada térmicamente a 100 y 130 °C. En las mezclas de harinas se evalúo color, capacidad de retención de agua, perfil de viscosidad, gluten seco y tiempo óptimo de amasado. En las masas obtenidas se determinó fuerza (N) y extensibilidad (mm). En el pan se analizó el peso, volumen específico y perfil de textura. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron incrementos en la viscosidad final al utilizar HM tratada térmicamente a 100 y 130 °C a niveles de sustitución del 30% (3606 cP y 3866 cP) con respecto a HT (2790 cP). También se presentaron incrementos de fuerza de la masa en sustituciones del 10% con HM tratada a 100 y 130 °C (0.81 N y 0.69 N) comparada a la obtenida en HT (0.34 N). En cuanto al volumen específico del pan, se observaron valores muy semejantes en HT (4.78 cm3/g) y el obtenido de la sustitución de HT con 10% de HM tratada a 100 °C (4.19 cm3/g). El volumen específico es uno de los parámetros de calidad más importantes en productos de panificación, en este sentido se puede decir que la sustitución de harina de trigo con 10% de harina de mijo tratada a 100 °C favoreció este parámetro, incluso resultó ser muy cercano al obtenido solo de harina de trigo.