The aim of the study was to examine and compare oxidative stability of refined (peanut, corn, rice bran, grapeseed, and rapeseed) oils. The oils were subject a Schaal Oven Test (temperature 63 ± 1 °C) and a Rancimat test (temperature 120 °C) and their stability was compared at the 1st and 12th month of storage. Changes in the peroxide (PV) and anisidine (AnV) values in the thermostat test were the fastest in rapeseed oil and grapeseed oil. The best quality was preserved by peanut and corn oils both in the first and the twelfth month of storage. The induction times for the rice bran, corn, peanut, and rapeseed oils were similar from 4.77 h to 5.02 h in the first month and from 3.22 h to 3.77 h in the twelfth month. The shortest induction times were determined for grapeseed oil: 2.4 h and 1.6 h, respectively. A decrease of oxidative stability of about 30% was found in all the oils after 12 months of storage. The PV of 10, determined in the thermostat and Rancimat tests, were achieved at the latest in corn oil and the fastest in rice bran oil.

This paper reviews the potential of prebiotic-containing foods in the prevention or postponement of certain diet-related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases with hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis, diabetes, gastrointestinal infections and gut inflammation.

There are many types of butter, soft margarine, and blends, e.g., a mixture of butter and vegetable fats, on the market as bread spreads. Among these, butter and blends of butter with vegetable fats are very popular. The consumer’s choice of product is often determined by functional properties, such as texture, and the physicochemical composition of butter and butter substitutes. The aim of this study was to compare sixteen market samples of butter and butter substitutes in terms of spreadability and other selected structural (spreadability, hardness, adhesive force, and adhesiveness) and physicochemical parameters (water content, water distribution, plasma pH, color, acid value, peroxide number, saponification number, and instrumentally measured fatty acid profile) to investigate their correlation with spreadability. The parameters determined here were correlated with factors such as the type of sample, measuring temperature, and physicochemical composition. The statistical analysis revealed a very strong positive correlation between hardness and spreadability for all samples tested at 4 °C, as well as between hardness and spreadability for all samples tested 30 min after removal from the refrigerator; however, the interpretation of the results was different if the butter and butter substitute samples were subjected to a multivariate analysis separately.

Food hydrogels are biopolymeric materials made from food-grade biopolymers with gelling properties (proteins and polysaccharides) and a 3D network capable of incorporating large amounts of water. They have sparked considerable interest because of their potential and broad application range in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors. However, hydrogel research in the field of food science is still limited. This knowledge gap provides numerous opportunities for implementing their unique properties, such as high water-holding capacity, moderated texture, compatibility with other substances, cell biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high resemblance to living tissues, for the development of novel, functional food matrices. For that reason, this article includes a bibliometric analysis characterizing research trends in food protein–polysaccharide hydrogels (over the last ten years). Additionally, it characterizes the most recent developments in hydrogel induction methods and the most recent application progress of hydrogels as food matrices as carriers for the targeted delivery of bioactive compounds. Finally, this article provides a future perspective on the need to evaluate the feasibility of using plant-based proteins and polysaccharides to develop food matrices that protect nutrients, including bioactive substances, throughout processing, storage, and digestion until they reach the specific targeted area of the digestive system.

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of pea and soy protein addition (1, 3, 6 g/100 g) on inulin hydrogels properties. Inulin hydrogels (20 g/100 g) were obtained by thermal induction. It was stated that tested plant protein might be used as a modifier of inulin hydrogels properties. The addition of pea and soy protein to inulin hydrogels resulted in networks with more a compact and homogeneous structure. The increase of the protein concentration caused the structure of the hydrogels to get smoother, more cohesive, and less granular. Pea and soy protein addition (3–6 g/100 g) to hydrogels allowed to obtain higher values of yield stress, texture (firmness, adhesiveness) and spreadability parameters. At a protein concentration of 6 g/100 g, the firmness of inulin hydrogels was seven times higher for those with pea protein (1.87 N) and ten times higher for those with soy protein (2.60 N) compering to the control hydrogel (0.24 N). The transmission profiles of hydrogels with incorporated 6 g/100 g of soy proteins showed the slowest motion of the particles, which indicates the highest stability of gel. As the concentration of protein addition increased, a reduction in the lightness was observed.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of addition of sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan (CH) on the properties of inulin hydrogels. Inulin hydrogels (20 g/100 g) containing various additions (0.0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 g/100 g) of SA and CH were produced. The hydrogels’ properties were assessed based on the volumetric gel index, microstructure, yield stress, texture, stability, and color parameters. According to the findings, the inclusion of these polysaccharides had no influence on the gelation ability of the inulin solution. The physical properties of the hydrogels containing SA or CH differed from hydrogels containing only inulin (INU). The obtained microstructural pictures revealed that the addition of SA and CH resulted in the formation of hydrogels with a more compact, smooth, and cohesive structure. Consequently, they had higher yield stress, strength, and spreadability values than INU hydrogels. The addition of chitosan in comparison with sodium alginate also had a greater effect in strengthening the structure of hydrogels, especially at the level of 0.5 g/100 g. For example, the addition of this amount of SA increased the yield stress on average from 195.0 Pa (INU) to 493.6 Pa, while the addition of CH increased it to 745.3 Pa. In the case of the strength parameter, the addition of SA increased the force from 0.24 N (INU) to 0.42 N and the addition of CH increased it to 1.29 N. In the case of spreadability this increase was from 2.89 N * s (INU) to 3.44 N * s (SA) and to 6.16 N * s (CH). Chitosan also caused an increase in the stability of inulin hydrogels, whereas such an effect was not observed with the addition of sodium alginate. The gels with the addition of SA and CH also had significantly different values of color parameters. Inulin–alginate hydrogels were characterized by higher values of the color parameter a *, lower values of the color parameter b *, and in most concentrations higher values of the color parameter L * compared to inulin–chitosan hydrogels. Based on the collected data, it can therefore be concluded that through the addition of sodium alginate and chitosan, there is a possibility to modify the properties of inulin hydrogels and, consequently, to better adapt them to the characteristics of the pro-health food products in which they will be used.