Sergiu Pădureț

Dr. Sergiu Pădureț

Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 13 University Str. 720229, Suceava
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

11Years (2016-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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28 July 2021 in Molecules
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SPSergiu Pădureț
Sergiu Pădureț
The textural properties of butter are influenced by its fat content and implicitly by the fatty acids composition. The impact of butter’s chemical composition variation was studied in accordance with texture and color properties. From 37 fatty acids examined, only 18 were quantified in the analyzed butter fat samples, and approximately 69.120% were saturated, 25.482% were monounsaturated, and 5.301% were polyunsaturated. The butter samples’ viscosity ranged between 0.24 and 2.12 N, while the adhesiveness ranged between 0.286 to 18.19 N·mm. The principal component analysis (PCA) separated the butter samples based on texture parameters, fatty acids concentration, and fat content, which were in contrast with water content. Of the measured color parameters, the yellowness b* color parameter is a relevant indicator that differentiated the analyzed sample into seven statistical groups; the ANOVA statistics highlighted this difference at a level of p < 0.001.

11 October 2024 in Foods
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SPSergiu Pădureț
Sergiu Pădureț
CGCristina Ghinea
Cristina Ghinea
APAncuța Elena Prisacaru
Ancuța Elena Prisacaru
Ana LeahuAna Leahu
Ana Leahu
The fruit, juice, and pomace of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) are a rich source of phenolic compounds and can be used to obtain enriched dairy products. Chokeberry fruit, due to its astringent taste, is less favorable or even unacceptable to consumers and is usually processed into juice, resulting in large quantities of pomace, which is often discarded as waste. The aim of this study is to valorize chokeberry fruit, juice, and pomace by incorporating them in different percentages (1, 2, and 3%) into yogurt as functional ingredients. The physicochemical (total solids content, fat, protein, titratable acidity, pH, color), textural (hardness, adhesion, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness), antioxidant (DPPH scavenging activity and total phenolic content), and sensory characteristics of supplemented yogurts were investigated. The results showed that the addition of chokeberry pomace in yogurt increased their total solids content (from 11.46 ± 0.18% for the plain yogurt sample to 13.71 ± 0.18% for the yogurt sample with 3% chokeberry pomace), while the addition of fruit and juice decreased the protein content of the yogurt samples (from 4.35 ± 0.11% for the plain yogurt sample to 3.69 ± 0.15% for the yogurt sample with 3% chokeberry fruit and to 3.84 ± 0.1% for the yogurt sample with 3% chokeberry juice). There was no statistically significant change in the fat content of all samples of chokeberry-supplemented yogurt compared to plain yogurt. The pH of the yogurt samples decreased with the increase in the percentage of chokeberry fruit, juice, and pomace added to the yogurt (from 4.50 for the plain yogurt samples to 4.35, 4.30, and 4.20 for the yogurt samples supplemented with 1, 2, and 3% black chokeberry pomace). Inhibition of DPPH radical formation was higher in the yogurt samples with chokeberry fruit (57.84 ± 0.05%, 73.57 ± 0.11%, and 75.38 ± 0.05% inhibition for the samples with 1, 2, and 3% fruit) and pomace (up to 64.8 ± 0.11% inhibition for the sample with 3%), while total phenolic content decreased (from 392.14 ± 2.06 to 104.45 ± 2.63 µg/g) as follows: yogurt with chokeberry pomace > yogurt with chokeberry fruit > yogurt with chokeberry juice. The yogurt samples with the highest acceptance scores were the samples with 3% and 2% black chokeberry fruit, while the lowest acceptance score was obtained for the yogurt sample with 3% black chokeberry pomace. Chokeberry fruit, juice, and pomace can improve the physicochemical, textural, and antioxidant characteristics of yogurt, emphasizing that the antioxidant effect of yogurt could be substantially improved by the addition of chokeberry pomace due to its high phenolic content, while incorporation into yogurt is another way to valorize this by-product.

8 February 2022 in Applied Sciences
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SPSergiu Pădureț
Sergiu Pădureț
This study focused on the analysis of bakery margarine samples divided into three groups according to physical-chemical analyses of their fat and water content. A Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) was used for the evaluation of fatty acids, and from 37 fatty acids studied, only 18 were quantified. The highest concentration was occupied by the long-chain saturated fatty acids category (C14:0–C20:0), ranging between 85.61 μg/mg and 127.30 μg/mg. The dominant fatty acid was palmitic acid for all margarine samples. The texture parameters (hardness, mechanical work of plastic deformation, and fracturability) analyzed in this study with three different penetrometers and a puncture test showed that bakery margarine is a hard plastic material with a pronounced fracturability. The margarine’s fracturability varied from 0.35 N to 8.23 N. The highest values were measured using the 10 mm diameter spherical penetrometer. Of the outside and inside evaluated color parameters, only the b* color parameter indicated an influence on the principal component analysis samples’ projections; its values are also positively correlated with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PN).

11 May 2025 in Foods
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APAncuța Elena Prisacaru
Ancuța Elena Prisacaru
CGCristina Ghinea
Cristina Ghinea
EAEufrozina Albu
Eufrozina Albu
SPSergiu Pădureț
Sergiu Pădureț
Fruits, such as apricots, cherries, raspberries, and strawberries, are very often processed into jams to extend their shelf life. Jams are highly appreciated by consumers, and their storage conditions are important for preserving their quality. This study investigates the impact of storage on the microbiological quality and physicochemical parameters of five commercial fruit (apricot, sour cherry, white cherry, raspberry, and strawberry) jams. The pH, titratable acidity, moisture, sugar content, viscosity, and color were evaluated immediately after opening the jam containers and during storage at 2–4 °C and 20 °C. The total number of mesophilic aerobic germs (TMAG) and the total number of yeasts and molds (TYM) were also determined. The samples were analyzed during storage at 14, 42, and 56 days after opening the jam jars. The pH of the fruit jam samples varied from 2.91 (strawberry jam) to 3.47 (sour cherry jam) and decreased during storage, while the titratable acidity (TA) ranged from 0.46 (cherry and raspberry jams) to 0.52% malic acid (apricot jam) and increased during storage, regardless of the storage temperature. The moisture content was between 15.78% (apricot jam) and 21.82% (raspberry jam), and decreased in all the jam samples during storage. The sugar content (30.40–44.59 g per 100 g of jam) was typical for low-sweetened jams and increased during storage. Also, the viscosity of the fruit jam samples increased during storage (more in the samples stored at room temperature). Under the storage conditions, all the jam samples lost their specific color. Immediately after opening the jam jars, no yeasts or molds were found in the apricot and sour cherry jam samples. The highest number of yeasts and molds was detected in the white cherry jam samples (4.25 log10 CFU/g). The TYM increased during storage, as did the TMAG. The time–temperature interaction factor influenced the physicochemical and microbiological properties of the jam samples.

14 October 2025 in Dairy
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SPSergiu Pădureț
Sergiu Pădureț
Milk products are a diverse group of foods and important sources of essential nutrients, including high-quality proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Among their key quality attributes, texture is particularly critical, as it strongly influences consumer perception and overall product quality. Numerous devices and techniques have been developed to evaluate the texture of milk products, most of which rely on mechanical tests such as puncture, compression, shearing, creep, and relaxation. Instrumental evaluations are essential for correlating physical measurements with sensory perceptions, yet several challenges limit their reliability. Inconsistencies in testing protocols—such as reporting force versus penetration depth versus force versus time; variations in testing temperature, sample shape and dimensions; probe geometry; compression depth; and container size for semisolid samples contribute to discrepancies across studies. Additionally, many studies omit these critical methodological details, reducing reproducibility and comparability. This review systematically examines the current methods used to assess dairy product texture, identifies gaps and challenges in standardization, and provides guidance to support future research aimed at obtaining accurate, reproducible, and meaningful texture measurements.

10 September 2016 in International Journal of Food Properties
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SPSergiu Pădureț
Sergiu Pădureț
MOMircea Oroian
Mircea Oroian
GGGheorghe Gutt
Gheorghe Gutt
SASonia Amariei
Sonia Amariei
The aim of this study was to determine the anisotropy of three strawberry varieties (Coral, Darselect, and Elsanta) related to texture profile analysis and texture parameters of creep curves. Color and physico-chemical properties were determined and a correlation was established with texture properties. The texture parameters were negatively related with moisture content, whereas the coefficient of anisotropy showed a significant positive correlation with hardness and texture parameters of creep curves (p < 0.01). The Darselect variety in different stages of ripeness (nearly ripe, ripe, and over ripe) showed the highest coefficient of anisotropy, the highest hardness, and simultaneously, a greater resistance to mechanical stress.