Advances in Thermal and Non-thermal Processing: Focus on Food Quality Changes

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Engineering and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 1634

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
Interests: fruits and vegetables processing; drying technology; intelligent manufacturing; machine vision

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring the impact of novel thermal and non-thermal processing techniques on food quality. Each of these techniques offers unique benefits and challenges, and understanding their impact on food quality is essential for optimizing their use in food production. This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest research and developments in this field, while also providing an in-depth analysis of the implications for food safety, quality, and consumer acceptance.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Innovative thermal processing techniques, such as infrared, microwave, superheated steam, and flash evaporation technologies, and their effects on the efficiency and quality of food processing;
  2. Emerging non-thermal processing technologies, including ultrasound, cold plasma, pulsed electric fields, and ultra-high pressure, and their impact on the quality of food products;
  3. The application of spectroscopic techniques for non-destructive testing in food processing;
  4. Multidimensional evaluations of sensory qualities such as color, flavor, and texture, highlighting the complex interplay between processing techniques and consumer perception.

Dr. Junwen Bai
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • thermal processing
  • non-thermal processing
  • efficiency
  • quality
  • flavor
  • acceptability
  • sensory analysis
  • non-destructive testing
  • multidimensional evaluation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4389 KiB  
Article
Visualization of Moisture Content, Reducing Sugars, and Chewiness in Bread During Oral Processing Based on Hyperspectral Imaging Technology
by Xiaoyu Tian, Qin Fang, Xiaorui Zhang, Shanshan Yu, Chunxia Dai and Xingyi Huang
Foods 2024, 13(22), 3589; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13223589 - 10 Nov 2024
Viewed by 663
Abstract
This study evaluated the differences in oral processing and texture perception of breads with varying compositions. The research investigated the dynamic changes in moisture content (MC), reducing sugars (RSs), and chewiness of the bolus formed from white bread (B0) and 50% whole-wheat bread [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the differences in oral processing and texture perception of breads with varying compositions. The research investigated the dynamic changes in moisture content (MC), reducing sugars (RSs), and chewiness of the bolus formed from white bread (B0) and 50% whole-wheat bread (B50) during oral processing. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with chemometric methods was used to establish quantitative prediction models for MC, RSs, and chewiness, and to create visual distribution maps of these parameters. The results showed that B0 had a higher moisture content and a faster hydration rate than B50 during the initial stages of oral processing, indicating greater hydrophilicity and ease of saliva wetting. Additionally, the uniformity of moisture distribution in the bolus of B0 was higher than that of B50. B50 exhibited significantly lower RSs content and poorer distribution uniformity compared to B0. The primary differences in chewiness between the two types of bread were observed during the early stages of oral processing, with B50 requiring more chewing effort initially. This study demonstrated that HSI technology can effectively monitor and elucidate the compositional changes in food particles during oral processing, providing new insights into bread texture perception and offering a scientific basis for improving bread processing and texture. Full article
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18 pages, 7010 KiB  
Article
Quality Evaluation and Heat and Mass Transfer Mechanism of Microwave Vacuum Drying of Astragalus Roots
by Yuanman Yue, Qian Zhang, Guojun Ma, Fangxin Wan, Zepeng Zang, Yanrui Xu, Futai Kang and Xiaopeng Huang
Foods 2024, 13(19), 3075; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13193075 - 26 Sep 2024
Viewed by 631
Abstract
In this research, the objective was to optimize the drying process of Astragalus by investigating the effects of microwave vacuum drying parameters, including temperature (30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 °C) and slice thickness (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm). In addition, [...] Read more.
In this research, the objective was to optimize the drying process of Astragalus by investigating the effects of microwave vacuum drying parameters, including temperature (30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 °C) and slice thickness (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm). In addition, utilizing COMSOL 6.0 finite element analysis software, we delved into the distribution of heat and moisture during the drying process. The results revealed that drying temperature played a significantly greater role than slice thickness in determining the drying dynamics. The thermal and mass transfer mechanism indicated that the whole drying process conforms to the microwave radiation mechanism and the basic principle of electromagnetic heating. In the case of low temperatures and thinner slice sizes, the more polysaccharide content was retained; The total phenol content peaked when the slice thickness was 5 mm; The increase of slice thickness was not conducive to the retention of total flavonoids content. The potent antioxidant capacity was detected at a temperature of 40 °C, with slice thickness having a negligible effect on this capacity; Low temperatures were beneficial for the preservation of active ingredients. Compared with the scanning electron microscope, the structure appeared more uniform at a temperature of 50 °C. Based on the analysis of the kinetic characteristics of microwave vacuum drying of Astragalus and the quality achieved under various drying conditions, the results of the study can provide valuable guidance for controlling the quality of microwave vacuum drying of Astragalus under different drying requirements. Full article
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