Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.7
5.0
Journals
Gels
Special Issues
Recent Advances on the Use of Different Gels Type in...
share announcement

Recent Advances on the Use of Different Gels Type in the Food Industry

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 October 2025 | Viewed by 5324

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Georgiana Gabriela Codină

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Faculty of Food Engineering, Ștefan cel Mare University, 720229 Suceava, Romania
Interests: cereal products; rheological properties; sensory analysis; functional foods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Adriana Dabija

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
Interests: food science and technology; food microbiology and safety; food biotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gels, in the basic form of hydrogels, oleogels, emulsion gels, and/or bigels, have been widely utilized in food formulations for improving quality attributes. The formation of gels involves processes such as heating, cooling, or ion-induced cross-linking. These methods alter the molecular structure of the gel-forming ingredients, inducing the formation of a network that traps liquid within it, resulting in a desired gel consistency. The texture of the gel can be modified by adjusting factors such as the concentration of the gel-forming ingredients, pH level, and temperature. Their versatility and ability to improve food quality from technological and nutritional points of view make them an essential component of many foods enjoyed by consumers worldwide, and they can therefore play a crucial role in the food industry.

This Special Issue, “Recent Advances on the Use of Different Gels Type in the Food Industry”, comprehensively discusses the various applications of and advancements in the production and use of different types of gels in food products in order to improve their quality, such as their composition; functional, nutritional, and sensory characteristics; microstructure; and rheological and textural properties. We expect that key actors in the field will contribute to this discussion according to their particular areas of expertise, covering different types of gels such as hydrogels, oleogels, emulgels, and nanogels.

Prof. Dr. Georgiana Gabriela Codină
Prof. Dr. Adriana Dabija
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gel formation
  • oleogels
  • gelling process
  • gelation
  • gels characteristics
  • food products
  • microstructure analysis
  • textural properties
  • rheological properties
  • nutritional value
  • new products development-derived products
  • health benefits
  • processing
  • consumer acceptance

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 4790 KiB  
Article
Development and Quality Enhancement of Fried Fish Cake Prototype with Transglutaminase, Trehalose, and Herbal Oil for Room Temperature Distribution
by Ye Youl Kim, Khawaja Muhammad Imran Bashir, Seonyeong Kang, Yongjoon Park, Jae Hak Sohn and Jae-Suk Choi
Gels 2024, 10(11), 740; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10110740 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 331
Abstract
This study focuses on developing a fried fish cake prototype with improved quality and extended shelf-life, enabling room-temperature distribution through an innovative high-temperature and high-process retort method. Surimi-based products typically necessitate cold storage and a refrigerated distribution system, affecting their physical properties and [...] Read more.
This study focuses on developing a fried fish cake prototype with improved quality and extended shelf-life, enabling room-temperature distribution through an innovative high-temperature and high-process retort method. Surimi-based products typically necessitate cold storage and a refrigerated distribution system, affecting their physical properties and flavor while escalating costs. By incorporating Transglutaminase (TGase), trehalose, and herbal oils, and optimizing the heating process using the response surface methodology, this research addresses challenges related to changes in physical properties, color, and off-flavors during high-temperature and high-pressure treatment. The addition of 0.37% ACTIVA-K TGase significantly enhanced gel strength by promoting protein cross-linking, while 0.75% trehalose improved color stability by suppressing browning, thus enhancing visual appeal. A 0.1% concentration of bay oil effectively enhanced the flavor profile by masking undesirable odors without compromising the sensory quality. Optimized processing conditions maximized DPPH radical scavenging activity, whiteness, and gel strength, ensuring superior product quality and safety. Nutritional analysis confirmed a balanced composition of moisture, protein, essential amino acids, and minerals, in accordance with Korean national standards for acid values. Microstructural examination revealed a uniform network structure, contributing to excellent texture and sensory evaluations. Shelf-life predictions indicated a storage duration of approximately 19 months, surpassing commercially available products and offering a competitive edge. This novel approach allows surimi-based products to be stored and distributed at room temperature, while also providing the potential for increased profitability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on the Use of Different Gels Type in the Food Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 6718 KiB  
Article
Incorporation of Locust Bean Gum and Solid Lipid Microparticles as Strategies to Improve the Properties and Stability of Calcium-Rich Soy Protein Isolate Gels
by Thais C. Brito-Oliveira, Ana Clara M. Cavini, Leticia S. Ferreira, Izabel C. F. Moraes and Samantha C. Pinho
Gels 2024, 10(7), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10070467 - 17 Jul 2024
Viewed by 867
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the properties of calcium-rich soy protein isolate (SPI) gels (14% SPI; 100 mM CaCl2), the effects of incorporating different concentrations locust bean gum (LBG) (0.1–0.3%, w/v) to the systems and the stability [...] Read more.
The present study aimed to investigate the properties of calcium-rich soy protein isolate (SPI) gels (14% SPI; 100 mM CaCl2), the effects of incorporating different concentrations locust bean gum (LBG) (0.1–0.3%, w/v) to the systems and the stability of the obtained gels. Also, the incorporation of solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) was tested as an alternative strategy to improve the system’s stability and, therefore, potential to be applied as a product prototype. The gels were evaluated regarding their visual aspect, rheological properties, water-holding capacities (WHCs) and microstructural organizations. The CaCl2-induced gels were self-supported but presented low WHC (40.0% ± 2.2) which was improved by LBG incorporation. The obtained mixed system, however, presented low stability, with high syneresis after 10 days of storage, due to microstructural compaction. The gels’ stability was improved by SLM incorporation, which decreased the gelled matrices’ compaction and syneresis for more than 20 days. Even though the rheological properties of the emulsion-filled gels (EFGs) were very altered due to the ageing process (which may affect the sensory perception of a future food originated from this EFG), the incorporation of SLMs increased the systems potential to be applied as a calcium-rich product prototype. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on the Use of Different Gels Type in the Food Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3027 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Beeswax and Rice Bran Wax Oleogels Based on Different Types of Vegetable Oils and Their Impact on Wheat Flour Dough Technological Behavior during Bun Making
by Sorina Ropciuc, Florina Dranca, Mircea Adrian Oroian, Ana Leahu, Ancuţa Elena Prisacaru, Mariana Spinei and Georgiana Gabriela Codină
Gels 2024, 10(3), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10030194 - 12 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1932
Abstract
Five varieties of vegetable oil underwent oleogelation with two types of wax as follows: beeswax (BW) and rice bran wax (RW). The oleogels were analyzed for their physicochemical, thermal, and textural characteristics. The oleogels were used in the bun dough recipe at a [...] Read more.
Five varieties of vegetable oil underwent oleogelation with two types of wax as follows: beeswax (BW) and rice bran wax (RW). The oleogels were analyzed for their physicochemical, thermal, and textural characteristics. The oleogels were used in the bun dough recipe at a percentage level of 5%, and the textural and rheological properties of the oleogel doughs were analyzed using dynamic and empirical rheology devices such as the Haake rheometer, the Rheofermentometer, and Mixolab. The thermal properties of beeswax oleogels showed a melting peak at a lower temperature for all the oils used compared with that of the oleogels containing rice bran wax. Texturally, for both waxes, as the percentage of wax increased, the firmness of the oleogels increased proportionally, which indicates better technological characteristics for the food industry. The effect of the addition of oleogels on the viscoelastic properties of the dough was measured as a function of temperature. All dough samples showed higher values for G′ (storage modulus) than those of G″ (loss modulus) in the temperature range of 20–90 °C, suggesting a solid, elastic-like behavior of all dough samples with the addition of oleogels. The influence of the beeswax and rice bran oleogels based on different types of vegetable oils on the thermo-mechanical properties of wheat flour dough indicated that the addition of oleogels in dough recipes generally led to higher dough stability and lower values for the dough development time and those related to the dough’s starch characteristics. Therefore, the addition of oleogels in dough recipes inhibits the starch gelatinization process and increases the shelf life of bakery products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on the Use of Different Gels Type in the Food Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2178 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Boza Enriched with Nonfat Dry Milk and Its Impact on the Fermentation Process
by Ezgi Pulatsu, Sargun Malik, Mengshi Lin, Kiruba Krishnaswamy and Bongkosh Vardhanabhuti
Gels 2024, 10(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010022 - 26 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1584
Abstract
Boza is an indigenous, traditional, low-alcohol and highly viscous beverage prepared by fermenting cereals. Its thick and gel-like consistency make it suitable for consumption via spoon. Although boza is a nutritious beverage, its protein content is very low (<2%). A new type of [...] Read more.
Boza is an indigenous, traditional, low-alcohol and highly viscous beverage prepared by fermenting cereals. Its thick and gel-like consistency make it suitable for consumption via spoon. Although boza is a nutritious beverage, its protein content is very low (<2%). A new type of boza was developed by incorporating nonfat dry milk (NFDM) to elevate the protein content of the beverage. Different NFDM amounts (10 to 40% w/v) were added to determine the best concentration and fermentation time based on the refractive index and pH values at room temperature (0–48 h). The best sample was further characterized by rheological analyses and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The sample with 10% NFDM was the best, as fermentation was successfully performed, and further addition of NFDM increased the initial pH. The refractive index and pH decreased from 21.9 ± 0.1 to 11.8 ± 0.1 and 5.77± 0.50 to 4.09 ± 0.35 during fermentation, respectively. The samples exhibited shear-thinning, solid-like behavior, and a gel-like structure. FTIR analysis by independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) demonstrated that unfermented slurry and the fermented product could be effectively differentiated. With the addition of 10% NFDM, the increase in the protein content of the boza medium became significant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances on the Use of Different Gels Type in the Food Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop