Physicochemical properties and flow behavior of natural sweetener and colorant from foam‐mat dried grape powder

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of whey protein concentrate, glycerol monostearate, methyl cellulose at a concentration of 1‐3% and gum arabic on the expansion, density and stability of the foam as well as the physicochemical properties of the powder were investigated. The findings identified that the simultaneous addition of foaming and stabilizer agents noticeably affected the quality of the foam. The most stable foam occurred at 3% WPC and 3% MC with density 0.374, expansion 134.4, and stability 95.6. The dried grape powder with a higher proportion of GMS and WPC exhibited the most brightness. The higher level of foaming agents demonstrated lower moisture content, aw, cohesiveness and higher hygroscopicity, flow ability and wettability compared to the non‐foamed one. The study demonstrated the potential use of grape powder as a hygroscopic ingredient in an instant food product, Furthermore, it highlights the importance of selecting appropriate foaming agents to achieve desired properties in the products.Practical applicationsConsidering today's hectic lifestyles and people's increasing awareness of nutrient consumption, consumers prefer ready‐to‐eat and readily available foods that are also health‐oriented. Foam mat drying is an economical alternative to drum, spray, and freeze drying in the production of fruit powders. This process can be used for large‐scale production, because of its suitability for all types of juices, rapid drying at lower temperature, retention of nutritional quality, easy reconstitution, and cost‐effective for producing easily juice powders. Fruit juice powders obtained through this process have high economic potentials over their liquid counterparts such as reduced volume or weight, reduced storage space, simpler handling and transportation, and much longer shelf life. Thus, by conducting this comparative study, valuable insights can be gained into the potential use of foam‐mat dried grape syrup powder as a desirable natural sweetener, colorant, and hygroscopic ingredient for ready meals.