Summary
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of blanching combined with the use of salts and methylcellulose coatings (MC) on fat absorption and the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of potatoes of the cultivar BRS Ana, subjected to frying in the form of chips. The experiment was carried out with the cultivars BRS Ana and Asterix, Asterix potatoes being adequate for fried products. The control samples for the cultivars BRS Ana (T0') and Asterix (T0”) were not subjected to either blanching or any type of coating. Three treatments were tested for each cultivar, as follows: for the cultivar BRS Ana: T1: with blanching, without coating; T2: with blanching and coating using 1% MC; T3: with blanching and coating using 2% MC; for the cultivar Asterix: T4: with blanching, without coating; T5: with blanching and coating using 1% MC; T6 with blanching and coating using 2% MC. For the treatments subjected to blanching (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6), the sliced potatoes were immersed in water at 85 ° C for 3 minutes with the addition of 0.5% CaCl2 and 2.5% NaCl, followed by cooling and centrifugation. The potatoes used in treatments T2, T3, T5 and T6, which were coated with MC, were immersed in 1 or 2% (w / v) MC solution for 1 minute and then drained. All the potato chips were subjected to frying in vegetable oil at 180 ° C. The cultivar BRS Ana subjected to blanching and coating with 1% MC showed the lowest fat absorption (13%) during frying, with 29.37% fat in the final product. Furthermore, coating with 1% MC did not significantly affect the attributes of colour and texture of the potato chips or the consumer preference for the attributes studied (appearance, colour, flavour, and texture), with a sensory acceptance score of 85.9%. The cultivar BRS Ana potatoes subjected to blanching with the addition of NaCl and CaCl2 and coated with 1% MC showed good potential for use in the form of potato chips.
Key words:
Potato chips; Fat absorption; Gum; Acceptance; Cultivar BRS Ana potatoes