Effects of Hot Air, Vacuum, and Conductive Drying on the Fatty Acid Profile of <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> Pulp and Its Processing By-Products

Considering the short shelf life of fresh pumpkin due to its high water content and the extensive use of dried pumpkin in the food industry, it is necessary to find an efficient drying method that minimizes water activity and preserves nutritional properties. In this study, the effects of hot air dr...

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Main Authors: Antonela Ninčević Grassino, Sven Karlović, Filip Dujmić, Suzana Rimac Brnčić, Marija Badanjak Sabolović, Mladen Brnčić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/57
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author Antonela Ninčević Grassino
Sven Karlović
Filip Dujmić
Suzana Rimac Brnčić
Marija Badanjak Sabolović
Mladen Brnčić
author_facet Antonela Ninčević Grassino
Sven Karlović
Filip Dujmić
Suzana Rimac Brnčić
Marija Badanjak Sabolović
Mladen Brnčić
author_sort Antonela Ninčević Grassino
collection DOAJ
description Considering the short shelf life of fresh pumpkin due to its high water content and the extensive use of dried pumpkin in the food industry, it is necessary to find an efficient drying method that minimizes water activity and preserves nutritional properties. In this study, the effects of hot air drying (HAD), vacuum drying (VAD), and conductive drying (CD) at 50, 60, and 70 °C on fatty acid profiles were investigated to determine optimal drying conditions that preserve fatty acid (FA) quality and associated nutritional benefits. Results showed that drying methods had a significant effect (<i>p</i> < 0.05) on fatty acid composition and yield, resulting in different amounts of palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids as major FAs compared to fresh pulp. The saturated FA content was higher in CD pulp (up to 42.37%), followed by HAD and VAD. Oleic acid, as the most important representative of monounsaturated FAs, came from VAD (up to 30.64%). Linoleic and linolenic acid, as the most important polyunsaturated FAs of the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, were found in higher proportions in CD pulp at 50 and 60 °C (up to 31.12%) and HAD pulp at 60 and 70 °C with an airflow velocity of 1.5 m/s (up to 39.70%). In addition, the peel and seeds, the by-products resulting from the processing of the fruit pulp, were also evaluated with regard to the fatty acid profile. Two fractions also contained the four major FAs in representative amounts, indicating their valuable reuse.
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spelling doaj-art-1ef052d45b2d4caa87eeb9814559b7a02025-08-20T02:36:06ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-12-011415710.3390/foods14010057Effects of Hot Air, Vacuum, and Conductive Drying on the Fatty Acid Profile of <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> Pulp and Its Processing By-ProductsAntonela Ninčević Grassino0Sven Karlović1Filip Dujmić2Suzana Rimac Brnčić3Marija Badanjak Sabolović4Mladen Brnčić5Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaConsidering the short shelf life of fresh pumpkin due to its high water content and the extensive use of dried pumpkin in the food industry, it is necessary to find an efficient drying method that minimizes water activity and preserves nutritional properties. In this study, the effects of hot air drying (HAD), vacuum drying (VAD), and conductive drying (CD) at 50, 60, and 70 °C on fatty acid profiles were investigated to determine optimal drying conditions that preserve fatty acid (FA) quality and associated nutritional benefits. Results showed that drying methods had a significant effect (<i>p</i> < 0.05) on fatty acid composition and yield, resulting in different amounts of palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids as major FAs compared to fresh pulp. The saturated FA content was higher in CD pulp (up to 42.37%), followed by HAD and VAD. Oleic acid, as the most important representative of monounsaturated FAs, came from VAD (up to 30.64%). Linoleic and linolenic acid, as the most important polyunsaturated FAs of the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, were found in higher proportions in CD pulp at 50 and 60 °C (up to 31.12%) and HAD pulp at 60 and 70 °C with an airflow velocity of 1.5 m/s (up to 39.70%). In addition, the peel and seeds, the by-products resulting from the processing of the fruit pulp, were also evaluated with regard to the fatty acid profile. Two fractions also contained the four major FAs in representative amounts, indicating their valuable reuse.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/57fresh and dried pumpkin pulphot air dryingvacuum dryingconductive dryingpumpkin by-productsfatty acids
spellingShingle Antonela Ninčević Grassino
Sven Karlović
Filip Dujmić
Suzana Rimac Brnčić
Marija Badanjak Sabolović
Mladen Brnčić
Effects of Hot Air, Vacuum, and Conductive Drying on the Fatty Acid Profile of <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> Pulp and Its Processing By-Products
Foods
fresh and dried pumpkin pulp
hot air drying
vacuum drying
conductive drying
pumpkin by-products
fatty acids
title Effects of Hot Air, Vacuum, and Conductive Drying on the Fatty Acid Profile of <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> Pulp and Its Processing By-Products
title_full Effects of Hot Air, Vacuum, and Conductive Drying on the Fatty Acid Profile of <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> Pulp and Its Processing By-Products
title_fullStr Effects of Hot Air, Vacuum, and Conductive Drying on the Fatty Acid Profile of <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> Pulp and Its Processing By-Products
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Hot Air, Vacuum, and Conductive Drying on the Fatty Acid Profile of <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> Pulp and Its Processing By-Products
title_short Effects of Hot Air, Vacuum, and Conductive Drying on the Fatty Acid Profile of <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> Pulp and Its Processing By-Products
title_sort effects of hot air vacuum and conductive drying on the fatty acid profile of i cucurbita maxima i pulp and its processing by products
topic fresh and dried pumpkin pulp
hot air drying
vacuum drying
conductive drying
pumpkin by-products
fatty acids
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/1/57
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