Loss in tocopherols and oxidative stability during the frying of frozen cassava chips

The present study was aimed at verifying tocopherols losses and oxidative stability changes in vegetable oils used in discontinuous frying. The frying of frozen cassava chips was carried out in a household electric frying pan, where the oil was heated to a temperature of 180 degrees C for 25 hours, with fresh oil replacement. The results obtained from the analytical determinations were submitted to variance analysis, in a factorial scheme, using a completely randomized design, making it possible to determine the influence of the type of oil and frying times on changes in the oil. The data show that the smallest changes occur in palm oil, which is more saturated. For sunflower and cottonseed oils, which are more unsaturated, there was a clear decrease in both tocopherol concentration and oxidative stability.

Antioxidant action of Rosemary extract in soybean oil submitted to thermoxidation

This work was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity of rosemary extract added to soybean oil in thermoxidation conditions. Purified soybean oil, refined soybean oil and refined soybean oil containing 1,000 mg/kg rosemary extract were heated at 180°C. The oxidation of the samples was evaluated after 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 hours of thermoxidation by means of oxidative stability determination, total polar compounds and conjugated dienes. The purified oil differed significantly from the refined oil, mainly in relation to oxidative stability due the removal of the natural antioxidants. Rosemary extract presented antioxidant effects at high temperatures. After 10 hours of heating, 1,000 mg/kg rosemary extract added to the refined soybean oil significantly increased the oil oxidative stability from 7.52 to 13.5 hours and decreased the formation of polymers and decomposing products measured through the polar rates from 17.35 to 7.99%. The build up of primary oxidation products gauged through diene rates also decreased from 1.61 to 0.80%. Rosemary extract could be recommended as an alternative antioxidant.

Avaliação da qualidade de óleos de fritura utilizados em restaurante universitário

Frying is a widely used method of preparing food, because it is a very fast and convenient process, and because it provides specific characteristics of color, flavor, odor, and texture, besides having great consumer acceptance. Therefore, the interest in the physiological effects that oils heated at high temperatures can cause to the human body arises. The aim of this work was to analyze the levels of frying used oil alteration in different kinds of foods served at the university restaurant at “Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas” (IBILCE), in São José do Rio Preto-SP. In addition, it aims to make the restaurant aware of the good ways to fry and the commitment of providing good quality food to students and professionals of the Institute. With this purpose, determination of total polar compounds, conjugated dienoic acids, peroxide value, and fatty acid profile were analyzed. Two rapid tests were also used: 3M Fat Monitor and Oil Test kit. The results were compared with limits recommended for the disposal of oils and fats used in frying by the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), by other countries, and by other researches. Thus, it was concluded that the university restaurant provides the consumers with fried food of good quality, since none of the analyses showed results above recommended, although there is a need of improvement in the quality control of the oil used, in order to avoid unnecessary costs to the university restaurant.