The influence of lecithin from different sources on crystallization and physical properties of nontrans fat

Crystallization and physical properties of nontrans vegetable fat with the addition of soybean, sunflower and rapeseed lecithin were investigated in this paper. NMR technique was used for measuring the solid fat content of fats at different temperatures, as well as for crystallization rate under static conditions. Also, the possibility of applying Gompertz function to define kinetics of crystallization was investigated. Rheological and textural properties were determined using the rotational viscometer and texture analyzer, whereas thermal properties were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The addition of lecithin from different sources does not affect the crystallization characteristics of nontrans edible fat, whereas rheological and textural tests confirmed that the addition of lecithin in excess increases the complexity of the system. DSC measurement confirmed the presence of three fractions in fat with different melting properties. The addition of lecithin from different sources has a significant effect on energy required for melting and some effect on other thermal properties of nontrans edible fat. Practical ApplicationsSoybean seeds are the main source of lecithin in confectionery industry in Serbia and elsewhere. The extensive production of sunflower and rapeseed oil opens the possibility of using lecithin from these sources as an alternative. Also, the development of functional foods dictates the use of edible fats with no undesirable trans fatty acids, obtained by fractionation and transesterification instead of common hydrogenation process. The impact of lecithin from different sources on crystallization and physical properties of pure nontrans fat is the base for this research. The lecithin obtained from sunflower and rapeseed should be further examined in different confectionery products with continuous fat phase, and should appropriate emulsifying properties are achieved, they could be used in the confectionery production as well