FAT- OR OIL-PROCESSED STARCH

Abstract

There is provided a fat-processed starch which has excellent dispersibility in food raw materials such as batter and excellent adhesion to ingredients and the like and provides a good texture. The fat-processed starch of the present invention can be obtained by adding a fat composition having an iodine value of 125 to 170 and containing 35 ppm to 8,000 ppm of a polyphenol to a starch to mix the starch and the fat, and aging the starch mixture. The content of the fat composition preferably ranges from 0.01% to 5%, and the starch is preferably tapioca starch.

Claims

1. A fat-processed starch which comprises a fat composition and a starch, said fat composition having an iodine value of 125 to 170 and containing 35 ppm to 8,000 ppm of a polyphenol.

2. The fat-processed starch according to claim 1, wherein the content of the fat composition ranges from 0.01% to 5%.

3. The fat-processed starch according to claim 1, wherein the starch is tapioca starch.

4. A method for producing a fat-processed starch, which comprises adding a fat composition to a starch, said fat composition having an iodine value of 125 to 170 and containing 35 ppm to 8,000 ppm of a polyphenol.

5. The method for producing a fat-processed starch according to claim 4, wherein the amount of the fat composition to be added ranges from 0.01% to 5%.

6. The method for producing a fat-processed starch according to claim 4, wherein the starch is tapioca starch.

Description

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0028] The starch used in the present invention is not particularly limited so long as it can be used for foods. Examples of the starch include corn starch, tapioca starch, rice starch, wheat starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, mung bean starch, dogtooth violet starch, arrowroot starch, bracken starch, sago starch and Ooubayuri (Cardiocrinum cardatum var. glehnii) starch. Among these starches, the starch to be used is preferably tapioca starch and/or corn starch, particularly preferably tapioca starch, from the viewpoint of cost and effects. For all the starches, not only normal starches, but also those improved by thremmatological or gene-engineering techniques, such as nonglutinous species, waxy species and high amylose species, may be used. Further, various processed-starches can also be used as raw material starches in the present invention. There may be used starches obtained by subjecting starches to chemical modification treatment such as oxidation treatment, esterification treatment, etherification treatment and crosslinking treatment; processing treatment such as pregelatinization treatment, granulation treatment, moist-heat treatment, ball milling treatment, pulverization treatment, heating treatment, warm water treatment, bleaching treatment, sterilization treatment, acid treatment, alkali treatment and enzyme treatment; or two or more treatments thereof. Among these processed starches, the starch to be utilized as a coating material for fries is preferably a crosslinked starch, particularly preferably a phosphoric acid crosslinked starch.

[0029] The fat composition used in the present invention contains an animal/vegetable fat, or an oil content of seed powder, fruit powder, herb powder and the like including grain flour such as soybean flour as described in Patent Document 7. The fat composition of the present invention must have an iodine value of 125 to 170, and preferably has an iodine value of 130 to 150. When the iodine value is less than 125, the texture of the coating is hard and difficult to crumble. When the iodine value is more than 170, lumping occurs during the preparation of a batter, which requires a long operation time. Further, the texture of the coating is hard and difficult to crumble. The fat used in the present invention is not particularly limited so long as it has an iodine value of 125 to 170. Examples of the fat having an iodine value of 125 to 170 include safflower oil, grape oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, kaya oil and poppy oil. Fats having an iodine value falling outside the range of from 125 to 170, such as linseed oil, perilla oil, Shiso (Japanese basil) oil, cotton-seed oil, sesame oil, rapeseed oil, peanut oil, olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil, beef tallow, lard, chicken fat, mutton tallow, whale oil and fish oil can also be used through treatment such as mixing to adjust the iodine value to 125 to 170.

[0030] The iodine value is an index of the total number of unsaturated double bonds existing in a fatty acid, and can be measured, for example, according to “2.3.4.1-2013 Iodine Value (Wijs-Cyclohexane Method)” in the Standard Methods for the Analysis of Fats, Oils and Related Materials edited by Japan Oil Chemists' Society (Japan Oil Chemists' Society).

[0031] The fat composition used in the present invention contains a specific amount of a polyphenol. The “polyphenol” used herein is a generic term of plant components having a plurality of phenolic hydroxyl groups (hydroxy groups) in the same molecule. Polyphenols are pigments or bitter components contained in most plants and are water soluble (some of which are fat soluble) substances having excellent antioxidant ability. The polyphenol is not particularly limited, and includes, for example, grape polyphenol, pine bark polyphenol, apple polyphenol, cacao polyphenol and green tea polyphenol. These polyphenols are multi-component compounds, and specific examples thereof include isoflavones such as genistin, daidzein and puerarin; flavonols such as quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin and rutin; flavanones such as hesperidin, naringenin and naringin; anthocyanins which are glycosides of cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, peonidin and petunidin; flavanols such as catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate and theaflavin; and flavones such as chrysin, apigenin and luteolin. Further, a lignan such as sesamine, sesamolin, sesaminol or sesamol, a stilbenoid such as resveratrol, or a chlorogenic acid, a gallic acid, an ellagic acid, galangin, fisetin or the like is also suitable. Compounds containing a polyphenol of seed powder, fruit powder, herb powder or the like can also be used as the polyphenol in the present invention.

[0032] The content of the polyphenol in the fat composition used in the present invention must range from 35 ppm to 8,000 ppm, and preferably ranges from 50 ppm to 800 ppm. A polyphenol content of less than 35 ppm causes a reduction in workability during the preparation of a batter and makes the texture hard and difficult to crumble, and thus is not preferred. A polyphenol content of more than 8,000 ppm causes a reduction in juiciness of fries, and thus is not preferred.

[0033] In the present invention, in addition to the fat composition, an emulsifying agent may be added within a range in which the purpose of the present invention would not be inhibited. Examples of the emulsifying agent includes glycerol fatty acid esters, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, organic acid monoglycerides, sorbitan fatty acid esters, propylene glycol fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters and lecithins. Also, a combination of these substances may be employed. When an emulsifying agent is added, the amount thereof to be added ranges preferably from 10 to 1,000 parts by mass, more preferably from 20 to 500 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the fat composition.

[0034] The fat-processed starch in the present invention has surface physical properties altered by attaching the fat composition to at least part of surfaces of starch particles. This is obtained by mixing the fat composition with a starch and aging the starch mixture at a temperature not lower than ordinary temperature. Hence, a starch having properties which are different from those of starches merely mixed with the fat composition is obtained.

[0035] The aging treatment can be carried out by treating a mixture of a starch and the fat composition, and, if necessary, other raw materials such as an emulsifying agent at a temperature not lower than ordinary temperature in a state where the mixture is put in a reactor, an extruder, a dryer, a tank, a container, a packaging material, etc. The treatment progresses at a temperature not lower than ordinary temperature, and the time required for aging is short at a high temperature. The “ordinary temperature” used herein means a temperature ranging from 15 to 25° C. Even at ordinary temperature, the fat-processed starch can be obtained, for example, through about one-month storing for aging. On the other hand, in the case where heating is conducted for shortening the time required for aging, the raw material starch is hydrolyzed or thermally decomposed at an excessively high temperature. Hence, the adhesion power may be reduced in some cases, when the fat-processed starch is used as a coating material for fries. Therefore, when heating is conducted for accelerating the aging treatment, conditions under which excessive decomposition does not occur must be set. A proper heating temperature includes, for example, 30 to 150° C. The aging time may be shorter at a higher temperature, but suitably ranges from 1 to 336 hours (2 weeks).

[0036] The amount of the fat composition to be added to the starch ranges preferably from 0.01 to 5 parts by mass, more preferably from 0.02 to 4 parts by mass, particularly preferably from 0.03 to 3 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the starch. When the amount is less than 0.01 by weight, the surfaces of the starch particles are not sufficiently coated and the powder properties do not change. On the other hand, when the amount exceeds 5 parts by weight, the powder fluidity of the starch is poor and the workability is not satisfactory.

[0037] The fat-processed starch of the present invention may be used while being blended in various foods. The kinds of foods are not particularly limited, and, for example, the fat-processed starch can be used in batter and dusting flour as coating materials for fries, and foods including meat, solid or gel-like foods such as processed meat products, processed marine products, noodles and bread.

[0038] The fat-processed starch of the present invention has good dispersibility in dough and batter and excellent workability in the production of various foods. Also, it is dispersed uniformly in dough and batter, and thus can make the texture of the obtained foods good. For example, in the case where the fat-processed starch is used in batter as a coating material for fries, it provides good workability by virtue of high dispersibility when used to prepare a batter. Fries cooked using the batter have high adhesion between an ingredient and a coating and a soft and juicy texture.

[0039] The content of the polyphenol in the fat composition herein can be measured specifically by the following method.

[0040] To 5.0 g of a fat composition, 0.2 g of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate is added, and the mixture is stirred with a magnetic stirrer for 5 minutes. Then, 10 mL of a solution obtained by mixing methanol and water in a ratio of 4:1 is added, and the mixed solution is stirred with the magnetic stirrer for 5 minutes. After stirring, sonication is carried out with an ultrasonic apparatus for 15 minutes, and then the solution is stirred with the magnetic stirrer for 5 minutes. After stirring, the solution is centrifuged under conditions of 20 minutes, 3,000 g and room temperature, and the resultant upper layer is recovered. The resultant lower layer is subjected to an operation similar to the above operation again, and the resultant upper layer is recovered again. The upper layer is mixed with the upper layer obtained through the first operation to prepare a polyphenol extract.

[0041] To 0.2 mL of the polyphenol extract, 1 mL of Folin & Ciocalteu's phenol reagent (manufactured by SIGMA-ALDRICH) diluted 10 times with pure water is added, and the solution is allowed to stand for 5 minutes. Added is 0.8 mL of a 7.5% sodium carbonate solution, and the solution is allowed to stand for 5 minutes, and vortex-mixed. The mixed solution is reacted in a thermostatic water bath at 50° C. for 10 minutes. After the reaction, the reaction product is allowed to cool at room temperature for 5 minutes to measure the absorbency at 750 nm. A calibration curve is created, through an operation similar to the above operation, using 0 to 80 mg/L of a gallic acid solution prepared from a solution in which ethanol and water are mixed in a ratio of 1:1. A value calculated, from the absorbency obtained from the polyphenol extract, using the calibration curve is defined as polyphenol content.

EXAMPLE

[0042] The present invention will be described in detail by way of the following examples, the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the following examples. In addition, the units “%,” “part(s)” and the like are on the mass basis unless otherwise specified, and the numerical ranges thereof are indicated as including their endpoints.

Example 1

[0043] Epigallocatechin gallate was added to safflower oil to adjust the polyphenol content to 50 ppm, thereby obtaining a fat composition. To 100 parts of tapioca starch, 2 parts of the prepared fat composition was added to uniformly mix them with a mortar, thereby obtaining a mixture. This mixture was heated at 70° C. in a thermostatic bath for 5 days, thereby obtaining a fat-processed starch (Sample 1).

Example 2

[0044] Except that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 80 ppm in Example 1, Sample 2 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 3

[0045] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 80 ppm in Example 1, Sample 3 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 4

[0046] Except that a vegetable fat obtained by mixing perilla oil and rapeseed oil to attain an iodine value of 140 was used in place of safflower oil and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 80 ppm in Example 1, Sample 4 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 5

[0047] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 5 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 6

[0048] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil, that rutin was used as a polyphenol in place of epigallocatechin gallate, and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 6 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 7

[0049] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil, that resveratrol was used as a polyphenol in place of epigallocatechin gallate, and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 7 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 8

[0050] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil, that quercetin was used as a polyphenol in place of epigallocatechin gallate, and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 8 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 9

[0051] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil, that catechin was used as a polyphenol in place of epigallocatechin gallate, and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 9 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 10

[0052] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil, that chrysin was used as a polyphenol in place of epigallocatechin gallate, and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 10 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 11

[0053] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil, that hesperidin was used as a polyphenol in place of epigallocatechin gallate, and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 11 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 12

[0054] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil, that gallic acid was used as a polyphenol in place of epigallocatechin gallate, and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 12 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 13

[0055] Except that grape oil was used in place of safflower oil and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 7,500 ppm in Example 1, Sample 13 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative Example 1

[0056] To 100 parts of tapioca starch, 2 parts of perilla oil was added to uniformly mix them with a mortar, thereby obtaining a mixture. This mixture was heated at 70° C. in a thermostatic bath for 5 days, thereby obtaining Sample 14.

Comparative Example 2

[0057] Except that safflower oil was added in place of perilla oil in Comparative Example 1, Sample 15 was obtained in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1.

Comparative Example 3

[0058] Except that rapeseed oil was added in place of perilla oil in Comparative Example 1, Sample 16 was obtained in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1.

Comparative Example 4

[0059] Except that perilla oil was used in place of safflower oil and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 17 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative Example 5

[0060] Except that rapeseed oil was used in place of safflower oil and that the polyphenol content of the fat composition was changed to 750 ppm in Example 1, Sample 18 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. With 40 parts (in terms of the weight of dry matter) of Samples 1 to 18, 44 parts of a cake flour part, 1 part of common salt, 1 part of sodium glutamate, 6 parts of powdery soy sauce, 1 part of powdery garlic, and 0.3 parts of xanthan gum were mixed to prepare mix flour. To 100 parts of the prepared mix flour, 110 parts of ice cold water was added to mix them while stirring, thereby preparing a batter.

[0061] In addition, the workabilities of Samples 1 to 18 were evaluated in the operation so far, and the criteria for evaluation are as follows. The evaluation was expressed in terms of the average point of five panelists (the same applies to other evaluations).

[0062] 1: Very lumpy and difficult to suspend; 2: Lumpy; 3: Lumps somewhat observed; 4: No lump observed; 5: No lump observed and easy to suspend

[0063] Chicken breast trimmed of skin and fat was cut into 20 g, and the batter was attached to the cut chicken breast in an amount of 30 mass % relative to the mass of the chicken breast. The chicken breast was fried in refined soybean oil at 175° C. for 3 minutes 30 seconds to prepare deep-fried chicken breast.

[0064] The deep-fried chicken breast was cut in half 30 minutes after frying, and the adhesion between the meat and the coating was visually evaluated. The criteria for evaluation are as follows.

[0065] 1: Completely separated; 2: Almost separated; 3: Half separated; 4: Almost adhered; 5: Completely adhered

[0066] Also, the texture of the deep-fried chicken breast was evaluated 30 minutes after frying. Concerning the criteria for evaluation of the texture, deep-fried chicken breast having a soft, easy-to-crumble and juicy texture was evaluated as good. The criteria for evaluation are as follows.

[0067] 1: The coating was hard, and the juiciness as deep-fried chicken breast could not be perceived; 2: The coating was hard, and the deep-fried chicken breast had weak juiciness; 3: The coating was somewhat hard, but the deep-fried chicken breast had juiciness; 4: The coating was soft, and the deep-fried chicken breast had juiciness; 5: The coating was very soft, and the deep-fried chicken breast had juiciness.

[0068] The evaluation results of the samples are indicated in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Iodine value Polyphenol Name of Kind of of fat Kind of content Sample fat composition polyphenol (ppm) Workability Adhesion Texture Sample 1 Safflower 149 Epigallocatechin 50 4.6 4.4 4.8 oil gallate Sample 2 Safflower 149 Epigallocatechin 80 4.8 4.8 4.4 oil gallate Sample 3 Grape oil 133 Epigallocatechin 80 4.8 4.8 4.4 gallate Sample 4 Rapeseed 140 Epigallocatechin 80 4.6 4.6 4.8 oil, perilla gallate oil Sample 5 Grape oil 133 Epigallocatechin 750 4.2 4.4 4.2 gallate Sample 6 Grape oil 133 Rutin 750 4.2 4.6 4.8 Sample 7 Grape oil 133 Resveratrol 750 4.4 4.6 4.8 Sample 8 Grape oil 133 Quercetin 750 4.2 4.4 3.8 Sample 9 Grape oil 133 Catechin 750 4.2 3.8 4.0 Sample 10 Grape oil 133 Chrysin 750 4.2 3.8 4.2 Sample 11 Grape oil 133 Hesperidin 750 4.6 4.8 4.8 Sample 12 Grape oil 133 Gallic acid 750 4.2 4.0 3.8 Sample 13 Grape oil 133 Epigallocatechin 7,500 4.6 4.2 3.6 gallate Sample 14 Perilla oil 202 — 22 1.2 3.2 2.2 Sample 15 Safflower 149 — 24 1.6 4.0 1.8 oil Sample 16 Rapeseed 110 — 34 4.2 2.0 2.2 oil Sample 17 Perilla oil 202 Epigallocatechin 750 2.0 3.0 2.8 gallate Sample 18 Rapeseed 110 Epigallocatechin 750 4.4 3.8 2.6 oil gallate

[0069] From the results indicated in Table 1, all of Samples 1 to 13 using the fat compositions of Examples 1 to 13 having an iodine value of 125 to 170 and containing 35 ppm to 8,000 ppm of a polyphenol had good workability during the preparation of a batter, and provided a deep-fried food having good adhesion between the ingredient and the coating and an excellent texture.

[0070] On the other hand, Sample 14 using the fat composition of Comparative Example 1 having a high iodine value and not containing the predetermined amount of a polyphenol had high adhesion but poor workability and provided a hard and difficult-to-crumble texture, and thus was not preferred.

[0071] Sample 15 using the fat composition of Comparative Example 2 not containing the predetermined amount of a polyphenol had high adhesion but poor workability and provided a hard and difficult-to-crumble texture, and thus was not preferred.

[0072] Sample 16 using the fat composition of Comparative Example 3 having a low iodine value and not containing the predetermined amount of a polyphenol had good workability, but was not excellent in terms of the adhesion or texture.

[0073] Sample 17 using the fat composition of Comparative Example 4 containing the predetermined amount of a polyphenol but having a high iodine value had poor workability and provided a hard and difficult-to-crumble texture, and thus was not preferred.

[0074] Sample 18 using the fat composition of Comparative Example 5 containing the predetermined amount of a polyphenol but having a low iodine value had good workability and adhesion but provided a hard and difficult-to-crumble texture, and thus was not preferred.