Shortening replacement by hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-based oleogels obtained by different indirect approaches. Texture and sensory properties of baked puff pastry

Shortening in puff pastry products contains high levels of saturated and even trans-fatty acids that may be hazardous to human health. One efficient way to reduce such unhealthy fat in food is to employ gelators to structure liquid oils for the production of oleogels, thereby replacing shortening. In this paper, two types of HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose) oleogels (emulsion template and foam template) were used to replace shortening in puff pastry. Full-HD images, TPA (Texture Profile Analysis) and penetration tests, as well as TDS (Time-Dominant Sensation) sensory analysis, were used to assess the products' cross-sectional morphology, texture, and sensory attributes. The appearance of baked pastry made with 50/50 (shortening/oleogel) was similar to the control (100% shortening). In contrast, the crumb texture of baked pastry prepared with 100% oleogel was more compact and less airy than control. All samples showed similar firmness. TPA test showed that puff pastry made with 100% foam-based oleogel did not substantially differ to the control group, while samples prepared with emulsion-based oleogels were significantly harder and chewier than the control. Regarding sensory analysis, all puff pastries were mainly perceived as "crunchy" during chewing. The increase in oleogel content resulted in denser pastry, but the 50/50 foam template samples were "easier to chew". Attribute "compact" also became one of the main perceptions when the oleogel content increased to 100%, which would be related to the dense structure observed in the crumb morphology. This study confirms the feasibility of HPMC oleogels as healthy fat source in puff pastry.