Investigation of hotpot oil based on beef tallow and flavored rapeseed oil in commercial hotpot seasoning

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the quality of hotpot oil from various hotpot seasonings. For this, 12 representative hotpot seasonings with beef tallow (BT) and flavored rapeseed oil (FRO) were collected before the hotpot oil was extracted. The oil content, sensory evaluation scores, physiochemical properties, fatty acid composition, harmful substances, and nutrient content of the hotpot oil were subsequently analyzed. The results showed that the oil content of the hotpot seasoning was 38.3%–58.2%. Furthermore, the BT hotpot oils produced better sensory scores (7–8.5), and their oxidative stability (12.08–13.17 h) was higher on average than that of the FRO hotpot oils. Additionally, the FRO hotpot oils had higher contents of unsaturated fatty acid (81.70%–97.32%), phytosterol (3466.07–6110.37 ppm), tocopherol (182.91–1276.17 mg kg −1 ), and polyphenol (34.48–61.94 mg kg −1 ). The factor analyses revealed that the FRO and BT hotpot oils were significantly different and were affected by the iodine value, acid value, and linoleic acid and phytosterol contents. Practical applications : It is necessary to improve the nutritional value and taste of hotpot oils to facilitate rapid development in the hotpot seasoning industry. This study showed FRO was a positive mediator of antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anticancer effects owing to its richness of nutritional compounds, such as polyphenols, phytosterols, and tocopherols. In comparison, BT was found to have a lower nutritional value than FRO but added a unique taste and aroma to the hotpot. The use of blended oil as raw oil could also improve the quality of hotpot oil. This information will provide an important guide to the nutritional value and industrial production of hotpot oil. Blended oil is a promising raw oil for future use in hotpot seasoning processing to meet consumer demands for nutritious and pleasantly flavored hotpot oil.