Zero-Trans Cake Shortening: Formulation and Characterization of Physicochemical, Rheological, and Textural Properties

Abstract

Cake shortening is an important ingredient that imparts taste and texture in the cake as the final product. Hydrogenated shortenings contain high amounts of trans fatty acids, which is considered a risk factor for obesity, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases. In this research, chemically interesterified blends of canola oil (CO) and palm stearin (PS) were recruited in order to formulate zero-trans shortening, specifically for cake application. The optimization of shortening formulation was performed by Design-Expert software, considering melting, congelation, textural, and rheological properties of cake shortening as responses. The formulated shortening in the weight ratio of 66.41:33.58 (PS:CO) (%, w/w) was analyzed and compared with two commercial cake shortenings in terms of fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition, slip melting point (SMP), solid fat content (SFC), and rheological and textural properties. The results showed that the formulated zero-trans cake shortening with 0.2% trans, 47.2% saturated fatty acids, SMP of 40.9 degrees C, SFC of 10.51% at 37 degrees C, firmness of 1522.5 g, and linear viscoelastic range of 0.035% had the most acceptable criteria among cake-shortening samples. The findings of this study offer insights into the relationship between shortening functionality and physicochemical properties and serve as a base for future studies on zero-trans shortenings formulation.