Food Engineering Reviews最新文献

Freezing is one of the most effective and widely used preservation methods in the food industry. Freezing process means that the temperature of foods is reduced until the microbial growth and enzymatic activity are not possible; thus, the long-term preservation of foods is achieved. Since the rate of freezing is known to affect the distribution and size of ice crystals, the freezing rate is very important in the freezing process. In addition to the freezing process, it is known that the thawing process is also very important for the food quality. Similar to freezing, the rapid thawing method is preferred due to reduced weight loss, better texture, and prevention of microbial growth. For rapid freezing and thawing of food materials, various new technologies such as ultrasound, high pressure, and electric field are proposed instead of the traditional technologies currently used. These technologies provide to control ice crystal size, accelerate heat and mass transfer rates, and reduce tissue damage and weight loss. This review examines the effects of new technologies such as ultrasound, high-pressure, microwave, radiofrequency, magnetic field, and electric field on rapid freezing and thawing of foods while taking into account all the benefits and drawbacks. Additionally, this review is aimed to give guidance regarding the future research to enhance and, if required, combine current and developing technologies (high-pressure, ultrasound, microwave, radiofrequency, magnetic field, and electric field) to preserve foods with properties as near to fresh sample state as possible after freezing and thawing.

The demand for high quality foods has steadily increased as response to market pressures and to other factors. The concept of food quality (FQ) gradually evolved to address changes in consumer perceptions and due to available technological advances. Evolution followed from FQ 1.0 (defective foods removal) over FQ 2.0 (prevention-based quality assurance), FQ 3.0 (total quality management; TQM), and finally the upcoming concept of FQ 4.0 that is focused on advanced technologies (Internet of Things, Big Data, artificial intelligence, etc.) for improving traceability, food safety, and quality assurance. This evolution from FQ 1.0 up to 4.0 followed perfection of conventional/advanced methods and the expansion of their scope to include the reductions of waste/pollution. This manuscript provides background and brief overview for current and traditional concepts of FQ with consumers in focus while mentioning techniques that are traditionally used for FQ assessments. Also, it describes migration toward FQ 4.0 and how it compares with traditional FQ, while considering products, processes, systems, and sustainable (nano)technologies for improvements of manufacturing and waste reductions. Such information is useful for practical guides for stakeholders in food chain (e.g., food managers, technologists, and consultants). Findings implied importance for developing the area within the “FQ 4.0 triangle,” whose three edges are “food science,” “quality assurance,” and “industry 4.0 (that has the tools/technologies to support this industrial concept).” This area has numerous opportunities for various applications in food sector and for gathering knowledge, currently needed in the food industry. Including data on the suitability of advanced technologies for food manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing), their association with quality/safety, reduction of waste/contaminants, all in order to reach sustainable food production.

Berry fruits are highly nutritious and possess therapeutic properties, making them popular in various markets including fresh fruit, food, beauty, medical, and health. As people’s quality of life continues to improve, the demand for berry fruits is increasing. As a result, farmers must prioritize the quality of berry fruits while also increasing production. In the realm of quality control, berry fruit detection holds great significance. However, traditional detection methods are plagued with major drawbacks such as destructiveness, high cost, and a long detection time. Fortunately, nondestructive testing technology has rapidly developed due to its nondamaging, efficient, and versatile advantages. This method can complete various detection projects and meet the diverse detection requirements of orchard supervision. This paper provides a review of the use of nondestructive testing technology in various types of berry fruits and highlights the progress made in optical nondestructive testing technology for identifying these fruits, as well as detecting their external and internal quality. This article summarizes and analyzes the challenges encountered by nondestructive testing in the same field of berry fruits and explores the potential development directions of nondestructive testing technology in the field. The findings of the study can offer valuable insights and reference for the intelligent management of berry orchards and the enhancement of the berry market system.

Coffee is still one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Yet, the large quantities of by-products generated during coffee production are wasted, which is a burden in the sustainability of coffee production. Coffee cherry by-products are rich in several compounds of interest that can be used in several applications, minimize the wastes, and the environmental damage from coffee production. This review article aims to discuss the relevance of coffee processing by-products, namely, the coffee cherry husk and pulp to create value-added food products. Their chemical composition, properties, and extraction methods of valuable compounds are discussed, and possible food applications showcased, thereby aiming at increasing and supporting a more environmentally friendly coffee utilization.

The possible health advantages and abundance of physiologically active substances in mushrooms make them a prized food. To preserve mushrooms and extend their shelf life, drying is a commonly used method. This paper seeks to investigate various mushroom drying methods and analyze their impact on the physicochemical properties of mushrooms. When mushrooms are dried, the chemical and physical characteristics of the product change, potentially losing nutrients and changing in texture and flavor. To ascertain their effect on the quality of the mushrooms, it is crucial to research the various drying systems. The goal of this review is to analyze and assess the various drying methods for mushrooms, namely, solar drying, hot air drying, microwave drying, infrared drying, vacuum drying, osmotic drying, ultrasound-assisted drying, freeze drying, and electrohydrodynamic drying. The article also attempts to examine how these techniques affect the physicochemical properties of mushrooms that have been identified by numerous studies. According to the records, freeze-dried mushrooms exhibited superior preservation of texture and higher levels of antioxidants compared to hot air-dried and sun-dried mushrooms. On the other hand, microwave-dried mushrooms had greater amounts of total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity but lower levels of vitamin C compared to hot air-dried mushrooms. Therefore, it is essential to consider the impact of the drying method on the nutritional and sensory properties of the mushrooms to ensure that the final product meets the desired standards.

The olive oil industry has been operating for centuries, but in the last decades, significant attention has gone to the development of physical technologies that enhance the traditional extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) extraction process efficiency. Studies have validated such technologies at industrial scale in medium-sized olive oil factories. These physical technological interventions are aimed to achieve at least one of the following outcomes: (a) higher EVOO throughput by implementing a continuous uniform-heating process alternative to semi-batch malaxation, (b) increase the recovery of EVOO, and (c) enhance the phenolic content in olive oil. The present work identifies the status of what is presently achievable with these physical interventions. A systematic comparison across recent studies was conducted in factories processing beyond 1 T h⁻¹ olive paste. Technologies used in these studies include heat exchangers, microwaves (MW), ultrasound (US), megasonics (MS), and pulsed electric fields (PEF) individually or in combination.

Graphical Abstract

Evaporators are one of the most important equipment in the food process industries such as sugar, fruit juices, dairy products, edible oils, tomato paste, and coffee. They need a lot of energy in the form of steam from boiler and it is necessary to minimize their energy consumption. One of the best strategies for this purpose is the design and application of multiple-effect evaporators (MEEs), in which the vapor from one stage (effect) is the heating medium for the next stage. There are various configurations and designs for MEEs and they can also be equipped with vapor compression systems and steam ejectors to further reduce the energy consumption and increase their economic efficiency. This article is covering the fundamentals, design, simulation, control, and application of MEEs in various food industries for the first time with discussing recent advances in this field.

Graphical Abstract

The annual global amount of water consumed to produce food ranges from 600,000 to 2.5 million liters per capita depending on food habits and food waste generation. Humans need approximately 2–3 L of water daily to maintain health, but only 0.01% of the world’s water is drinkable. Food supplies cannot be generated without land, water, and energy use. The current use of water for production of food is most concerning and requires immediate and increased awareness. Minimal attention has been devoted to the increasing water scarcity and loss of drinking water. Food waste also contains water and therefore also adds to water scarcity that is affecting almost 4 billion people. We summarize the human need of water, its significance for life and for the production, processing, and consumption of foods. This review includes an examination of the history of water; the unique properties of water for sustaining life; water for food production including agriculture, horticulture, and mariculture; the properties of water exploited in food processing; water scarcity due to water demands exceeding availability or access; and its consequences for our world. Means to reduce water scarcity, including using water treatment and promoting change of human habits, are discussed. The future of water and the recommendations for action are proposed for decreasing water scarcity and reducing water use during food production, food processing, food preparation, and consumption.