Physico-chemical and rheological properties of meat pates with corn starch suspensions prepared on electrochemically activated water

Introduction. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of electrochemically activated water application on the rheological properties of corn starch suspensions and pates prepared with them. Materials and methods. Corn starch suspensions were prepared on artesian water, which was activated by electrochemical treatment on a diaphragm electrolyzer. Physico-chemical characteristics of electrochemically activated water were determined using a Palintest 7500 photometer. Morphological studies of starch granules were carried out by scanning electron microscopy, and granulometric composition was determined by laser diffraction method. The rheological indicatorss of starch suspensions and pates were studied using a Kinexus Pro+ rheometer.Results and discussion. The physico-chemical characteristics of electrochemically activated water except pH met the requirements of the European Parliament and Council Directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption. The water absorption capacity of starch when preparing its suspensions on a catholyte (obtained by passing a direct electric current through water in the cathode chamber of an electrolyzer) decreased by 26%, and when prepared on an anolyte (obtained in the process of water oxidation reactions on the anode) increased by 18%. The moisture holding capacity of hydrated starch decreased by 10% when using catholyte, and increased by 36% when using anolyte. Electrochemically activated water had a significant effect on the rheological characteristics of starch suspensions: with an increase in the percentage of complex shear strain, the shear stress increased proportionally for samples of suspensions made on electrochemically activated water. The viscoelastic properties of starch suspensions prepared using electrochemically activated water both at 25 degrees C and at 68 degrees C tended towards an ideally elastic gel, that is, they had more elastic structure than the control samples. Under the action of shear deformation, the elastic properties were lost, while the suspensions acquired viscosity (phase angle values increased). The maximum value of the moisture binding capacity of pates was observed when using a starch suspension prepared on anolyte. The best values of rheological characteristics of pates were obtained when using starch suspension with 2% starch prepared on anolyte.Conclusions. Electrochemically activated water had a significant effect on the physicochemical and rheological properties of semi-finished products, in particular corn starch suspensions, and pates prepared with them, and contributed to better structuring of the studied food systems.