Enhancement of nutritional and textural properties of meat analogues using silkworm pupae powder via freeze alignment technique

The demand for sustainable, high-protein meat alternatives has driven interest in novel ingredients, yet the use of insects as the sole protein source remains underexplored. This study investigates silkworm pupae powder (SW) as a primary ingredient in meat analogues produced using the freeze alignme...

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Main Authors: Parinya Boonarsa, Kyuya Nakagawa, Kriangsak Banlue, Sirithon Siriamornpun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Food Chemistry: X
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525002172
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author Parinya Boonarsa
Kyuya Nakagawa
Kriangsak Banlue
Sirithon Siriamornpun
author_facet Parinya Boonarsa
Kyuya Nakagawa
Kriangsak Banlue
Sirithon Siriamornpun
author_sort Parinya Boonarsa
collection DOAJ
description The demand for sustainable, high-protein meat alternatives has driven interest in novel ingredients, yet the use of insects as the sole protein source remains underexplored. This study investigates silkworm pupae powder (SW) as a primary ingredient in meat analogues produced using the freeze alignment technique. SW was incorporated at 5, 10, and 15 g/100 g and compared to soy protein (SP). Increasing SW levels enhanced viscosity, pseudoplastic behavior, and gel-like properties but reduced water-holding capacity and total sulfhydryl content (p < 0.05). SW significantly increased protein content (4–55 g/100 g DW) while reducing carbohydrates (17–85 g/100 g DW). Textural analysis showed improved chewiness, cohesiveness, and firmness, with fiber-like structures forming at 5–10 % SW. SW-based analogues had a higher essential amino acid index (0.59–0.98) than SP (0.47). These findings highlight SW as a promising, nutrient-rich, and sustainable protein source for meat analogues, expanding possibilities for insect-based alternatives.
format Article
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issn 2590-1575
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Food Chemistry: X
spelling doaj-art-7fe454532028444eb3f8cbacfee3a1f02025-08-20T02:30:50ZengElsevierFood Chemistry: X2590-15752025-04-012710237010.1016/j.fochx.2025.102370Enhancement of nutritional and textural properties of meat analogues using silkworm pupae powder via freeze alignment techniqueParinya Boonarsa0Kyuya Nakagawa1Kriangsak Banlue2Sirithon Siriamornpun3Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand; Research Unit of Thai Food Innovation (TFI), Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham 44150, ThailandDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Fukuoka 819-0395, JapanDepartment of Food Technology and Nutrition, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham 44150, ThailandDepartment of Food Technology and Nutrition, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand; Research Unit of Thai Food Innovation (TFI), Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand; Corresponding author at: Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand.The demand for sustainable, high-protein meat alternatives has driven interest in novel ingredients, yet the use of insects as the sole protein source remains underexplored. This study investigates silkworm pupae powder (SW) as a primary ingredient in meat analogues produced using the freeze alignment technique. SW was incorporated at 5, 10, and 15 g/100 g and compared to soy protein (SP). Increasing SW levels enhanced viscosity, pseudoplastic behavior, and gel-like properties but reduced water-holding capacity and total sulfhydryl content (p < 0.05). SW significantly increased protein content (4–55 g/100 g DW) while reducing carbohydrates (17–85 g/100 g DW). Textural analysis showed improved chewiness, cohesiveness, and firmness, with fiber-like structures forming at 5–10 % SW. SW-based analogues had a higher essential amino acid index (0.59–0.98) than SP (0.47). These findings highlight SW as a promising, nutrient-rich, and sustainable protein source for meat analogues, expanding possibilities for insect-based alternatives.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525002172Bombyx moriSilkworm pupae powderTexturefiber-like structurePseudoplasticAmino acid
spellingShingle Parinya Boonarsa
Kyuya Nakagawa
Kriangsak Banlue
Sirithon Siriamornpun
Enhancement of nutritional and textural properties of meat analogues using silkworm pupae powder via freeze alignment technique
Food Chemistry: X
Bombyx mori
Silkworm pupae powder
Texture
fiber-like structure
Pseudoplastic
Amino acid
title Enhancement of nutritional and textural properties of meat analogues using silkworm pupae powder via freeze alignment technique
title_full Enhancement of nutritional and textural properties of meat analogues using silkworm pupae powder via freeze alignment technique
title_fullStr Enhancement of nutritional and textural properties of meat analogues using silkworm pupae powder via freeze alignment technique
title_full_unstemmed Enhancement of nutritional and textural properties of meat analogues using silkworm pupae powder via freeze alignment technique
title_short Enhancement of nutritional and textural properties of meat analogues using silkworm pupae powder via freeze alignment technique
title_sort enhancement of nutritional and textural properties of meat analogues using silkworm pupae powder via freeze alignment technique
topic Bombyx mori
Silkworm pupae powder
Texture
fiber-like structure
Pseudoplastic
Amino acid
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525002172
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AT kriangsakbanlue enhancementofnutritionalandtexturalpropertiesofmeatanaloguesusingsilkwormpupaepowderviafreezealignmenttechnique
AT sirithonsiriamornpun enhancementofnutritionalandtexturalpropertiesofmeatanaloguesusingsilkwormpupaepowderviafreezealignmenttechnique